Town of Buxton
Minutes for July 8, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Jean C. Harmon, Peter E. W. Burns, Dennis P. Santolucito, Chad E. Poitras
Others Present: Tom Kennie, Julie Gamelson, Jim Swain, Ellen DeCotis
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Emery called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM.
Selectman Emery led the recital.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes July 1, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
Selectman Emery opened 3 bids for a new backhoe:
- John Deere - 310L, Selling Price $91,500, less $14,000 for trade-in equals purchase price of $77,500
- Beauregard Equipment – Case 580, Purchase Price $106,400, less $26,950 for trade-in equals final price of $79,450
- Caterpillar – 415 F2, Selling Price $99,500 less $15,000 for trade-in equals final price of $84,500
The Board will review the bids and make a decision very soon.
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Nate Schools, our Fire-Rescue Chief, came in and talked to the Board about his new Administrative Assistant. He conducted interviews two weeks ago and selected a candidate who will start on July 20. He also talked about meeting with Cintas and using them as a vendor for paper goods and other supplies for all the fire stations. He asked the Board if they wanted a representative to speak to other departments. The Selectmen are going to pass the information along to the other Department Heads to see if they want to use Cintas as well. Chief Schools talked with the Board about the cardiac monitor purchase that was approved at our annual Town Meeting for the amount of $32,500. Chief Schools will be putting the bid specs together to get that out to bid.
Selectman Poitras asked Chief Schools questions about EMA and Selectman Santolucito asked questions about the ISO rating.
Selectman Emery said the Selectmen had a lengthy discussion this evening and they want the public to know that next week between 5:00 and 7:00 PM the Selectmen will not be having anyone in to meet with them. At that time there will be a social event in the large meeting room that is open to the public. Fred Farnham will be leaving his employment with the town at the end of the month and Steve Nichols, a former Selectman, is also leaving at the end of the month. This social get together is open for anyone in the community who wants to come and see either or both of these gentlemen. Selectman Emery said everyone is welcome and it should be a good time.
Two weeks ago the Board talked about a Business District Committee that is being formed. This evening the Selectmen met with three of the five people who are going to be on the committee. These people are Tom Saxby, a young gentleman who works in the insurance industry, Steve Heroux who is a self-employed contractor, Scott Lyons who owns part of, and runs, Reynolds Sports Center, and Laurie Warchol who is a representative of Biddeford Savings Bank. The Board is hoping that Chris Carroll from the Planning Board will be on the committee. The Selectmen want to start with a committee of five so they can get it started. They plan to hold the first meeting sometime next week. Selectman Emery explained some of the things the committee will be looking at and said it will be
a work in progress.
At 4:30 PM, Brandon Gagne who is a realtor came in to talk with the Board about a landlocked piece of land. He was looking at getting a right of way from the Town to go over that but Selectman Harmon said unfortunately the Board cannot help him out.
- Email from Kayla White Stickney, MDOT Assistant Resident – Re: June 30, 2015 Progress Meeting Minutes for Bar Mills Bridge & Canal Bridge Replacements
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Poitras said he met again this week with Greg Heffernan, our Transfer Station Manage, about the idea of having a regional recycling center that would not cost the town anything and would just be a revenue source. They talked about the possibilities of that as a way to generate some income for the town. Selectman Poitras said he talked with Greg about coming in possibly next Wednesday night during the 7 o’clock meeting to present some facts about the possibility of that and the benefits that might go along with doing it.
Selectman Burns said he talked with Bill Brockman about the bus lease the Town has with SAD 6 for our summer recreation department and told him that we need to re-negotiate the terms. Maine Municipal Association (MMA) made some recommendations to us and we got in touch with the Town’s lawyer who works for the firm that also represents SAD 6. Selectman Burns said he will get in touch with our attorney tomorrow to work on re-negotiating a lease that makes our lawyers and Maine Municipal happy.
Selectman Burns said he needs to get into the EMA building again to take some measurements to develop a specifications sheet for bids on repairing the water damage that we had.
Selectman Burns talked about the merger the Board mentioned some months ago between Time Warner and Comcast. The Federal Government did not like that merger because it was going to create a company that would be too large geographically so that merger went “down the tubes”. Time Warner is now merging with a company called Charter which is made up of two other companies. This will be the second largest cable company in the country, bigger than the Comcast-Time Warner merger, but it covers less geographic area. Selectman Burns said he received the documents today and he will be reviewing them and will get in touch with Tony Vigue. Selectman Burns said the Town does not really have to take any action that he is aware of right now but he will confirm that with Tony Vigue
and finish reading the documentation on that.
Selectman Santolucito reported he did not receive the lease for the security equipment from the vendor that was going to supply that today. He said he talked with them again today and we will have it by the end of the week.
Selectman Santolucito mentioned that he went down to Pleasant Point Park Sunday afternoon. He said it was amazingly clean and he saw no litter at all.
Selectman Emery said Public Works is taking care of the trash at the park and people are taking pride there as well. The Board is very pleased with the outcome.
Selectman Harmon reported that she has been in and out, working on year-end numbers, and double checking the new fiscal year figures that our Accounts Payable Clerk has entered in. She said as far as she can see everything looks good and nothing has been omitted.
Selectman Harmon mentioned that our Summer Library Program that is held at the Buxton Center Elementary School started yesterday. She said it is open to anyone and children of all ages. Their hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Selectman Harmon encouraged anyone who is looking for something to do with their children to participate. Our other libraries, Berry Library and West Buxton Public Library also hold summer programs for children as well.
Selectman Harmon said she spoke with Tom Kennie, our Public Works Director, today and our representative from Maine Municipal Association who comes around and inspects all of our properties will be down here on Tuesday. Tom Kennie will take him around to a couple of buildings. She said the representative was quite pleased when she told him that the old town garage has been taken down.
Selectman Emery has been out on vacation. He mentioned talking with Tom Kennie about having someone come over to cut the walls off straight at the old town garage. He said there is plenty of money to do that and we want the walls to be cut off as flush as possible with the ground. Selectman Emery said he had an idea about getting a picture of the old tavern that used to be there and having someone come in and paint a mural of that on the wall that is there.
None
The Board will be placing an ad for a Code Enforcement Officer and Selectman Harmon said she will be working on it this week. Selectman Emery said Fred Farnham will be leaving at the end of this month and the Board should check with Peter Gordon to see if he can be available to help with anything specific that comes up.
E.O. 151507010 – An order to approve the hire of Brianna Freeman for the position of full-time Administrative Assistant to the Fire-Rescue Chief and Public Works Director, starting July 20, 2015, at a pay rate of $14.00 per hour
Approved 5-0
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151607008 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #113, and Warrant #3
Approved 5-0
The amount of the combined warrants was $42,881.97.
E.O. 151607009 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #2
Approved 5-0
The amount of the warrant was $61,534.19.
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, July 15, at 7:00 PM
Selectman Emery encouraged everyone and anyone who wants to come in on July 15 between the hours of 5:00 PM and 7:00 PM to say goodbye to Steve Nichols and Fred Farnham to come.
There will be an American Red Cross Blood Drive here at Buxton Town Hall Monday, July 13, from 1:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM. Please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED CROSS for an appointment.
Selectman Poitras mentioned that the Board got correspondence today about a new business in town. Patty’s Flowers located in the Plummer’s Plaza is now Farmhouse Flowers. It is owned by a man named Brad Eldridge who is doing a good job getting that business up and running.
- Public Comments and Questions
None
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:26 PM
Approved
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