Town of Buxton
Minutes for August 26, 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: Dave Harmon, Ellen DeCotiis, Julie Gamelson
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Emery called the meeting to order at 7:04 PM.
Selectman Emery led the recital.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes August 19, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 5:00 PM the Board celebrated birthdays.
At 5:30 PM John Myers met with the Board to discuss the job opening in the front office and talk about whether it is going to be 32 or 40 hours per week. It was decided that it will be a 40 hour per week job that will be posted. David Anderson will be the Motor Vehicle Agent. The Board needs to appoint someone who will later be the Inland Fish & Wildlife Agent. That Agent can issue ATV licenses because they do not fall under Motor Vehicle.
Selectman Burns said there was some discussion about the possibility of changing the office hours at Town Hall on Wednesday from 11:30 AM ~7:30 PM, to 10:30 AM ~ 6:30 PM meaning opening and closing an hour earlier than it is now. Selectman Burns said that is still up for discussion.
The Board discussed John Myers appointment to the New England Clerks Association. There are only two from Maine and John will be one of those two.
The Selectmen talked about the opening for a School Board Member and one vacancy on the Budget Committee. The paperwork will go out and those positions will be posted. It will also be on our website. If anyone is interested, please call 929-5191 to provide contact information and make arrangements to meet with the Board. These positions will remain open until filled.
The Board started looking at carry-forwards and they have done the preliminary work for our audit so the numbers are firming up so the Board will know where we stand with that.
The Selectmen briefly discussed writing an ordinance concerning group homes that will be presented in the spring. The Board will have Public Hearings and then it will go to the voters.
A resident, Julie Gamelson, met with the Board to talk about her interest in being appointed a Trustee of Pleasant Point Park. The Board will take care of that later.
Selectman Harmon said John Myers asked if the Board had any questions to go on the November ballot and Selectman Harmon said she does not think the Board has any.
- Email from Geoff Herman with Maine Municipal Association – Re: Survey re Composting Programs at the Municipal Level
- Email from Kayla White, Maine Department of Transportation – Re: Bar Mills/Hollis Progress Meeting Minutes (Bar Mills & Canal Bridge)
- Press Release from Maine Municipal Association – Re: Dividend Payments
The Town of Buxton received $4,245.00 as a result of our good Workers Compensation Loss Ratio.
- Selectman Poitras reported that correspondence was received this week from a resident in Town, Roxanne Ramsey, who wanted to pass along how good an experience she had with the Summer Rec Program, how it was run and some of the people who were participating in it.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito was in Friday morning and Friday evening taking a look at the IT infrastructure around the dispatch center. Selectman Harmon recommended the Board bring in BizCom who does all the IT work in Town Hall. They came in to take a look at dispatch and they are going to come back with suggestions. Selectman Santolucito said everything is holding up well. The Board just wants to make sure things are the way they should be. The Board expects recommendations from them by 4:00 o’clock tomorrow or the next day. When that gets straightened out, the Board will put in the new video surveillance equipment that is coming in sometime in the next two weeks.
Selectman Harmon corrected her statement last week. She said school is starting this week but it is actually starting Monday, August 31 for grades K-9, and all grades go on September 1. As mentioned last week, kids will be waiting at the end of their driveways, some will be on the roads, busses will be stopping, and Selectman Harmon cautioned everyone to pay attention, slow down, and be safe.
A couple weeks ago Selectman Harmon talked about calling CMP regarding power outages the Town has been experiencing. She said she has been playing “phone tag” with the representative and left another message today. She is hoping to hear from someone soon with some answers.
Selectman Harmon reported that she finished the Municipal Valuation Return that is in the signature file this evening. This report has to be sent to the State. It shows where we have been in the last year.
Selectman Harmon talked about a call she received from a resident who lives on Lowell Road which is one of the private roads at Bonny Eagle Park. The person asked if the residents on that private road maintain the road, would it be possible to get the Town to plow it. Selectman Harmon told the resident she would bring it up to the Board.
Selectman Emery said that person should make an appointment to meet with the Board. There are procedures they have to go through where they verify all the people whose land touches the road, they sign off on anything happening when the road is plowed, they need to hire an attorney, and the attorney has to be the one who actually goes over the list and makes sure that all those people do live there. If one person votes no it goes away. There has to be 100% participation of the residents on that road. After going through that process, they have to petition the Town to accept the road, then it is voted on by the taxpayers of the town. Right now State law says that municipalities cannot expend Town funds on private roads or ways. The only way the Town could accept the
road is if they met all the requirements in the process, and the road meets all the specifications needed to be accepted as a Town Road.
Selectman Harmon explained that she told the caller that the municipality cannot spend Town money on private roads and that there has to be 100% participation of all residents on
the road. She said she will get back in touch with them and let them know that if this is something they are really interested in they need to make an appointment to meet with the Board.
Selectman Burns met with a contractor Monday at the EMA building, talked with a couple of painting contractors today, asked for some references, and went over a couple of questions on their quotes. He expects to be ready to award the contracts next week for repairs to the EMA building and painting at West Buxton Public Library.
Selectman Burns reported that he had a conversation with Bill Brockman yesterday at SAD 6 concerning upcoming negotiations that will take place with Frye Island representatives. The Legislature expects that SAD 6 will negotiate with Frye Island concerning the tax situation. Frye Island wants to be taxed only on property and not the number of students which would basically cut the taxes they have been paying to SAD 6 in half. The Legislature taxed the parties involved with LD 1082 with negotiating in good faith and they said if we don’t the Education Committee will take care of it when the next session takes place. The negotiations are going to start taking place with the Budget Advisory Committee and SAD 6 representatives in about two to three weeks. Selectman Burns
will keep everyone updated.
Selectman Poitras came in a couple of days to check in and see what’s going on in here. As Health Officer he looked into a couple of properties here in town. Also with the Cemetery Committee he cut a few trees over at Elwell Cemetery across from Elwell Farms that had fallen into the cemetery in the last couple storms. He said he got those cut up and out of the cemetery. Selectman Poitras reported that he is still working with Greg Heffernan on the project he has going regarding opening the Transfer Station up to other towns and said he has not had much time to put into that lately but needs to catch up with Greg to continue that.
Selectman Poitras said he talked with Tashia Pinkham, our Recreation Director, today. Several people have talked to him about wanting to see something on Buxton Community Days. He said they are trying to do something as a compromise where we could maybe do the Fireworks, evening parade, have something going on in the field for a couple hours, and kind of eliminate the first part of the day. There are a number of conflicts with the Yarmouth Clam Festival and by shortening the time he thinks it would get us away from the hottest part of the day, and by shortening it up, it would not be as taxing on the Town with overtime for Fire-Police, Police, etc. Maybe having something but downgraded. He said even talked about possibly doing it on a different date in June or September
where it would not conflict with so many other events. They are looking for input from the Town, so you could either contact him or Tashia Pinkham, about some ideas. If you have some constructive ideas they are also looking for some help and volunteers as well. Selectman Poitras said this is just research and they are just trying to get an idea if the townspeople feel this is worth pursuing.
Selectman Emery comes into the office as much as he can and checks in every day with one or more of the selectmen to keep up with things that are going on.
None
Selectman Harmon talked about a workshop so the Board can go over the carry-forwards and reconciliations. After some discussion about possible adjustments, the Selectmen decided to meet Monday, August 31 at 6:00 PM.
E.O. 151608030 – An order to approve abatement of real estate taxes for fiscal year 2015/16 in the amount of $186.48 for [Map 6, Lot 64]
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151608031 – An order to approve an Application for Veteran Exemption for [Map 7, Lot 43]
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151608032 – An order to approve a Supplemental Tax Warrant and Certificate for tax year 2015 in the amount of $1,259.00 for [Map 9, Lot 2-1]
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151608033 – An order to approve 8 hours of vacation time for Tom Kennie
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151608034 – An order to approve 8 hours of vacation time for Krystal Dyer
Approved 5-0
Selectman Harmon said everyone should have received their Property Tax Bill and taxes did go up but she encouraged everyone to take a look at their bills and if something does not seem right talk with the Tax Collector about it. It is the taxpayer’s responsibility to bring it to the Town’s attention if something is not right with the bill.
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 151608035 – An order to appoint Julie Gamelson to the position of a Trustee of Pleasant Point Park, effective until December 31, 2017
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151608036 – An order to rescind Suzanne Shorter’s appointment as Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Agent effective immediately.
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151608037 – An order to appoint David Anderson as Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Agent effective until replaced.
Approved 5-0
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151608028 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #17
Approved 5-0
The amount was $109,461.77
E.O. 151608029 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #16
Approved 5-0
The amount was $46,815.72
- Next Meeting of the Board
Board of Appeals Meeting Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at 7:00 PM
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, September 2 at 7:00 PM
Fire-Rescue Awards Banquet at Flanagan Farm
Selectman Emery noted that the project at the Hanson School will be starting soon so people need to be aware there will be equipment and trucks in the Buxton Center area as well as school busses starting Monday.
There will be a Red Cross Blood Drive at Buxton Town Hall Tuesday, September 8, from 1:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM. Please call the American Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS for an appointment.
- Public Comments and Questions
None
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:31 PM
Approved 5-0
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