Town of Buxton
Minutes for September 23, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Jean C. Harmon, Peter E. W. Burns, Dennis Santolucito, Chad E. Poitras
Others Present: David Harmon, Ellen DeCotiis, Julie Gamelson
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 September 16, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 4:00 the Board met with four residents who wanted to talk about Community Day 2016. The Board asked Tashia Pinkham, our Recreation Director, to sit in on the meeting as well. They talked over the pros and cons of Community Days and discussed the commitment it takes to pull that together. Selectman Harmon said this is still something the Town would oversee and the Board would still be the one to do the approval going forward. Selectman Harmon told the group that the Board would discuss whether or not they want to do this going forward. The residents who came in have a list of about 20 people that are interested in helping them. They asked if the Board feels it is worthwhile having a Community Day in the future.
Selectman Harmon expressed her opinion that it is worthwhile. She said it is refreshing to see people stepping up and wanting to make the commitment to make it a successful day.
They talked about what time of year to have the event and thought a day in the month of June might be best. Selectman Harmon said their proposed agenda was great. The audience they are trying to target is the younger families in town but she said it can bring older people together as well. Selectman Harmon said she is in favor of moving it forward.
Selectman Poitras said he is also in favor of doing this. He said they have a lot of enthusiasm and they understand the commitment that is involved with this and that it is not an easy thing to do and there is a lot going on. He thinks they are open minded about simplifying this a bit more and making it a nice Community Day that goes smoothly and is appreciated by everyone.
Selectman Burns said the group presented something that was well thought out ahead of time and he think they have given it a lot of thought. They have a backup list of people, a group of people that would form the committee to make this thing work. They have some good ideas and learned a lot of things they did not realize yet from talking with the Board. The Board was as realistic as possible in letting them know some of the issues with insurance and laws. He said they have the energy and enthusiasm to do it and he would let them go forward.
Selectman Santolucito agreed there was a lot of enthusiasm. He said it was a reality check for them and when they left they understood more about the challenges and opportunities. He is supportive.
Selectman Emery said he has no problem with it at all; the problem was that when it got down to the end there was almost no one running it. There was just one person and it was dependent upon the Fire Department and Police Department to make it all come together and it turned into a day for the Fire Department and Police Department with the community part of it slipping away. He is all good with having the new group putting it together. He recommended picking a date that will not conflict with the Clam Festival or other events.
Selectman Harmon said the group is going to check with some other towns that typically have events in June to check the timing and make sure the vendors will be available. She believes they went away with more knowledge about the event than what they came in with and feels that the Board presented it realistically and she is in favor of it. She said this is a good group of people who have come forward and they want to see it succeed.
Selectman Poitras asked if the Board needs to make a motion to create committees.
Selectman Emery said the Board never disbanded anything; we have always had a Community Day Committee.
Selectman Poitras asked if it is okay to tell the group they can proceed and asked what the next step would be.
The Board agreed it is okay to tell them to move forward and they had a brief discussion about the process. Selectman Harmon said the group is going to meet with someone who put together the Westbrook Days and Gorham Days; then they are going to meet with the rest of the people on their list. Once they have that established they are coming back to the Board and move forward from there. Selectman Harmon said since everything is going to flow through the Town, they can let the group know what the procedures are.
The Board agreed that there is no rush and whatever time it takes the group to come back to them is fine.
After that, Chief Grovo met came in to meet with the Board at 5:37 PM, and they went into Executive Session per 1 M.R.S.A. (6) (A), on a personnel issue. They came out of Executive Session at 5:55 PM.
The Board also discussed with the Chief increasing his assistant’s hours, and a resident’s issue that he and Selectman Harmon have both been called on.
- Email from Maine CDC – Re: West Nile Virus
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito reported he has been working with Chet Ouellette on work for the UPS upgrade in the dispatch center to provide good condition power for all of the upgrade equipment. Selectman Santolucito said they will make that happen over the next couple weeks.
Selectman Harmon reported that the Board had a workshop Monday night. Due to the number of applications we have had come in not everyone on the Board has had an opportunity to review them all. The Selectmen did get a list from John Myers of the people he chose for interviews for the position in the front office.
Selectman Emery said by the end of the week the Board will have a final list so we can set up interviews for next Thursday evening.
Selectman Harmon reported that at the Workshop the Selectmen also talked about meeting with Department Heads to go over where we are budget wise and review where they are, where the Board feels they should go, and how they feel about where they are.
Selectman Burns said he has been in most days. Monday night he stopped in at Elden Store to check on repairs that were being done. He said that is coming along very well. On Tuesday night he attended the workshop. When he came in this afternoon he got a phone call from the contractor who was working at Elden Store so he left and met the contractor. He reviewed all the work that was done and said the contractor did everything he committed to do. Selectman Burns said he has never seen the place look as good as it does now. He talked with Chet Ouellette about doing some other things that need to be done down there which Chet is going to take care of next week. Selectman Burns reported that Jason Baker did the work and he did a great job.
Selectman Poitras said he was in a few times this week and was involved with the Workshop. He also had a couple of cases he had to tend to as our Local Health Officer.
Selectman Emery has been working on a job and has not had a chance to come in but he has called to keep up with things that are going on. He said he also stopped at the Elden Store to look at the work that has been done. He said it looks very good and he is really pleased with the work that has been done.
None
Selectman Harmon noted that John Myers is not in today so she did not get an opportunity to talk with him about setting a date for the Special Town Meeting.
E.O. 151609023 – An order to approve the hire of Jon Simonds as a part-time Dispatcher starting September 27, 2015 at a pay rate of $14.73 per hour
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151609024 – An order to approve 16 hours of vacation time for Greg Heffernan
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151609025 – An order to approve Nathan Schools’ attendance at the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation National Memorial Weekend
Approved 5-0
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151609021 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #25 and 26
Approved 5-0
The amount was $31,145.61.
E.O. 151609022 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #24
Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $46,644.55.
- Next Meeting of the Board
- Planning Board Meeting Monday, September 28, at 7:00 PM
Selectman Emery said he really wants to go to that meeting to see if anyone on the Planning Board wants to be on the Business Focus Committee so the Board can make appointments and get people appointed to the committee.
- Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, September 30, at 7:00 PM
There is still a vacant position on the School Board and one on the Budget Committee. If anyone is interested they can call the Selectmen’s Office at 929-5191 to let them know you are interested. These positions will remain open until filled.
The Board is now accepting applications for a part-time Laborer/Equipment Operator in our Public Works Department. This is a seasonal position for 30 hours a week starting in November and ending in April. The primary responsibility for this position is plowing snow. The pay rate is $15.75/hour. More information is available on www.jobsinME or on the Town’s website, or you can contact Tom Kennie, Public Works Director at 929-4400. The deadline for applications is Wednesday,
October 7, at 4:00 PM.
- Public Comments and Questions
No comments or questions.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:21 PM
Approved 5-0
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