Town of Buxton
Minutes for October 7, 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 was absent.
Others Present: Ellen DeCotiis, Patrick Hanna, David Harmon
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Emery called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.
Selectman Emery led the recital.
Selectman Burns gave a presentation on a flag that has been donated to the Town of Buxton by Peter and Catherine Greene. Their daughter, Pam, and their son-in-law, David Unger, are in the Marines and Selectman Burns read two letters that accompanied the flag. The first letter was written on March 21, 2015, to the Town of Buxton from Pamela Unger giving some history and explaining that this flag was flown in both Iraq and Afghanistan in 2007 in commemoration of September 11, 2001. The second letter, from David E. Boulter, Executive Director, Maine State Legislature, certified that the flag was flown above the Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial in Capital Park at the State House in Augusta on September 11, 2008. Selectman Burns then read a Certificate of Authenticity to the Town of
Buxton to certify that this American Flag was flown in combat over Camp Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, during Operation Enduring Freedom, in March, 2007. Both bases were used for the global war on terrorism. The letter is signed by Mark Unger, Major, (Ret.) USMC and Pamela Unger, Major USMC.
Selectman Burns thanked Peter and Catherine Greene for donating the flag to the Town of Buxton and said the flag and letters will be displayed on a wall in the Town Office. Selectman Burns closed by thanking Pamela and Mark Unger for their service to the Unites States.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes September 30, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
A resident came in and talked with the Selectmen about a road issue. Selectman Emery told the resident that he would get in touch with our Public Works Director and make him aware of that issue.
The Selectmen spent the rest of their time catching up on mail and other paperwork.
During that time, Selectman Burns made several phone calls. He talked with the contractor who is going to paint the West Buxton Public Library and the painter said if it doesn’t rain on Friday he will start painting the library on Monday.
Selectman Harmon said that she talked about a few things that she will explain more about when the Board gets to “Projects and Issues”.
- Email from John Sylvester, Chairman of Twelve Town Group – Re: Meeting 10/12/2015
- Email from Dave Francoeur, Deputy Director York County EMA – Re: SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available in Maine
- Email from Bonita Pothier from Senator King’s office – Re: Cities Surveys and Evaluations Webinar Thursday, October 15 from 1:30 – 3:00 PM
- Email from Marian Alexandre, So. Maine Planning & Development Commission – Re: Moving to Saco Island & Newsletter
- Email from Maine CDC – Re: 2015 – 2016 Start of Influenza Season Conference call
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito reported on the SAD 6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting he attended last week on the Frye Island. He said there were about six people from Frye Island there, and from Buxton there was Steve Heroux, Penny Booker, Selectman Santolucito, and Ansel Stevens. Selectman Santolucito said this is a tough issue and it is going to cost the Town of Buxton a lot of money if the proposal goes through. He said the school Administration is talking about funding an attorney with some budget money they may have to represent the other towns in the district. Selectman Santolucito said he concurred with that and there may be some requests coming from the school to the town for assistance. He said the Frye Island people talked about their challenges such as there are some
older citizens there who may not be able to afford their taxes. He said Ansel Stevens summed it up best when he said there are people in the Town of Buxton over age 65 who are worried about paying taxes on their first house, not their second or summer house. Selectman Santolucito said some of the homes on Frye Island rent out for $2,000-$2,500 per week in the summer and it is very difficult for him to have any concern for them and he feels they need to pay their fair share.
Selectman Santolucito thanked Scott Warshol for stepping up to be on the Budget Committee. He went on to say that we have one opening on the School Board. We have four representatives on the Board, each representative has 77 votes out of a total of 999 votes so if Buxton is down a representative we lose those 77 votes. He said we need someone at the table and this is a good chance for someone to get on the Board and learn more about the school. The term only runs until June so this is a chance to get on, learn about it, and determine if it is something you want to continue to do; then you can take out papers. The first and third Mondays of the month there are meetings that start around seven o’clock. Selectman Santolucito said he served on the Board; it is a good
way to learn a lot about the schools and it is important that someone steps up. Selectman Santolucito said if there are any questions any of the Board members will be glad to answer them. Members are paid $15.00 for each meeting which he said is not a lot of money but it helps with gas costs. He reiterated that it is really important that someone steps up and serves until June; then that person can re-evaluate whether he/she wants to run for the position.
Selectman Harmon said last Thursday when Selectman Santolucito was at the Budget Advisory Committee Meeting the Board was concluding their interviews for the Deputy Business Office Clerk. She said there will be an Executive Order later on; the Board did offer the job to one of the candidates. Selectman Harmon reported that she spent Friday in the office working on getting references and calling people.
Selectman Harmon said the Board talked earlier in their office about naming the entrance going into the Buxton Hannaford parking lot. About a month ago the Board met with Chief Schools, Chief Grovo, and the Code Enforcement Officer to discuss naming it “Hannaford Drive”. She asked if the Board needs to do an Executive Order to formally name it. It can be done next week but she said she was thinking about it and did not want to forget to bring it up.
Selectman Harmon said the Board needs to set date for a Public Hearing for one of the junkyards in Town. We have a business in town that has changed hands. She said they are still operating as the prior business but according to State Statute, in order for the Board to issue a Permit to the new owner, they have to hold a Public Hearing first. She talked about some possible dates and mentioned that the Board will ask our Code Enforcement Officer to do an inspection to make sure there are no issues at the site.
Selectman Harmon said Robert Elwell had come in to see the Board awhile back in regards to the small piece of land in front of his house that is on Boynton Road. When the State rebuilt Route 112 they reconfigured how that comes out. She talked to someone at the State and asked if they have any plans from when they reconfigured that, just for size and distance, so that the Board could have idea of what the dimensions of that are so they can give the piece of land to Robert Elwell. She has not received anything from the State and said she is going down to the Code Enforcement office to see if they have anything on file. Other than that, she reported that she has been in the office every day and said it has been pretty quiet.
Selectman Burns reported that he was involved in the interviews last Thursday night and has been in contact with other Selectmen throughout the week on several issues.
Selectman Emery reported that he was unable to participate in the interviews last week because of a personal issue but he thanked the other Selectmen for coming in and getting that done. He went on to say that he does call in and tries to talk with other Selectmen every day to make sure he is available if there is anything they need to discuss and to keep up to date on things.
None
The Board agreed on a date for the Public Hearing on a Junkyard Permit for Saint’s Automobile Sales & Service and asked Bev Gammon to type up a hearing notice for the Board to sign next week.
E.O.151610003 – An order to approve a Poverty Abatement Application for Case Number PA 15-005
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610004 – An order to approve a Poverty Abatement Application for Case Number PA 15-006
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610005 – An order to approve the hire of Warren Day as a full time Patrol Officer starting October 11, 2015 at a pay rate of $20.60 per hour
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610006 – An order to approve the hire of Jon Simonds as a full time Dispatcher starting October 21, 2015 at a pay rate of $16.35 per hour
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610007 – An order to appoint Scott Warchol to the position of Budget Committee Member effective until June 18, 2016
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610008 – An order to approve 8 hours of vacation time for Charisse Keach
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610009 – An order to approve an Application For a Veteran Exemption for [Map 5, Lot 35-1]
Approved 4-0-1
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 15161010 – An order to approve the hire of Angela Michie as Deputy Business Office Clerk effective October 19, 2015 at a pay rate of $15.00 per hour
Approved 4-0-1
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151610001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #32
Approved 4-0-1
The amount of the warrant was $61,788.91
E.O. 151610002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #31
Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $54,932.42
- Next Meeting of the Board
- Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, October 12 at 6:30 PM at the Waterboro Town Hall
- Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, October 14, at 7:00 PM
- Special Town Meeting Wednesday, October 14 at 7:00 PM to reconcile accounts for Fiscal Year ending 6/30/2015
- Public Hearing Wednesday, October 21 at 7:00 PM on amendments to the MMA Model Ordinance GA Appendices (A-D) for the period October 1, 2015 – September 30, 2016
- Liquor License Appeal Hearing for William H. Ham III, d/b/a Skip’s Lounge, Monday, October 26 at 10:00 AM
- Public Hearing Wednesday, October 28 at 7:00 PM on a Liquor License Renewal for Kevin & Sundae Fallen D/B/A Personal Touch Catering, located at 62 Chicopee Road, Buxton
Selectman Harmon mentioned that the Liquor License Appeal Hearing is run by the State. She said she asked Selectman Burns if he would be here that day. The last time they had a hearing like this, they ran it like a court where if you are to speak and give any testimony, you have to be sworn in. Selectman Harmon has an appointment in Portland that day and she does not want to have to get up and leave if she has not had time yet to give any testimony.
Town Office will be closed Monday, October 12 in observance of Columbus Day, and the Transfer Station will be closed Tuesday, October 13. There will be no change in the curbside trash pick-up schedule.
There will be a Flu Shot Clinic at Buxton Town Hall Friday, October 16 from 1:00 – 2:00 PM. This clinic is open to the public. Please bring your insurance card. The cost will be $30 for anyone paying cash.
There is one open position on the School Board. If anyone is interested in serving, please call the Selectmen’s Office at 929-5191 to let us know and provide contact information.
- Public Comments and Questions
None
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 PM
Approved 4-0-1
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