Town of Buxton
Minutes for November 4, 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: Bradley Garand, Patrick Hanna, Scott Warchal, Ellen DeCotiis, David Harmon
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Emery called the meeting to order at 7:01 PM.
Selectman Emery led the Pledge.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes October 28, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
Bob Gingras, owner of Parker Appraisals, and assessor for the Town of Buxton, came in and talked with Selectman Harmon and Selectman Burns about complaints from some residents of people walking around their property. Selectman Harmon reminded us that this is the last year of a 4-year program where the assessors are going around checking properties, making sure that the information on the property record card matches what is actually on the property. Bob Gingras works with his son, Tim. They have ID Badges and when they come to a home they approach the house, knock on the door, and ring the doorbell if there is one. If no one is home, they proceed to do their job which is to walk around the property.
Selectman Harmon asked the appraisers to continue to identify themselves and she said the Board understands there may be children home alone and when the appraiser goes to the door they may not answer, but the appraiser will walk around the property. Their intent is not to try and scare anyone; they are just doing their job
Chief Schools came in and went over the new SCBA tanks and air packs that are now on all the trucks, and gave the Selectmen an update on ISO. He said he hopes what the Department has done so far will be evaluated in the next 90 days and we will have a new ISO rating by next spring. Chief Schools also talked about selling the old air packs and using some of the money to purchase new radios. He is going to put together bid specifications for selling the old packs.
David Fields, a resident, came in and talked with the Selectmen about his interest in becoming a Trustee of Pleasant Point Park. The Selectmen gave him some information on what that would entail and agreed to appoint him at the next Selectmen’s Meeting.
Tom Kennie, our Public Works Director, brought in a part-time driver for the winter to introduce to the Board. Selectman Harmon said the Board was impressed with him.
After that, the Selectmen had a discussion about Frye Island and talked about some poverty abatements.
- Email from John Myers, Buxton Town Clerk – Re: Election Results for Town of Buxton
Selectman Emery provided details on the number of voters, voter turnout that was about 15%, and reviewed voting results sent from the Town Clerk.
- Email from Steve Heroux, Buxton Business District Focus Group – Re: Minutes of Meeting for 10-07-2015
- Email from John Sylvester, Chairman, Twelve Town Group – Re: Nov. 9 Solar Presentation & Minutes for October 12 Meeting
- Email from Kayla White at Maine D.O.T – Re: Bar Mills-Hollis Bridge Progress Meeting Minutes for 11-3-2015
- Email from Superintendent’s Office – Re: MSAD 6 Board of Directors Meeting Cancelled for 11-16-15
- Email from Dave Francoeur, Deputy Director, York County EMA – Re: Invitation to a seminar on Updating & Maintaining Local Emergency Operation Plans Workshop in Wells, December 2.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Poitras reported that he spent some time here during the voting and said that went smoothly and was handled very efficiently. He also mentioned that the flu shot clinic which he thought was good to have and said he took advantage of that himself.
Selectman Poitras also reported that he was working with a resident who had some concerns about the appraiser coming around.
Selectman Burns was out of town this past week for his granddaughter’s birthday party. He returned from North Carolina last night. He mentioned that the painting at the West Buxton Public Library has been completed.
Selectman Santolucito reported that he attended the SAD 6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting last Thursday night. He said Buxton was well-represented; Penny Booker, Brad Garand, Scott Warchol, and Steve Heroux were all there. The Budget Advisory Committee is recommending that the SAD 6 Board of Directors hire legal counsel to start pulling the facts together on the issue around Frye Island residents not paying their fair share of the taxes. Selectman Santolucito said Bill Brockman did an excellent presentation in terms of the 2013 numbers. Selectman Santolucito said the impact on Buxton would be about $504,000 which looks like a tax rate increase of approximately 72 cents on the dollar. Selectman Santolucito said there is a lot of work to do. There is another meeting
on Thursday, November 19 and Selectman Santolucito said he will continued to send updates.
Selectman Santolucito also mentioned that one of our vendors completed the installation of the server backups in Dispatch and Police.
Selectman Harmon reported she has been in every day. She mentioned a call she received from a resident who was upset that there was something on the property record card that shouldn’t have been there. Selectman Harmon said it is the responsibility of the property owner to check the property record card. The town does not randomly put something on a card. She said the town has not had a true re-valuation since 1994. Selectman Harmon encouraged people to come in every now and then and look at their property record cards which will show what the town has valued on each property, and if there is a problem, you can get it corrected. She said part of this 4-year program the town has been doing is to correct those things.
Selectman Harmon was here for voting and said she was approached by someone who had asked about getting town information put on their church newsletter. Selectman Harmon said we are in the process of re-vamping our website but people can subscribe to news that is put on the website. She suggested they do that.
Selectman Harmon brought up the issue of the discontinued section of Boynton Road and said the Board needs to resolve that. When the State rebuilt Route 112, they changed how Boynton Road comes out to 112. Robert Elwell lives in front of that discontinued piece. Selectman Harmon said she is waiting for the State to send information on how they had it surveyed so the Board has that information and can get that taken care of.
Selectman Emery was able to get in one day last week to catch up on several things. When he cannot make it in to the office, he calls in and stays in touch with other Selectmen to stay up to date on what is going on.
None
None
E.O. 151611003 – An order to approve John Myers’ attendance at the Motor Vehicle Fall Workshop
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151611004 – An order to approve an Application for Exemption for the Widow of a Veteran for [Map 8, Lot 20A-4]
Approved 5-0
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151611001– An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #40
Approved 5-0
The total of that was $44,930.92
E.O. 151611002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #39
Approved 5-0
The amount of that was $59,487.52
- Next Meeting of the Board
- Twelve Town Group Meeting Monday, November 9, at 6:30 PM, at Waterboro Town Hall
- No Selectmen’s Meeting on November 11, Veterans Day.
- Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, November 18 at 7:00 PM
- SAD 6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, Nov 19, at 6 PM at Central Office
A brief discussion followed the meeting announcement. Selectman Emery asked Scott Warchol if he wants to be on that committee. Mr. Warchol responded saying that he is thinking about it but does not want to over-commit himself.
Blood Drive at Buxton Town Hall Tuesday, November 10 from 1:00 PM ~ 6:00 PM. Please call 1-800-Red Cross or log on to www.redcrossblood.org for an appointment.
Buxton Town Office will be closed Wednesday, November 11, for Veterans Day
No change in the curbside trash pickup schedule. The Selectmen will be in Tuesday to sign the warrants.
Buxton Toy Box Applications are now available at Town Office and can be picked up during our regular business hours.
Rabies Vaccination Clinic Saturday, December 5 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Buxton Public Works Garage. Cost is $8.00 per vaccination – Cash only. For more information call Buxton Town Hall at 929-6171.
- Public Comments and Questions
A resident, Ellen DeCotiis, went to the podium, introduced herself. She asked about the solar power workshop and wondered if anyone from the Board is going to that.
Selectman Emery replied that two of the Selectmen usually attend the 12 Town Group meetings and are planning to be there.
A brief conversation followed between Selectman Emery and Ms. DeCotiis. She was interested in knowing if he had more details about the workshop. She said she knows a little bit about Freeport and some other towns that worked together to access the solar panels.
Selectman Emery replied that he does not have details but he believes it is the same group that did the solar panel installation at the Dayton Town Hall. He told Ms. DeCotiis that the meeting is open to the public and she is welcome to attend if she wants to.
There were no other questions or comments.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:27 PM
Approved 5-0
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