Town of Buxton
Minutes for October 28, 2015 Selectmen’s Meeting
Prepared by: Beverly Gammon
Members Present: Clifford L. Emery, Jean C. Harmon, Dennis Santolucito, Chad E. Poitras, Peter E. W. Burns was not present.
Others Present: Brad Garand, Melinda Garand, Ellen DeCotiis, Julie Gamelson, David Harmon
Public Hearing – 7:00 PM
Liquor License Renewal – Kevin & Sundae Fallen d/b/a Personal Touch Catering
Selectman Emery read the notice of hearing and opened the Public Hearing at 7:00 PM. Selectman Emery talked with the Police Chief and reported that there have been no issues or complaints. Selectman Emery asked the Selectmen if they had any questions or comments and there were none. He asked if there were any questions or comments from the public. There were none.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:02 PM.
Public Hearing – 7:10 PM
Junkyard Permit Application – Dwayne St. Ours d/b/a Saint’s Auto Sales-Parts
Selectman Emery read the hearing notice and opened the Public Hearing at 7:04 PM.
Selectman Harmon explained that this is an application for the new owner of an existing automobile graveyard or junkyard. She said she spoke with Peter Gordon, our Code Enforcement Officer. He inspected the premises and reported that it wass very clean and everything appears to be in order.
Selectman Emery asked if there were any questions or comments. There were none. He invited the owner to speak. Dwayne St. Ours went to the podium. He introduced himself and gave a brief description of the business. Selectman Emery reported that the Board has had no complaints about the business. He asked for questions or comments from the Board or the public. There were none.
The Public Hearing was closed at 7:05 PM.
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Emery called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
Selectman Emery led the Pledge.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes October 21, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 4:30 PM, Chief Grovo came in and the Board went into Executive Session at 4:40 PM, per 1 M.R.S.A. 506 (6) (A), pursuant to a personnel issue. The Board came out of Executive Session at 5:27 PM. The Board then talked about the backup issues for their computer system. The Board has a proposal from ION Networking and Selectman Harmon said Selectman Santolucito will be calling them to set up a time to come in and meet with the Board to go over that proposal.
The Selectmen spent the rest of the time they had catching up on correspondence and paperwork, and doing their individual work.
- Email from the SAD 6 Business Manager’s Office Re: SAD #6 Budget Advisory Group Meeting Thursday, October 29
Selectman Emery said most of the conversation in that meeting will be about Frye Island. He said it is big money if Frye Island is allowed to have their way and Buxton is looking at an extremely hefty increase in the school budget. A lengthy discussion followed.
Selectman Harmon said the Frye Island impact to Buxton will be close to $500,000 if they are allowed to change the way everyone is currently assessed. They would be assessed 50% based on valuation and not pay anything on a per pupil charge. Selectman Harmon said that out of the other towns, Buxton would be impacted the most, and she reiterated that it would be close to half a million dollars and that does not include the school budget itself. She said last year 43 people voted on a $46,000,000 school budget and the increase everyone saw in their taxes this year is due entirely to the school budget. Based on preliminary information the Board has, Selectman Harmon said, the school budget can increase almost $400,000. That impact alone to the Town of Buxton is
significant. She said this is the time to write to our Legislators and Senators to let them
know that allowing Frye Island to succeed would have a detrimental effect on every taxpayer in this Town. Again she said it will be a significant increase to the Town of Buxton that will impact everyone and that does not even include the municipal budget.
Selectman Emery said last year we had about a $250,000 increase. This year we may be looking at an increase of three quarters of a million over and above last year’s budget if the Frye Island proposal is allowed to pass. Selectman Emery pointed out that when Frye Island left Standish they agreed that they would pay their fair share of the school budget and that they would never leave SAD 6 and he said they are now up in Augusta for the second or third time trying to renege on that. Selectman Emery said for some reason the legislators up there think this is a good idea. He said this is an ongoing saga and it is not going to get cured right away; it is coming up in the Legislature again in January.
Selectman Harmon shared her concerns that this would set a bad precedent and she disagrees with it.
Selectman Emery let everyone know that Tuesday is voting day and he gave a brief description of the three items on the ballot.
Hannaford Pharmacy will have staff here at Town Hall Tuesday to give flu shots between the hours of 8:30 and noon and from 4:30 to 8:00 PM. Please bring your insurance card. The cost will be $25 if not covered by insurance.
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Poitras reported that the Buxton Center Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization hosted a “Trunk or Treat” for Halloween. He said quite a few members of the Buxton Police Department were there as Star Wars characters. He said they converted the Animal Control van into some type of set up and he thought they did an awesome job.
Selectman Santolucito reported that he has been working with ION Networks to do some upgrades in Dispatch to refresh things and harden the environment. He said things are going well now and he wants to make sure we are ahead of the curve on those types of things.
Selectman Santolucito mentioned the SAD 6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting tomorrow night and said the main topic will be Frye Island. They will meet at 6:00 PM at Central Office and he said those meetings are open to the public. He expressed support for what Selectman Emery and Selectman Harmon said earlier and stated that it is a bad idea that has real legs. He said the Bill still has a lot of life and it is a critical issue for the town. He expects to have more information to share next week.
Selectman Harmon reminded people taxes were due on the 20th of October and for those who have not paid their taxes, interest starts after October 31.
Selectman Harmon talked about the State’s Appeal Hearing on the renewal of Skip’s Liquor License and described the process. She said the hearing lasted approximately three hours and Selectman Burns attended as the Board’s representative. The reason for the denial had to do with the fact that the building does not have a sprinkler system, per the State Fire Marshall’s office. The Board provided opening statements; Chief Schools gave information on when the building was supposed to be sprinklered; Bill Ham was given an opportunity to present his facts and findings; and both sides had an opportunity for rebuttals. The matter is now in the hands of the hearing officer who will make a determination and get back to us on that.
Selectman Harmon reported that she has been in every day. She spoke with a resident again today that questioned putting a stop sign at an intersection. She said the Board discussed it last week and they are not going to put a stop sign there. They talked with the Police Chief to ask if there are any issues at that intersection and were told there have not been.
Selectman Harmon said she was asked again today about changing the work hours on Wednesdays. She spoke with the Board about that and the Selectmen are not in favor of changing that.
Selectman Harmon mentioned that Veteran’s Day this year is on a Wednesday, November 11, so the Board will not have a meeting that night. However, three Selectmen will have to come in to sign the Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants for that week.
Selectman Harmon also reported that she worked on some abatements
Selectman Emery has been in a few times this week and said he spent some time with Bev Gammon going over some ongoing issues and getting some background information on some things, and getting information and phone numbers for some calls he needs to make. Selectman Emery also said he was in contact with Selectman Burns throughout the public hearing to monitor how that was going.
None
None
E.O. 151610030 – An order to approve an Application for Exemption for the Widow of a Veteran for [Map10, Lot 9-11]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610031 – An order to approve 16 hours of vacation time for Greg Heffernan
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610032 – An order to approve 24 hours of vacation time for Bev Gammon
Approved 4-0—1
E.O. 151610033 – An order to approve 2.25 hours of time off without pay for Charisse Keach
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610034 – An order to approve Greg Heffernan’s attendance at a DEP Transfer Station Training Workshop
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610035 – An order to appoint Hiram R. Davis as the Election Warden for the State of Maine Referendum Election to be held on November 3, 2015
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610036 – An order to appoint Bradley J. Garand to the position of Maine School Administrative District Number Six Director to be effective until June 18, 2016.
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610037 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate Taxes in the amount of $217.56 for [Map 7, Lot 30-1]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610038 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate Taxes in the amount of $347.06 for [Map 7, Lot 30-2]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610039 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate Taxes in the amount of $347.06 for [Map 7, Lot 30-3]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610040 – An order to approve an Abatement of Real Estate Taxes in the amount of $348.36 for [Map 7, Lot 30-4]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610041 – An order to approve Abatement of Real Estate Taxes in the amount of $347.06 for [Map 7, Lot 30-6]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610042 – An order to approve Abatement of Real Estate Taxes in the amount of $348.36 for [Map 7, Lot 30-7]
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610043 – An order to approve a Pole Permit for Central Maine Power Company and Saco River Telephone LLC to construct and maintain 3 poles starting at the corner of Route 112 & Webster Road, southeasterly from Route 112 a distance of +/- 1700 feet in accordance with Notification 10300172794
Approved 4-0-1
- Executive Orders by Initiative
E.O. 151610044 – An order to approve an Application for a non-transferable Automobile Graveyard or Junkyard Permit for Dwayne St. Ours, d/b/a Saints Auto Sales
Approved 4-0-1
E.O. 151610045 – An order to approve a Liquor License renewal for Kevin & Sundae Fallon, d/b/a Personal Touch Catering
Approved 4-0-1
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151610028 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #38
Approved 4-0-1
The amount was $275,567.32
E.O. 151610029 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #37
Approved 4-0-1
The amount of this warrant was $48,731.04
- Next Meeting of the Board
- SAD #6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, October 29 at 6:00 PM at Central Office
- Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, November 4 at 7:00 PM
Daylight Savings Time officially ends at 2:00 AM Sunday morning, November 1; so remember to turn your clocks back one hour
Polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, November 3 for the State of Maine Referendum Election
2016 Dog Licenses are available now at Town Hall or online
Rabies Vaccination Clinic Saturday, December 5 from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Buxton Public Works Garage. Cost will be $8.00 per vaccination – Cash only. All dogs must be on a leash; all cats in carriers. For more information you can call Buxton Town Hall at 929-6171.
- Public Comments and Questions
Scott Warchol went to the podium and introduced himself. He mentioned Frye Island and said he is planning to go to the SAD 6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting tomorrow night. He made a couple of suggestions regarding additional information to add to our website to make it easier for residents to contact representatives. He said he has been on some panels where a sample letter was drafted that would give people an idea of how to write a letter. Mr. Warchol asked the Selectmen if they are doing anything with the other communities.
Selectman Emery explained that the Budget Advisory Committee is made up of people from every community in District 6 and they are working as a group.
Selectman Harmon said if this Bill goes through it will impact Buxton, Hollis and Limington but Standish will get a break. Buxton will be most significantly impacted.
Selectman Emery said it is based on valuations from two years ago. He went on to share some background information on how the Frye Island legislation was handled explaining that Frye Island’s attorney did not speak at the Public Hearing but was present and allowed to give a 45 minute opinion at the Committee workshop when no one from SAD 6
was there to refute it. The Committee took that attorney’s input and appeared not to take into consideration the input we had given at the hearing. The committee came out agreeing with the attorney and told the other municipalities they need to get together and come up with a solution for Frye Island or they will resolve it when the Legislature convenes in January.
Selectman Harmon said we were fortunate that Selectman Penny Booker had gone to Augusta on the day the Committee was voting on the Bill and was able to get LD 1082 tabled for that Session. She said it bought us some time but it is going to be coming back upon us again. Selectman Harmon talked about the homes on Frye Island that are second homes and she said we have people here who cannot afford to pay taxes on their primary home, never mind a secondary home.
More discussion followed between the Selectmen and Mr. Warschol who said he hopes people will get behind the Board and support them on this.
Selectman Santolucito mentioned that Representative Don Marean was at the last committee meeting. Representative Marean said he turned to his right and looked back at the audience from Limington, Buxton & Hollis and said it was real clear to them that this Frye Island thing is not going to go away and this is a real threat without an organized effort to resolve it. Selectman Santolucito also said that Mr. Bill Brockman and people at the school district are doing a good job putting that coordinated effort together.
Selectman Emery added that the District will probably be hiring someone to represent us on this. He added that almost half the people from Frye Island voted in favor of the school budget.
Mr. Warschol went on to talk about the Girls Scouts and said he thinks it would be a good idea for them to do something related to recycling.
Selectman Harmon said that was not one of the ideas that the Girl Scouts had come up with but she thinks it is a great idea.
There was no further discussion.
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:42 PM
Approved 4-0-1
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