Town of Buxton
Minutes for December 2, 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, Ellen DeCotiis, Bradley Garand, Melinda Garand, Patrick Hanna
Selectmen’s Meeting Agenda
Selectman Emery called the meeting to order at 7:03 PM.
Selectman Emery led the Pledge.
- Approval of Prior Meeting Minutes
Selectmen Meeting Minutes November 18, 2015
Approved 3-0-2
- Discussion held between 4:00 & 7:00 p.m.
At 4:00 a resident who had asked about the sidewalk in Bar Mills on Route 4-A came in and asked the Board if there is any chance they could improve that. Selectman Harmon gave them a little history on when the state owned 4-A and she said they (state) were going to improve the sidewalk but that never transpired. Selectman Harmon said the Board will look into it.
At 4:30 Conrad Jellison from ION Networking came in and gave the Selectmen some information on upgrades to the Police, Dispatch computer system, what has been done, and how our new backup system is working. Also, the Board has a proposal from them for the next budget cycle.
At 6:00 the Selectmen interviewed an applicant for the Treasurer position.
Selectman Harmon reported that before the interview the Selectmen had a discussion about a Town Manager.
The selectmen were asked if they could elaborate more on that.
Selectman Emery said his comment during the discussion was that he is not interested in that.
Selectman Harmon shared her thoughts and said she has been on the Board for 13 years and during that time there has been some continuity on the Board and a lot of historical knowledge among those selectmen who have longevity here. She talked about those who have run for the position of selectman in the past few elections and said the Board hopes new people will run, but when the longevity is gone it would be nice to have a Town Manager who could run the town and handle all that the Board does.
Selectman Emery said knowledge is something that gets passed on, everyone can be replaced, and the Town Manager is only as good as the Board he serves under because the Town Manager is not the boss. The Board of Selectmen sets the policy and decides how it wants things to go and the Town Manager works under the direction of the Board. A Town Manager could come in with a personal agenda but the Board has the best interest of the Town in mind. He repeated his comment that the Town Manager is only as good as the Board he serves under. Selectman Emery said he is not in favor of spending the kind of money it would cost for that one person.
Selectman Poitras said his thoughts on the whole thing are with the day-to-day operation.. He said right now there are two or three selectmen who can pop in for some portion of most days but some of the other selectmen are not able to do that as much. He is concerned about whether or not the town would run as efficiently if there is a change on the Board where a lot of the selectmen could not make it in as much.
Selectman Burns said Buxton is the largest town in the state without a Town Manager. Considering all the state and federal laws, the federal requirements for health insurance, the fact that we don’t have a personnel manager and there are so many things happening all the time; it is difficult for the Board to keep up with all of that, and he said he thinks the time has come for the Board to seriously consider a Town Manager.
Selectman Harmon commented that the selectmen have been fortunate to have great employees who can do these things for them.
Selectman Santolucito said he was not in favor of a Town Manager the last time it was brought up about 5 years ago. He said he would not want to lose the ability for a 5 person elected Select Board to set the direction of the town. He shares the concerns about the day-to-day operations. He said the Board is fortunate right now to have at
least 3 people on the Board who are accessible, very knowledgeable, and understand what goes on but he wonders where the Board might end up a few years from now if that changes. Selectman Santolucito said he thinks it is worth looking at.
- Email from Maine D.O.T. – Re: Bar Mills bridge Progress Meeting Minutes
- Email from John Sylvester – Re: Twelve Town Minutes 11/09/2015
- Email from SAD #6 Business Office – Re: Budget Advisory Committee Meeting Agenda 12/03/2015
- Email from Dave Francoeur, Deputy EMA Director for York County – Re: Schedule change Updating & Maintaining Local Emergency Operation Plans
- Review of Projects and Issues
Selectman Santolucito reported that he will be attending the SAD #6 Budget Advisory Committee meeting tomorrow night. He said he asked about the last meeting and was told that Frye Island did not come up in any of the discussion. Selectman Santolucito said he is going to try to get an update on Frye Island tomorrow night.
Selectman Harmon reported that she has been in and has preliminarily gone over the draft audit report. She said she will be looking at it more closely to make sure everything looks good and that the numbers reported are okay. Selectman Harmon also reported that the Board has had resumes for the Treasurer’s position which she has gone through. She mentioned that the Board had one interview tonight.
Selectman Burns reported that he attended the last Twelve Town Group meeting. He said he has not had a chance to talk with the Board about the discussion they had on solar panels but he is confident he can convince the selectmen to have the gentleman who spoke there come in and talk with them about it. He said it is a complicated issue and someone would need to come in and explain it to the Board. Selectman Burns said there is an opportunity for the town to save a little money but would not really see any savings until year 15 so he said it would be a long-term investment.
Other than that, Selectman Burns briefly mentioned the times he has been in the office this past week and said he will go to the SAD #6 Budget Advisory Committee Thursday night and try to get caught up on things as well because he has been out of the loop for the last few weeks.
Selectman Poitras reported that he has been in every couple days or so over the past couple of weeks to see how things were going and answer any questions that needed to be answered. He has been working with the Police Chief and a resident about speeding traffic on his road. Selectman Poitras also mentioned the controlled burn the Fire-Rescue Department had at Bonny Eagle a couple weeks ago. He said he believes that Low’s donated the building to the town and the Fire Department got 4 or 5 burns out of it before they had to destroy it. He said it was a wonderful thing that they were able to donate it and it was a well-orchestrated training by Chief Schools.
Selectman Emery said he had the opportunity to come into the office a few times this last week. He went over to the Public Works garage to see Tom Kennie and said he also stopped at the Transfer Station and talked with Greg Heffernan about how things are going over there. Selectman Emery said everything is going great and the town’s Department Heads and employees do a fantastic job.
Selectman Emery said he also started looking over the draft audit report and hopes the town will have a new Treasurer in the next few weeks so everyone can meet to review the draft audit together.
None
None
E.O. 151612003 – An order to approve 16 hours of vacation time for Nathan Schools
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151612004 – An order to approve Beverly Gammon’s attendance at the Maine Welfare Directors GA Winter Issues Workshop
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151612005 – An order to approve an Application for Veteran Exemption for [Map 7, Lot 47B)
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151612006 – An order to approve a Pole Permit for Central Maine Power Company and Saco River Telephone LLC to construct and maintain 1 pole starting at the corner of River Road & Depot Street/New Road, southwest from River Road a distance of +/- 350 feet
Approved 5-0
E.O. 151612007 – An order to approve 4 hours of vacation leave for Marilyn Holland
Approved 5-0
- Executive Orders by Initiative
None
- Accounts Payable and Payroll Warrants
E.O. 151612001 – An order approving expenditures as documented in the Accounts Payable Warrant #49
Approved 5-0
The amount was $96,292.43
E.O. 151612002 – An order approving expenditures as documented in Payroll Warrant #48
Approved 5-0
The amount of one was $55,149.99
- Next Meeting of the Board
SAD #6 Budget Advisory Committee Meeting Thursday, December 3 at 6:00 PM at Central Office
Board of Selectmen Meeting Wednesday, December 9 at 7:00 PM
Buxton Toy Box Applications are available at Town Office and can be picked up during our regular business hours. Applications can be submitted Thursday, December 3 from 12:30 ~ 2:30 PM, and the Friday, December 4 from 9:00 AM until Noon. Toy Box Applications will not be accepted after noon on Friday, December 4.
Rabies Vaccination Clinic this Saturday, December 5, from 1:00 PM ~ 3:00 PM at the Buxton Public Works Garage. The cost is $8.00 per vaccination ~ Cash only. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats must be in carriers. For more information call Buxton Town Clerk’s Office at 929-6171.
The South Buxton Cemetery Association will hold their 9th annual Wreaths Across America Ceremony on Saturday, December 12 at the South Buxton Cemetery on Woodman Road in Bar Mills. The ceremony opens at 11:30 AM. For more information or to purchase a wreath for our Veterans, please call 929-6495 (Wreaths are $15 each). You can designate where you want the wreath to go or have it randomly placed on a Veteran’s lot. This is a wonderful, and moving ceremony so please come out and support our veterans!
On behalf of the Buxton Food Co-op, Selectman Harmon thanked Sandy & Beverly Atkinson the very generous donations of turkeys and gift certificates they have given to the food pantry for the past 12 years and said we are so fortunate to have people like them here in Buxton.
Also, on behalf of the Keep the Heat On Program, Selectman Harmon thanked those who so generously support this program and help buy heating fuel for our elderly residents who cannot afford to buy it. She said we are thankful that the cost of heating fuel has gone down this month but this is typically the time of year when people donate to the program and our returnable program with Clynk. Selectman Harmon commented again on how very fortunate we are to have such generous people in our community.
- Public Comments and Questions
None
None
Motion made and seconded to adjourn the meeting at 7:28 PM
Approved 5-0
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