Town of Mount Desert
Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
September 15, 2014
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room, Town Hall, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman John Macauley; Selectmen Martha Dudman, Matt Hart, Tom Richardson and Dennis Shubert; staff members Treasurer Kathi Mahar, Tax Collector Margaret Porter, Public Works Director Tony Smith, Fire Chief Mike Bender, Harbormaster John Lemoine, and Town Clerk/Recording Secretary Joelle Nolan; and members of the public.
I. Call to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Public Hearing(s)
A. None
III. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes from August 18, 2014 meeting
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to approve the minutes from the August 18, 2014 meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
B. Approval of minutes from September 2, 2014 meeting
MOTION: Selectman Hart moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to approve the minutes from the September 2, 2014 meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
IV. Appointments/Recognitions/Resignations
V. Consent Agenda (These items are considered routine, and therefore, may be passed by the Selectmen in one blanket motion. Board members may remove any item for discussion by requesting such action prior to consideration of that portion of the agenda.)
A. Thank You from Eastern Maine HomeCare
B. Thank You from Neighborhood House
C. Notice of Hancock County 2015 Budget Hearing
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Hart moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to take agenda item VIII. New Business A. Tax Collection Policy out of order. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VIII. New Business
A. Tax Collection Policy
Tax Collector Margaret Porter clarified that the proposed policies are simply a means of expediting the process of collecting and clearing small amounts of taxes.
MOTION: Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to adopt the Tax Collection Policy as presented. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VI. Selectmen’s Reports
None presented.
VII. Old Business
A. Otter Creek Fire Pond Discussion
Fire Chief Bender would like authorization to move forward with the project and use Hedefine to complete the final design and provide bidding services.
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Hart to authorize PWD Smith to sign an agreement with Hedefine Engineering and Design to complete the final design for the Otter Creek Fire Pond project and provide bidding services for the Pond Dredging Project at an amount not to exceed $3,500; and to authorize Fire Chief Bender and PWD Smith to solicit competitive bids for the Project.
B. Sign Placement Update
PWD Smith reported we are in good shape, and the signs look great. He will work with the fabricator to design our own rather than the architect. In response to the mention of the on-line petition against the signs, Selectman Richardson cautioned that we ensure any response is to legitimate taxpayer/property owners. Selectman Shubert suggested the signs are not for locals, rather for visitors, foreign and otherwise. Selectman Hart noted the on-line comments are not all negative; and Selectman Dudman said according to PWD Smith the majority of comments are favorable.
VIII. New Business, continued
B. Northeast Harbor Marina North Dock Expansion
MOTION: Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to authorize the release and expenditure of an amount not to exceed $10,000 from account 638330 Marina Undesignated Fund Balance for permitting needed for the proposed expansion of the Northeast Harbor Marina North Dock. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
Board requested that the Town Manager find out if the Board is authorized to spend this money (versus having to go to Town Meeting) prior to the Harbormaster taking any action.
C. Northeast Harbor Marina Surveillance System Wiring Upgrade
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to authorize the release and expenditure of $3,200 from CIP Security Camera line 4010100-24687 for Northeast Harbor Marina surveillance system wiring upgrade. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
D. Maine Municipal Association Annual Business Meeting Voting Credentials
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to designate Durlin Lunt as the official Voting Delegate for the Town of Mount Desert to the Maine Municipal Association Annual Business Meeting scheduled for October 1, 2014. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
E. Post-2018 Solid Waste Management Process and Planning Update
Public Works Director Smith referred to the Argyle Township letter and MRC summary. The issue is the potential closing of PERC in 2018 and what we will do with our solid waste. Landfills take a long time to become permitted; there is an upcoming MRC meeting to review this material. Selectman Shubert asked if PERC isn’t sustainable due to the cost of electricity and PWD Smith replied, yes, the contract with Emera expires in 2018. Selectman Shubert also wondered if the Town’s waste will continue to go through an intermediate step before going to Bangor, and again PWD Smith replied yes. PWD Smith suggested this might be a good time to resurrect the Solid Waste/Recycle Committee; or use the Sustainability Committee to educate the public. Clearly the cost of throwing
away trash is increasing.
F. Municipal Review Committee (MRC) Election of Directors
No action required; nominations only and none needed.
G. Such other business as may be legally conducted
None presented.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants
A. Approve & Sign Treasurer’s Warrant AP1518 in the amount of $1,027,179.55
B. Approve Signed Treasurer’s Payroll, State Fees, & PR Benefit Warrants PR1510, PR1511, AP1516, & AP1517 in the amount of $50,375.33, $44,821.33, $6,525.17, & $81,425.12, respectively
C. Acknowledge Treasurer’s School Board AP/Payroll Warrant(s) 3 & 6 in the amount of $68,700.00 & $57,327.15
MOTION: Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to approve, sign, and acknowledge Treasurer’s Warrants A – C totaling $1,336,353.65. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
X. Executive Session
A. None
XI. Adjournment
MOTION: At 6:52 p.m., Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to adjourn the meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Matthew J. Hart,
Secretary
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