Town of Mount Desert
Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
December 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 Town Manager Durlin Lunt, Police Chief Jim Willis, Treasurer Kathi Mahar, Harbormaster John Lemoine, and Town Clerk/Recording Secretary Joelle Nolan; and members of the public.
I. Call to order at 6:30 p.m.
Chairman Macauley called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Public Hearing(s)
None
III. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes from December 1, 2014 meeting.
MOTION: Selectman Hart moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to approve the minutes as presented from December 1, 2014 meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
IV. Appointments/Recognitions/Resignations
A. Confirm Appointment of Jane Cornman to the Events Committee
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to confirm the appointment of Jane Cornman to the Events Committee effective December 15, 2014. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
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. Department Reports: Public Works, Wastewater Treatment Plants
B. Planning Board Meeting Minutes November 12 & 18, 2014
B. Hancock County Commissioners Meeting Minutes November 26, 2014
C. Department Marine Resources Notice of Renewal of Limited Purpose Aquaculture License – Jay Emlen
MOTION: Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to accept the Consent Agenda as presented. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VI. Selectmen’s Reports
Chairman Macauley confirmed with Board members that Town Manager Lunt’s compensation be increased by 3%. Selectman Shubert suggested restating the evaluation score. Selectman Richardson stated the evaluation range has a max of 4 and Town Manager Lunt’s total was 2.95, which results in a 3% raise.
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to increase the Town Manager’s salary by 3%, retroactive to his contract date. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VII. Old Business
A. Police Chief Sharing Agreement with Bar Harbor
Town Manager Lunt reviewed the high lights of the past several months. Both departments are more integrated. He sees the potential to improve law enforcement throughout the Island. Selectman Richardson confirmed that Chief Willis concurs with the agreement. Selectman Dudman asked Chief Willis to expand on the administrative assistant position. Chief Willis explained they expect to fill the position with someone from the Bar Harbor dispatch department which will allow the police supervisors to get back to supervising and out in the field. Much of what takes their time is administrative (payroll, paying bills, etc) and keeps our most trusted and experienced police officers strapped to a desk. Selectman Richardson noted Chief Willis is taking a pay cut, which will
go toward paying the admin assistant.
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to approve the Police Sharing Agreement with Bar Harbor as presented.
DISCUSSION: When asked if all officers are sworn officers, Chief Willis replied yes and explained that part-time officers can work a limited amount of hours without going to the Academy. They are used mostly for relief and backfill of vacation time. Bar Harbor tends to use part-timers as seasonal officers for a few months, then they leave. Ours tend to be local people that we keep. His goal is to use the part-time officers in both locations.
VOTE: The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VIII. New Business
A. LUZO Advisory Group, Discussion of Schedule and Review of Ordinance Changes
Noel Musson, Planning Consultant was present and reviewed the proposed list of items that the Group plans to address in the coming months. He has talked with the Planning Board and enlisted its support. He sees the mobile vendor discussion as an important item. Selectman Richardson asked if he wants feedback from the Board of Selectmen and Mr. Musson replied yes. Selectman Richardson suggested anything that can be done to increase density for “affordable” housing should be high on the list, along with economic issues. Mr. Musson said housing is one of the top priorities. Selectman Shubert addressed Town Manager Lunt and said we went through many of these same issues last year and came up with a lot that went nowhere. He would like to see some focus and
accomplishment at town meeting. Both Town Manager Lunt and Mr. Musson agreed the plan is to make the ordinance more user friendly. The Group is trying to think/look at area specific, rather than use by use. Mr. Musson promotes looking at villages separately and needs (commercial) of each. Guest houses and kitchens are an issue to be addressed. Selectman Dudman suggested business signs are an issue; Mr. Musson said they can be addressed, which is a great example of specifying for each village.
Mr. Musson also noted the Group will hold public workshops prior to the more formal public hearings.
B. Authorize Small Animal Clinic Contract for 2015
MOTION: Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to authorize the Small Animal Clinic Contract for 2015 as presented. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
C. Non-Resident Commercial Fishing User Fee for 2015
Harbormaster John Lemoine was present and explained this request stems from the increased use of the facilities; infra-structure maintenance is necessary to keep the good standard of operation. He requested that aqua-culture be added to the description.
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to authorize the Harbormaster to implement a Non-Resident Commercial Fishing and Aqua Culture User Fee of $500.00 annually beginning 2015 as recommended by the Marine Management Committee; fee to include Bartletts Landing, Northeast Harbor, and Seal Harbor. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
D. Approve Drafting of Warrant Articles to Establish Reserve Accounts for Building & Grounds with a Reserve of $10,000 and Parks & Cemeteries with a Reserve of $10,000
Town Manager Lunt explained this is a housekeeping item; we need authorization from the Board to establish the reserve in the Capital Improvement Plan.
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to approve the drafting of Warrant Articles to establish Reserve Accounts for Building & Grounds with a Reserve of $10,000 and Parks & Cemeteries with a Reserve of $10,000. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
E. Such other business as may be legally conducted
None presented.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants
A. Approve & Sign Treasurer’s Warrant AP1538 in the amount of $291,864.91
B. Approve Signed Treasurer’s Payroll, State Fees, & PR Benefit Warrants AP1536, AP1537, PR1523, & PR1524 in the amounts of $2,121.34, $21,417.80, $45,511.10, & $41,164.20, respectively
C. Acknowledge Treasurer’s School Board AP/Payroll Warrant(s) 7 & 12 in the amounts of $32,667.26 & $58,666.11
MOTION: Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Hart, to approve, sign, and acknowledge Treasurer’s Warrants A – C totaling $493,412.72. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
X. Executive Session
None
XI. Adjournment
MOTION: At 7:29 p.m., Selectman Richardson moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to adjourn the meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Matthew J. Hart,
Secretary
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