Town of Mount Desert
Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes
February 19, 2013
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Community Room, Somesville Fire Station, Somesville, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Tom Richardson; Selectmen Martha Dudman, John Macauley and Rick Mooers; staff members Town Manager Durlin Lunt, Treasurer Kathi Mahar, Assessor Kyle Avila, Fire Chief Mike Bender, Police Chief Jim Willis, Harbormaster Shawn Murphy, Public Works Director Tony Smith, and Town Clerk/Recording Secretary Joelle Nolan; and members of the public. Selectman Dennis Shubert was excused.
I. Call to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Public Hearing(s)
A. None
III. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes from February 4, 2013 meeting.
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to approve the minutes from February 4, 2013 meeting. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
IV. Appointments & Recognitions
A. Appoint Todd Graham to the Technology Committee effective February 20, 2013
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to appoint Todd Graham to the Technology Committee effective February 20, 2013. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
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: Code Enforcement, Wastewater Treatment Plants, Fire, Treasurer (Financials)
B. Marine Management Committee Minutes December 11, 2012
C. Hancock County Assessment 2013
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to acknowledge receipt of Consent Agenda items A – C as presented. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
VI. Selectmen’s Reports
Chairman Richardson reported he received a letter and nomination papers from the Maine Town City Managers Association regarding nominations for Manager of the year. Town Manager Lunt said he was not interested.
VII. Old Business
A. Building Permit Fee Reimbursement, continued discussion
Town Manager Lunt stated he and Code Enforcement Officer Keene were unable to carry out the Board vote from its last meeting [authorize a total reimbursement to Charles Bucklin of the first permit ($1,049) less the processing fees as determined by Code Enforcement Officer Keene and Town Manager Lunt]. Determining the CEO’s time spent on permits has proven difficult. He asked the Board to reconsider the issue. Selectman Mooers read his draft policy statement: any approved request for reimbursement of a permit fee shall be assessed a ten percent administration fee; any permit not acted upon by the Permittee within one year shall be ineligible for reimbursement; and consideration and approval of any permit reimbursement shall be the under the purview of the Code Enforcement Officer. Board briefly discussed
the pros and cons of the proposed policy statement and agreed it needed to be expanded. As for the issue at hand, Board agreed to reimburse Mr. Bucklin.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to reimburse Charles Bucklin the full amount of Building Permit #6040 in the amount of $1022.29. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
Selectman Mooers will bring new policy statement wording to the next Board meeting.
B. General Obligation Bonds, discussion
Regarding the Northeast Harbor Wastewater Treatment Upgrade and the Municipal Garage Construction, Treasurer Mahar said the purpose of this discussion is to determine whether to issue RFP’s or award funding for GOB’s. Although the Town has historically issued RFP’s for funding GOB’s neither the Town’s Charter nor State Statute requires us to request formal bids. She is hoping to reduce the expense of RFP’s; she also noted the limited time frame. Bond Counsel says we do not have to go to bid if we have made the effort to obtain a reasonable rate. When asked if rates are contingent upon our monies being in their bank, Treasurer Mahar replied Bar Harbor Bank & Trust does not so require. She recommends not having the expense of having Bond Counsel do the bids; its cost is
usually between $1200 and $2500. Public Works Director Smith said he supports Treasurer Mahar’s recommendation and suggests a 15 year term. Treasurer Mahar said we need Town Meeting approval to bond; and we need to decide how to approach the borrowing. She recommends using the Bond Bank for the sewer project; and either Bar Harbor Bank & Trust or Machias Savings Bank for the garage.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley to waive the bid process, to approve the use of the Bond Bank for the Northeast Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade project, and to request formal proposals from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and Machias Savings Bank on the Municipal Garage Construction. After a brief discussion about separating the issues, Selectman Mooers withdrew his motion and Selectman Macauley withdrew his second.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to waive the bid process and approve the use of the Bond Bank for the Northeast Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade project. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to waive the bid process and to request formal proposals from Bar Harbor Bank & Trust and Machias Savings Bank on the Municipal Garage Construction. The vote was in favor, 3-0-1 with Selectman Dudman abstaining due to her position on the Bar Harbor Bank & Trust Board of Directors.
VIII. New Business
A. Third Party Requests
Chairman Richardson welcomed all in attendance. He asked the presenters to limit their presentations to a minute or minute and half and noted the Board will not be voting on the requests tonight; discussion and votes will take place at a later date.
Aid Society of Otter Creek $8,000; Selectman Macauley noted he was simply imparting information. The request is primarily for repairs to the belfry of the community building.
American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter $1,100; Todd Nadeau Executive Director reported many statistics for Hancock County and emphasized the service to the local military families.
Acadian Little League $950; Matt Hart said more kids are participating in the program.
Bar Harbor Food Pantry $1,500; no representation.
Down East AIDS Network $1,200; no representation
Downeast Horizons Inc $5,600; Ashley Johnson spoke to their great need to provide a variety of services to adults and children with developmental disabilities. Twenty Mount Desert residents are served.
Downeast Transportation/Island Explorer $14,000; no representation.
Eastern Area Agency on Aging $500; no representation.
Eastern Maine Home Care dba Hancock County Home Care & Hospice $1,200; no representation.
Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County $1,000; no representation.
Island Connections $2,000; no representation.
Mount Desert Chamber of Commerce $7,450; Matt Hart President said this covers half of the staffing costs of a season. Last summer, with the new location and building, brought a 400% jump in visitors - 11,000 people.
Mount Desert Island Historical Society $2,000; Tim Garrity Executive Director said the money is needed for repairs to the Selectmen’s Building in Somesville and the Sound School House.
Mount Desert Nursery School $1,800; Megan Goff reported the funds will help replace a worn rug. Eighteen families from the Town of Mount Desert are served by the school.
Mount Desert Nursing Association $23,000; testimonials from Ann Funderburk and Karol Hagberg, a per diem nurse, extolled the needed services of the Association.
Neighborhood House $88,000; Ann-Marie Hart Executive Director noted NHH serves as a pseudo recreation department for the Town of Mount Desert and offers very diversified services.
Northeast Harbor Library $20,500; Brook Minner Director explained the Library archives many of the Town of Mount Desert records and worked with the Town last summer to organize and store several more records. Over 61,000 items were utilized, along with many free community programs attended by over 4500 people
Northeast Harbor Village Improvement Society $5,000; Rick Savage President noted the NEH VIS is one of oldest organizations in Town being incorporated in 1899. In addition to trail maintenance and vista clearings, it published and distributed for free a trail map.
Seal Harbor Library Association $4,000; Ann Funderburk spoke to the active children’s story program and the popularity of the Library.
Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society$30,700; Ann Funderburk said 1/3 of the VIS’ budget is for a full-time employee that takes care of the beach, trails, etc., and she noted the staggering increase in the cost of health insurance.
Somesville Library Association $8,000; Karol Hagberg described the Library as small but vibrant. It serves many locals and summer visitors to Somesville Harbor, and is also used by the community for meetings.
Somesville Village Improvement Society $2,000; Linda Savage President said the funds will be used for the continued beautification of the village.
Pretty Marsh Community Corporation $3,000; no representation.
Washington Hancock Community Agency $844; no representation.
Yesterday’s Children Inc $300; no representation.
B. Revenue Projections
Town Manager Lunt said the projection numbers were compiled by a team effort with Department Heads. If the Governor eliminates revenue sharing, approximately $78,000 would be lost. He chose not to include this in the budget and looks to the Board’s judgment whether or not to add it in. The majority of the numbers is based on past history from the Department Heads and represents a reasonable approximation.
It was noted 101-40 Other Revenues are less because interest rates are down and the Tax Club causes payments to be spread over several months, therefore monies are not available up front to invest.
Town Manager Lunt said he will present complete budget worksheets at the Board’s March 4 meeting. Chairman Richardson asked if the tax rate estimate will also be available then, and Town Manager Lunt replied yes.
C. Liquor License Renewal Application Lighthouse Inn & Restaurant
Town Manager Lunt noted the application is contingent upon receipt of a Certificate of Insurance providing proof of the required liability insurance.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to approve Liquor License Renewal Application for Lighthouse Inn & Restaurant contingent on insurance verification. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
D. Citizen Request to use Seal Harbor Village Green & Dunham Park August 10, 2013
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to approve Dennis Shubert’s request to use Dunham Park August 9 and 10, 2013. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
E. Northeast Harbor & Bartlett Island Landing Float Bids, accept & award
MOTION: Selectman Macauley moved, seconded by Selectman Mooers, to award the Northeast Harbor Float Bid to Wilfred Mincton (Charles Bradley Barge) in the amount of $52,742.56 for construction, delivery, and installation of five 20 ft x 20 ft floats for the Northeast Harbor Marina commercial float, and to approve expenditure from the NEH Moorings/Floats account #24120-85 for an amount not to exceed $52,742.56. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to award the Bartlett Island Landing Float Bid to Wilfred Mincton (Charles Bradley Barge) in the amount of $21,096.40 for construction, delivery, and installation of two 20 ft x 20 ft floats for the Bartlett Landing facility, and to approve expenditure from the Bartlett Dock CIP #24120-70 and Bartlett Moorings/Float reserve #24120-71 for an amount not to exceed $21,096.40. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
The vote was in favor, 4-0.
F. Such other business as may be legally conducted
Town Manager Lunt suggested eliminating the Special Budget Meeting scheduled for February 25, 2013 since there are no major ordinance changes to review. Board agreed.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants
A. Approve & Sign Treasurer’s Warrant #97 in the amount of $376,158.18
B. Approve Signed Treasurer’s State Fee Warrants #92, #94, #95 in the amounts of $7,049.70, $14,173.02, and $2,708.45, respectively
C. Approve Signed Treasurer’s Wage & Benefit Warrants #93 & #96 in the amounts of $45,975.34 & $51,323.82, respectively
D. Acknowledge Treasurer’s School Board Payroll Warrant #17 in the amount of $124,285.63
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to approve Treasurer’s Warrants totaling $621,674.14 as described in agenda items IX. A. – D. The vote was in favor, 4-0.
X. Executive Session
A. None
XII. Adjournment
MOTION: At 7:4 p.m. Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Macauley, to adjourn the meeting.
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