Town of Mount Desert
Board of Selectmen
Meeting Minutes July 2, 2012
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room, Town Hall, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Tom Richardson; Selectmen Martha Dudman, Rick Mooers and Dennis Shubert; staff members Town Manager Durlin Lunt, Police Chief Jim Willis, Treasurer Kathi Mahar, and Town Clerk/Recording Secretary Joelle Nolan; and members of the public. Selectman Macauley was excused.
I Call to order at 6:30 p.m.
Chairman Richardson called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II Public Hearing(s)
A. None
III Minutes
A. Approval of minutes from June 18, 2012 meeting.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to approve the minutes from June 18, 2012 as presented. The vote was in favor, 3-0-1, with Chairman Richardson abstaining due to his absence from the meeting.
IV Appointments & Recognitions
A. Appoint Ralph Colson as Wastewater Summer Helper at a rate of $12/hour
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to appoint Ralph Colson as Wastewater Summer Helper at a rate of $12/hour, effective July 3, 2012. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
V Consent Agenda (These items are considered routine and 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: Police
B. Settlement Statement: Town of Mount Desert to Chase/Donohue
C. Special Town Meeting Minutes June 11 & 12, 2012
D. League of Town Minutes May 29, 2012
E. Douglass “Scamp” Gray, Jr. Letter to Planning Board
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to accept Consent Agenda items A – E as presented.
DISCUSSION: Selectman Dudman referred to Chief Willis’s report and his concerns regarding diminished communications in spite of new equipment. Chief Willis explained the required upgrade to the public works frequency to become compliant with narrow banding does not work as well. He thinks the transmitter at Mount Desert Elementary School (MDES) does not reach all pagers, due to the change of frequency. Relocating the transmitter may be the answer. He’s still researching. Although we have repeaters, they are on MDES. When asked if the repeaters could be placed elsewhere, Chief Willis said yes, but where is still the question. Cadillac Mountain is not feasible due to too much added to the airwaves; we may end up in multiple locations. Chairman Richardson asserted he is not
willing to spend more money until he is assured the fix will work now, not years from now. Chief Willis agreed; we need an engineered plan and coverage maps. The bottom line is, the transmitter needs to be on higher ground. Selectman Dudman commented that she owns land in Surry, on Newberry Neck. She leased a portion of the land to the radio station WDEA and they have excellent coverage. Douglass “Scamp” Gray, Northeast Harbor Ambulance Service, said the ambulance service has talked about the communication issue and agrees that the coverage is shaky. Chairman Richardson asked if Hancock County is able to provide coverage and Chief Willis replied yes, 100%. Chairman Richardson thought it might be worth the $15,000 annually to join the County Regional dispatch service. Chief Willis stated such action would most likely shut down our dispatch. Selectman Shubert reiterated his support of county dispatch. The Board
encouraged Chief Willis to provide more information at a future meeting.
VOTE: The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
VI Selectmen’s Reports
Selectman Shubert commented on the parking at Seal Harbor beach. Since the parking lot and surrounding area have been re-done, cars are often parked on the sidewalk. Chief Willis agreed parking on sidewalks is illegal and his department “deals with them when we see them.” However, he said, there was a wedding that weekend which produced more than usual traffic and parking issues. Selectman Shubert said the parking is an issue, regardless. Chief Willis agreed we don’t want parking on the sidewalks and his department will step up its policing. Selectman Shubert said perhaps we can coordinate with Island Explorer.
VII Old Business
A. Discussion: Petition the Hancock County Commissioners to study the structure of County Government and consider hiring a County Manager.
Town Manager Lunt commented that this item came out of the League of Towns meeting last week. Commissioner Joy was the only County attendee; however, they had a full and frank discussion. Selectman Dudman asked Town Manager Lunt to describe the structure as it stands. He likened it to a captain-less ship; there is no structure. Chairman Richardson noted that the Commissioners have office staff. Although Town Manager Lunt agreed, he stated there is no oversight. He went on to say he had been assured twice that the facts are accurate; he sees the issue as potential for a felony. Funds were used for personal use. Selectman Dudman agrees it needs to be looked at. Selectman Mooers said it warrants our interest in having a study of the County Commissioner’s Government. There are
several counties that have a “manager”.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Shubert, to support having a study done of the structure of Hancock County government. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
VIII New Business
A. Citizen Request to Dim Street Light at Huntington Rd & Harbor Watch Ln
Town Manager Lunt referred to the letter from Robert and Elizabeth Loring; evidently the street light at the corner of Huntington Road and Harbor Watch Lane shines into their bedroom window. Bangor-Hydro Electric will not take action unless the request comes from the Town. The usual method is to black-out the offending portion of the light, thereby allowing the street to be lit.
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Mooers, to approve having the Town Manager request Bangor-hydro Electric to partially darken the street light at the corner of Huntington Road and Harbor Watch Lane. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
B. Village Green Use Application from Mount Desert Island Farmers Market
Town Manager Lunt and Police Chief Willis have reviewed the area of the Northeast Harbor Village Green to be used by the Mount Desert Island Farmers Market with its representative Matt Gerald. All are in agreement with the area to be used.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to approve the Village Green Use Application from Mount Desert Island Farmers Market, with use dates of 9:00 a.m. to noon each Thursday beginning July 5, 2012 through September 13, 2012. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
C. James W. Wadman, CPA Engagement Letter for FY 2012, Audit process to commence November 5, 2012
MOTION: Selectman Shubert moved, seconded by Selectman Mooers, to accept the conditions of James W. Wadman, CPA Engagement Letter for FY 2012 and to authorize the signing of said letter. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
D. Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee Ballot
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Chairman Richardson to vote for Gary Fortier & Dale Sprinkle as members of the Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
E. MeDOT Urban-Rural Initiative Program Certification FY 2013
MOTION: Selectman Dudman moved, seconded by Selectman Mooers, to authorize the MeDOT Urban-Rural Initiative Program Certification FY 2013 submission and to authorize the Town Manager to sign said submission. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
F. Such other business as may be legally conducted
None presented.
IX Committee Meeting Reports
A. None
X Treasurer’s Warrants
A. Approve Treasurer’s Warrant #155 in the amount of $217,938.73
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to approve Treasurer’s Warrant #155 in the amount of $217,938.73. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
XI Executive Session
A. None
XII Adjournment
MOTION: At 7:04 p.m. Selectman Mooers moved, seconded by Selectman Dudman, to adjourn the meeting. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
Respectfully submitted,
John B. Macauley
Secretary
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