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Selectmen Meeting Minutes - 08/03/09
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, August 3, 2009

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Northeast Harbor, Maine.

Those present included: Chairman Jeffrey Smith, Selectmen Rick Mooers, Chuck Bucklin, Jean Bonville and Marilyn Damon, Town Manager Michael MacDonald, Public Works Director Tony Smith, Fire Chief Michael Bender, Code Enforcement Officer Kim Keene, Town Clerk Joelle Nolan, Recording Secretary Jennifer McWain and members of the public.

I.      Call to order.

Chairman Smith called the meeting to order at 6:30PM.

II.     Minutes

A.      Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of June 29, 2009 and July 20, 2009.

Selectman Bucklin had one correction for the minutes of July 20th, moved for approval as amended, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The motion was approved 5-0.    

III.    Appointments and Communications

A.      Confirm appointment of Carrie Jones as part-time Dispatcher at hourly rate of $12.75/hr, appointment effective August 4, 2009.  

Selectman Mooers moved confirmation of the appointment of Carrie Jones as part-time Dispatcher at hourly rate of $12.75/hr, appointment effective August 4, 2009, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The motion was approved 5-0.

B.      Approve appointment of Ellen Brawley as Planning Board Alternate.

        Selectman Bonville moved to approve the appointment of Ellen Brawley as Planning Board Alternate, seconded by Selectman Bucklin. The motion was approved 5-0.
        
IV.     Consent Agenda

        The Board of Selectmen acted on each Consent Agenda item individually.
A.      Acknowledge receipt of Department of Marine Resources notice of public hearing on Joseph Porada d/b/a Egypt Bay Seafarms limited-purpose aquaculture lease.  Public hearing to be held Wednesday September 30, 2009 at the Town Office Meeting Room.

        The Board acknowledged receipt of the Department of Marine Resources notice.
B.      Acknowledge receipt of taxpayer suggestion to offer discount for real estate tax payments before September 1st.

        There was brief discussion, and a citizen pointed out that the tax club offers extraordinary benefits to the tax payers. The Board will take suggestion under advisement, no action at this time.

C       Acknowledge receipt of Steamboat Wharf resident to remove dry hydrant fire line from Ox Hill.

Town Manager MacDonald provided the Board with a brief update indicating the Fire Department will test the line and advise if screening with shrubbery will impact the efficiency of the dry line. No action.

D.      Acknowledge receipt of Olver Associates Weekly Construction Summary for Somesville Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade for week of July 17 and July 24, 2009.

No action acknowledgement of Olver Associates weekly reports.

E.      Acknowledge receipt of Maine DOT “Urban/Rural Imitative Program” funding amounts for 2009-2010.

Selectman Bonville move to authorize Town Manager MacDonald to sign the State Planning Office agreement, seconded by Selectman Damon. The motion was approved 5-0.

F.      Acknowledge receipt of Fairpoint Communications application to Maine Department of Transportation for one pole on Rt. 102, (Pretty Marsh Road) 1370 feet northeasterly of intersection with Indian Point Road.

        No action acknowledgement of Fairpoint Communications application for joint utility pole usage with Bangor Hydro for pole on Pretty Marsh Road as described above.

G.      Acknowledge receipt of Olver Associates Inc. response letter to Maine Department of Environmental Protection regarding Consent Decree negotiations.

        Town Manager discussed why the Olver letter to Maine Department of Environmental Protection was necessary. No action acknowledgement.

H.      Approve utility location permit for Fairpoint Communications to locate one pole on Lower Dunbar Road approximately 263 feet northeasterly of Whoville Way.

        Selectman Mooers moved to approve the Fairpoint utility location permit for one pole on Lower Dunbar Road, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The motion was approved 5-0.


V.      Selectmen Reports
        
Selectman Smith proposed that the Board look at resolving the Police Department and Fire Department space issues by converting the Town Office Meeting Room into Public Safety Police/Dispatch area. Selectman Bonville suggested waiting for the Public Protection Committee recommendation; she would like to add discussion of this issue to the September 8, 2009 agenda.
        
Selectman Smith advised that Police Chief Willis declined appointment as Assistant Town Manager, and following past practice, Chairman of the Select Board will act as Town Manager in the manager’s absence.

Selectman Bucklin thanked Public Works for placing the marker stakes for the proposed no parking zone at Parkman Mountain parking lot.

Selectman Bonville suggested adding a discussion of the impact of the Excise Tax Reduction referendum question to the August 17th agenda, by consensus the Board agreed.

VI.     Old Business

A       Review and discussion of bids for Fire Department surplus ladder truck.

After limited discussion and evaluation by the Board of Selectmen, Selectman Mooers moved to reject all bids and gift the surplus ladder truck to the Southwest Harbor Fire Department, seconded by Selectman Damon. The motion was approved 5-0.

B.      2008-2009 preliminary year end summary, Exp / Rev Summary Report.

There was brief discussion of the year end reports, Town Manager MacDonald noted minor changes to the bottom line, and advised that further tightening of the budget would result in a reduction of the amount of monies available to reduce taxes in the following year. No action taken.

C.      Accept State Planning Office “Agreement to Purchase Services” in an amount not to exceed $20,000.00 for master plan improvement in water front access in Northeast Harbor and authorize Town Manager to sign agreement on behalf of the Town.

Selectman Mooers moved to authorize Town Manager MacDonald to sign the State Planning Office “Agreement to Purchase Services” agreement, seconded by Selectman Damon. The motion was approved 5-0.

D.      Discussion of type and placement of public information bulletin board(s) and sandwich boards.

There was limited discussion of bulletin board and placement; Code Enforcement Officer Keene’s report indicated there are 49 square feet of signage on the Town Office building. This square footage does not exceed the limits as there are three separate functions that operate out of the one building (Municipal Offices, Fire Department and the Police Department) all requiring individual signage to identify services. The Board agreed to move the existing bulletin board to the front of the Town Office Building. Also requested the purchase of two “Standard Swinger Message Board Signs”

VII.    New Business

A.      Discussion and decision of Special Town Meeting date for Shoreland Zoning and Cell Towers and Wind Turbine amendments to Land Use and Zoning Ordinance.  (Suggest November 17, 2009)

After brief discussion of Town Clerk Nolan’s advisory memo, it was the consensus of the Board to hold a Special Town Meeting in conjunction with the regular Board of Selectmen meeting on November 16, 2009, to be held at the Mount Desert Elementary School. It was also noted that first refusal for land purchase from the Mount Desert Water District will also be an article for this meeting.

VII.    General Issues
None

IX.     Committee Reports
None

X.      Treasurer’s Warrants

A.      Approve 2008-2009 Treasurer’s Warrant #105 for $39,033.61 and 2009-2010 Warrant #6 for $1,131,007.69.

        Selectman Mooers moved to approve 2008-2009 Treasurer’s Warrant #105 for $39,033.61 and 2009-2010 Warrant #6 for $1,131,007.69, seconded by Selectman Bucklin. The motion was approved 4-1, with Selectman Bonville opposing.

X       Executive Session

None

Selectman Mooers motioned for adjournment at 7:10PM, seconded by Selectman Bucklin. The motion was approved 5-0.

Respectfully submitted,

Jean Bonville
Secretary