Meeting of the Board of Selectmen
Town of Mount Desert, Maine
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Community Room, Somesville Fire Station, Somesville, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Ernest Coombs, Selectmen Kathy Branch, Rick Mooers, Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Public Works Director Tony Smith; Fire Chief Mike Bender; Assessor Kyle Avila; Harbormaster Shawn Murphy; Police Chief Jim Willis; Recording Secretary Pro-tem/Town Clerk Joelle Nolan; and members of the public.
I. Call to order at 6:30 p.m.
Chairman Coombs called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Minutes
Unavailable
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Confirm conditional appointment of Rich Jamison as Mechanic B, effective January 28, 2008 at hourly rate of $15.56, increasing to $16.39 after successful completion of six-month probationary period.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to appoint Rich Jamison as Mechanic B, effective January 28, 2008 at hourly rate of $15.56, increasing to $16. 39 after successful completion of six-month probationary period, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
B. Accept with regret resignation of Police Officer Christopher D. Smith.
Selectmen accepted with regret the resignation of Police Office Smith and noted his excellent service to the Town.
C. Confirm conditional appointment of Jacob Day as Police Patrolman, effective January 23, 2008 at hourly rate of $16.25, increasing to $17.06 after successful completion of six-month probationary period.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to appoint Jacob Day as Police Patrolman, effective January 23, 2008 at hourly rate of $16.25, increasing to $17.06 after successful completion of six-month probationary period, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
D. Acknowledge receipt of monthly department reports; Assessor, Fire, and Public Works.
Selectman Smallidge praised Assessor Avila on his handling of abatement requests.
E. Acknowledge receipt of 43rd MDI Regional High School Annual Report.
Selectmen acknowledged receipt of the 43rd MDI Regional High School Annual Report. No action was necessary. Citizen George Peckham spoke regarding the inequity of the funding formula and what would assessments be if formula was as originally intended.
F. Acknowledge invitation from Coastal Enterprises Inc., to participate in Department of Marine Resources Working Waterfront Access Pilot Program.
No action required. In response to the question "are we considered a working waterfront", Harbormaster Murphy was unsure and Selectman Smallidge thought not.
G. Acknowledge receipt of Bangor Hydro Electric notice of intent to "trim, cut or remove trees located within or adjacent to the public rights of way."
No action required. Informational only.
H. Notice from Island Housing Trust having reached their initial fund raising goal and they expect to begin project infrastructure improvements.
No action required. The Trust will now begin working with the Code Enforcement Office, Public Works Director, etc., to move forward.
IV. Selectmen's Reports
A. Selectman Smallidge provided a brief update on activities at his recent attendance of a Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee meeting.
B. Selectman Branch raised the issue of disenfranchisement of some voters in Otter Creek and Seal Harbor due to travel distance to cast ballots. She requested a half-day of absentee voting be held at the Seal Harbor Fire Station Community Room for each election. Town Clerk Nolan agreed.
V. Old Business
A. Fire Chief Bender provides Review Fire Department personnel analysis.
Chief Bender noted the reduction in manpower and the varied causes such as different family structure and training mandates. He said although this Town may not need a fulltime fire department, he can see having 1 or 2 available "full-time" fire fighters and rely heavily on volunteers. Chairman Coombs remarked that mutual aid agreements with neighboring towns have been in place since 1947 and have worked well. Chief Bender agreed mutual aid has its place but there is a need for our own reliable department. Selectman Mooers requested Chief Bender to provide the Board, as soon as practicable, with a couple of different scenarios and anticipated costs.
B. Surplus items not sold (new agenda item)
Chief Bender noted there are surplus items that did not receive bids, and offers have been made to purchase outright.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to sell the lawyer's desk to Bob Pyle, give the computer desk to a fire department member, and dispose of the remaining items, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
C. Bond Costs (new agenda item)
Town Manager MacDonald provided the Board with $6.5 million bond costs for the upgrade of the Somesville sewer project. Discussion delayed until agenda item VIII. A. Budget Review
VI. New Business
A. Consideration of funding reconstruction of Gray Farm Road.
Public Works Director Smith summarized his written report regarding the request of a citizen to have the Gray Farm Road paved; it is the last of two remaining town roads that are not paved. Chairman Coombs recalled that 15 years ago when the Town reclaimed the road, residents asked to keep the road as is. Board suggested polling all residents of Gray Farm Road rather than relying on one person. Mr. Smith agreed.
VII. General Issue
None presented.
VIII. Other Business
A. Continuing 2008-2009 Municipal Budget Review.
Board heard from Anne-Marie DeRevere, Director for the Neighborhood House. Mrs. DeRevere emphasized that the $88,000 request for funds from the Town are used exclusively for programs; not for salaries, operation costs, etc. And the amount is 20% of the overall budget; with 40% collected from fees and 40% from donations. Board thanked Mrs. DeRevere for her presentation and started its review of the budget from the beginning.
Board agreed to reduce line 102-01-509-50 Contingency Fund to $15,000.
Code Enforcement line 102-15-509-83 Work Truck Reserve resulted in a discussion about inter-departmental cooperation (ride sharing) and a request to hear from the CEO.
Board requested a place-holder be added to Debt section 108-01 for the Somesville sewer project; and discussed the probability of a referendum question.
After considerable discussion regarding Public Agency requests, Board agreed to consider only established requests.
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
Approve Treasurer's Warrant #101 for $3,480.00; #102 for 116.901.74, #103 for $37,144.97, #104 for 25,846.91, #105 for 12,747.04, #7 (2008) for $437,555.60.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to approve the above stated Warrants as presented, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. Vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
X. Executive Session - None requested
At 8:50 p.m. Selectman Branch moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. Vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith,
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, February 4, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. in the Town Office Meeting Room, Northeast Harbor.
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