MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room, Town Hall, Northeast Harbor Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Jeffrey Smith, Selectmen, Rick Mooers, Patrick Smallidge, Jean Bonville and Chuck Bucklin; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Harbor Master Shawn Murphy, Fire Chief Mike Bender, Public Works Director Tony Smith, 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 6:30 p.m.
Items taken out of order at beginning of the meeting.
V. Old Business
B. Discussion of Town investment objectives and options with Acadia Trust representative Ed Bonenfant.
There was considerable discussion with Ed Bonenfant, Acadia Trust investment advisor, about the condition of the market and appropriateness of investments. The Board of Selectmen invited Mr. Bonenfant back for discussion after the conclusion of the third quarter. There was also discussion of reactivating the Investment Committee.
VI. New Business
B. Discussion of moving Town Meeting date from May to July (Bonville).
There was discussion with Summer Residents Association members, Heather Jones School Board member and Superintendent of Schools Rob Liebow about the advantages and disadvantages of moving the annual town meeting date to late June/July. The Board of Selectmen stated that they would consider adding a warrant article to the May 2009 Warrant. Selectman Smith would like to see a working session between the Board of Selectmen and the School Committee before Thanksgiving to set a timeline. Selectman Smallidge asked Summer Residents Association member Mr. Godfrey who spoke at the meeting to also put his thoughts in a letter to the Board.
II. Minutes
A. Approval of the minutes for August 18, 2008.
After spelling corrections and the executive session times added to the minutes for the 18th of August Selectman Mooers moved to approve the minutes, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Acknowledge receipt of quarterly performance credit from Municipal Review Committee, $11,060.55.
No action, acknowledged.
B. Acknowledge receipt of monthly department reports, Fire.
There was discussion with Fire Chief Bender on items that he mentioned in his monthly report pertaining to manpower and staffing issues at incidents. There was also discussion on the Water Districts limitations on training, pump station by-pass and hose thread compatibility. Selectman Bucklin offered to meet with the Water District on these matters. Selectman Smith asked staff to advertise for citizen participation for the re-activation of the Protection Committee, and that he would like to see this item on the next agenda. Selectman Smith moved to approve, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
C. Acknowledge receipt of Hancock County Commissioners Caucus Warrant.
No action, acknowledged.
D. Acknowledge donation of fuel by Acadia Fuel.
Acknowledgement of fuel donation from Acadia Fuel, Board of Selectman directed the Town Manager to write a letter of appreciation.
E. Acknowledge invitation to participate in Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium.
No action, acknowledged.
F. Acknowledge receipt of monthly financials, General Ledger, Revenue Report, and Expense Report.
No action, acknowledged.
G. Acknowledge ANP notice of clearing of blow down trees along Jordan Pond Road.
Acknowledged the efforts of Acadia National Park for the clearing and clean up of the blow-downs on the Jordan Pond Road, Board of Selectman directed the Town Manager to write a letter of appreciation.
IV. Selectmen Reports
None
V. Old Business
A. Discussion of Island Housing Trust income guidelines for Ripples Tract Project.
There was considerable discussion with IHT Director Chris Spruce about the standards that the housing project guidelines are required to follow. The Board of Selectman voted to support 160% of the median income. The motion was moved by Selectman Bucklin and seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
B. Discussion of Town investment objectives and options with Acadia Trust representative Ed Bonenfant.
Taken out of order, above.
C. Further discussion on Winter Emergency Heating Fund (Mooers, Smallidge).
There was brief discussion on the funding options and the qualification criteria for the Mount Desert Fuel Crisis Management Plan. The Board directed the Town Manager to begin the legal research for the possibility of a formation for a foundation for partnerships with private agencies.
D. A. C. Fernald Sons, Inc. Somesville sidewalk request.
Town Manager MacDonald reviewed with the Board of Selectmen the A.C. Fernald sidewalk request and the response from the Maine Municipal Association legal was concluded that a town meeting approval would be necessary to accept a proposal.
E. Approve extension of float project delivery date to October 3, 2008.
Selectman Bonville moved to approve float delivery date, seconded by Selectman Bucklin. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
F. Approve funding option for Fire Department ladder truck purchase.
Selectman Bonville reaffirmed the previous meeting decision to use $300,000 of reserves and borrow the remainder, with no prepayment. Selectman Mooers moved to have Fire Chief Bender move forward with purchase of the ladder truck, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VI. New Business
A. Approve Malt, Spirituous and Vinous liquor license for Harbor View Corp d/b/a Main Sail Restaurant.
Selectman Bonville moved to approve the liquor license for the Main Sail Restaurant, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
B. Discussion of moving Town Meeting date from May to July (Bonville).
Out of order, above.
C. Approve release of funds from Radio Reserve (account #20-24104-72; balance $30,963.73 plus 2008-09 reserve appropriation to be credited of $10,000.00 from budget line 104-30-509-72).
After brief discussion agenda item was tabled until the October 6, 2008 Board of Selectman meeting.
D. Award Police cruiser bid to Quirk Ford of Augusta in the amount of $28,524.00.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the police cruiser bid from Quirk Ford for $25,081.00, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
E. Award bid to apparent low bidder Peasley & O'Halloran and approve release of $143,966.00 from Seal Harbor Marina Road Reserve (account #20-24105-74; balance $136,969.16 plus 2008-09 reserve appropriation to be credited of $20,000.00 from budget line 105-01-509-??).
After discussion of how fisherman will access the area during project, Selectman Mooers moved to award the Seal Harbor Parking Lot project to Peasley & O'Halloran as the lower bidder, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
F. Award bid to apparent low bidder Peasley & O'Halloran for Northeast Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant paving project in the amount of $51,085.00 (account 105-04-507-14).
Selectman Mooers moved to award the Northeast Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant paving project to Peasley & O'Halloran as the lower bidder, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
G. Approve consent agreement with Hans Utsch and Susan Lyall and authorize Code Enforcement Officer Keene to sign the agreement on behalf of the Town.
Selectman Bonville moved to authorize Code Enforcement Officer Keene to sign the consent agreement, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
H. New Item- Town manager MacDonald added new item to agenda at the meeting.
Approval of the payment for a previous commitment to assist with the Somesville Fish Passage restoration. Payment of $621.93 to come from the Selectman's Contingency Account 102-0-509-50.
Selectman Bonville moved to approve, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
VII. General Issues
A. Review of actions necessary to address the School Consolidation referendum warrant article to be voted on November 4, 2008.
After discussion with Town Clerk Nolan and Superintendent of Schools Rob Liebow, the Board of Selectmen directed staff to include the warrant approval on the agenda for the October 6, 2008 meeting.
B. Review of Private and Special Chapter 176; An Act to Create a Mount Desert Island Regional School District, discussion of ways and means of amending the funding formula.
After considerable discussion on how to adjust the funding formula, Superintendent Liebow suggested an island wide forum sponsored by the MDI League of Towns. The forum would be held after the November 4th referendum to approve the organization structure.
VII. Other Business
None
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
Approve Treasurer's Warrant # 13 for $1,030,381.17 and newly added Warrant #14 for $1,321,197.66.
Selectman Bonville moved to approve Treasurer's Warrants, #13 and #14, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
X. Executive Session
None
At 9:20 p.m. Selectman Mooers moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Bucklin. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Mooers
Secretary
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