MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, December 15, 2008
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room at the Town Hall, Sea Street, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Vice Chairman Patrick Smallidge, Selectmen Jeffrey Smith, Rick Mooers, Charles Bucklin and Jean Bonville; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Public Works Director Tony Smith, Harbor Master Shawn Murphy, Fire Chief Michael Bender, Recording Secretary Jennifer McWain, and members of the public.
I. Call to order.
Vice Chairman Smallidge called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of September 15, 2008, October 7, 2008; November 3, 2008; and December 1, 2008.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the minutes for the meeting of September 15, 2008 with corrections seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the minutes of October 7, 2008 with corrections, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 4-0-1, Smallidge abstaining.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the minutes of November 3, 2008 with a correction, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the minutes of December 1, 2008, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 4-0-1 Bonville abstained from vote, absent from meeting.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Approve appointment Joelle D. Nolan as Registrar of Voters effective January 1, 2009 until December 31, 2010.
Selectman Smith moved to approve the appointment of Joelle D. Nolan as Registrar of Voters effective January 1, 2009 until December 31, 2010, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The motion was approved 5-0.
B. Acknowledge receipt of Olver Associates Weekly Construction Summary for Somesville WWTF upgrade, December 5, 2008.
No action acknowledgement receipt of the weekly construction summary for the Somesville WWTF.
C. Acknowledge receipt of monthly department reports; Code enforcement, Assessing, Town Clerk, Harbor Master, Finance, Police.
No action acknowledgement of receipt of department reports. Selectman Smallidge inquired about the availability of a hoist at the Seal Harbor pier during the paving of the pier project. Also Smallidge questioned the cost for the new chain at Bartlett Landing.
D. Acknowledge receipt of Acadia Disposal District Household Hazardous Waste collection summary.
No action acknowledgement of Acadia Disposal District collection summary. Selectman Bucklin asked about the frequency of the collections. Public Works Director Smith outlined the monthly collection of the universal waste at EMR.
E. Acknowledge receipt of monthly financials, General Ledger, Revenue Detail Report and Expense Detail Report.
No action acknowledgement of monthly financials. Selectman Bonville will make a direct inquiry of the town staff.
IV. Selectmen Reports
Selectman Bucklin questioned the disposal of the assessing records that were found in the Northeast Harbor marina dumpster. Town Manager MacDonald stated that the records were not confidential, and that the plastic sleeves that the records were in were not archival and lifting the print of some of the records. Manager MacDonald explained that these were duplicate records and their disposal was part of our record retention and disposal process as the offices were cleaning out unneeded records. Town Manager MacDonald reminded the Board that most of the records in the Town are public records.
Selectman Mooers relayed positive comments from residents on the quick action from the Public Works Department on a particular culvert replacement. Selectman Mooers also inquired where the Town was in the waste disposal negotiations with EMR. Public Works Director Smith provided the Board with an update.
Selectman Smallidge apologized to the School Board and to School Board member Mrs. Jones for recent inappropriate comments that he made the meeting at the forum. Selectman Smallidge requested a review of the investment policy at a future meeting.
V. Old Business
A. Appointment of BOS liaison to Public Protection Committee, see minutes of first PPC meeting.
Selectman Smith moved to appoint Selectman Mooers as a Board of Selectmen liaison to the Public Protection Committee, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The motion was approved 4-0-1, with Mooers abstaining.
B. Approve bid process for purchase of stand-by generator for Highway Garage.
After considerable discussion weighing the pros and cons of leasing and owning a stand-by generator, Selectman Mooers moved to authorize Public Works Director Smith to solicit bids for a generator replacement at the Highway Garage, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
C. Review message from Maine Sea Coast Mission detailing advantages of MSCM administration of a Winter Heating Fuel Emergency Assistance Fund.
After discussion of the outline of the services that Maine Seacoast Mission would provide as part of the Winter Heating Fuel Emergency Assistance Fund Selectman Mooers moved the Town Manager to send $1,000 to the Maine Seacoast Mission to fund the fuel assistance program for Mount Desert residents in need, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
D. Authorize release of Rural Wastewater Support Program grant checks.
Selectman Bonville advised the Board that this action was not necessary. Town Manager MacDonald agreed with Selectman Bonville’s comment but stated that he added this item to the agenda more for an advisory to the Board of Selectmen and that the checks were approximately one month later going out then previous years as a result of changing the interest due date to November 1. There was additional discussion on how to increase the number of qualified recipients to the program.
VI. New Business
A. Approve MDI High School funding formula letter to Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Tremont.
There was considerable discussion with School Board members Jones and Marshall over citizen interest in adjusting the funding formula so that the residents of Mount Desert pay less of the high school assessment. A Mount Desert citizen criticized the methodology of the "other lens" comparison. School Supt. Liebow felt criticized by a citizen’s unfavorable comment and suggested that the Board reduce the inflammatory nature of the letter. Selectman Mooers moved to approve edits to the letter as follows: will move forward in an effort to seek redress of the funding situation that has become increasingly untenable for the citizens of the Town of Mount Desert, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
B. Approve bids for surplus floats.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the bids for the surplus floats and that any surplus floats that were not purchased were to be disposed of expediently and by the most cost effective means, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
C. Approve request from contractor Michael Keene to exceed posted load limit on southerly end of Whitney Farm Road.
Selectman Bucklin moved to approve the request from contractor Michael Keene to exceed posted load limit on southerly end of Whitney Farm Road, seconded by Selectman Bonville. The motion was approved 4-0-1, Selectman Smith abstaining. There was discussion with citizens in attendance on how the Town and Board of Selectmen could assist with keeping young families in the Town of Mount Desert.
VII. General Issues
A. Citizen Robinson detailed the difficulties that he and his neighbors have been having with Time Warner and Fairpoint (Verizon) in getting the companies to extend cable service to the Upland Road in Seal Harbor. Mr. Robinson requested assistance from the Town in contacting Time Warner, Bangor Hydro Electric and even the Maine Public Utilities Commission to somehow move the project to completion. The Board authorized the Town Manager to contact Bangor Hydro and Time Warner regarding information as to why service has not been accommodated.
VII. Other Business
Selectman Bonville inquired about the status of the audit. Town Manager MacDonald will provide the Board with an update at the next meeting, he has heard nothing as of yet.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants
A. Approve Treasurer’s Warrant #43 for $148,250.00(RWWSP grant checks) and #44 for $1,102,866.77.
Selectman Smith moved to approve the warrants as presented, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was approved 5-0.
X Executive Session
Selectman Bonville moved to go into executive session at 8:00PM, seconded by Selectman Smith. The motion was approved 5-0.
Selectman Smith moved to return to regular session at 10:10PM, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The motion was approved 5-0.
There was no vote or action taken.
Selectman Mooers moved adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Bucklin. The vote was unanimous in favor, meeting adjourned at 10:10PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Rick Mooers
Secretary
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