MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, March 19, 2007
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room at the Town Office, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Ernest Coombs, Selectmen Kathy Branch, Rick Mooers , Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Harbor Master Shawn Murphy, Finance Director Brent Hamor, Fire Chief Mike Bender, Recording Secretary Ellen Kappes and members of the public.
I. Call to order.
Chairman Coombs called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meetings of February 20, 2007 and March 12, 2007.
MOTION: Selectman Branch moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meetings of February 20 and March 12, 2007, as presented, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Acknowledgement of department reports: Fire, No action required.
B. Maine Dept. of Environmental Protection notice of approval of Island Foundation application to dredge ponds. No action required
C. Acknowledge receipt of monthly Appropriation Control Report. No action required
D. Approve annual appointments.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve employee appointments as listed with the exception of the Board of Selectmen, seconded by Selectman Branch. In accordance with George Peckham’s request, Town Manager MacDonald read the list of statutory titles and appointees that have to be appointed on an annual basis. The vote was unanimous in favor.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to dissolve the County Services Committee, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve Traffic Committee members listed as amended with the addition of Diane Young, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Mr. Peckham said the Sanitary District Steering Committee is not going anywhere. Town Manager MacDonald said Public Works Director Smith plans to ask the DEP for information on creation of a district.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to dissolve the White Tail Deer Management Committee, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Selectman Smallidge asked Town Manager MacDonald to send letters of appreciation to non-Town members.
THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO APPROVE ALL APPOINTMENTS LISTED TO COMMITTEES LISTED.
IV. Selectmen Reports
Selectman Smallidge said he would like a progress report in person from Island Housing Trust Director Chris Spruce. He wanted to know if green housing will increase the cost of the houses.
V. Old Business None
VI. New Business
A. Pursuant to M.R.S.A. 30-A§5651; approve resolve designating July 1, through June 30 as the Town's fiscal year.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Mooers.
A very long discussion followed. Due dates for tax bills were considered. Speaking against the above motion, Jean Bonville gave several detailed arguments, including her concern that the changes would create a lot of headaches and unnecessary work without any real savings to the Town. Selectman Branch agreed with her, saying she would prefer to see the Town meeting date change and see if there is a better turnout. Address the fiscal change a few years down the road after getting a better feel for the work load in the office. It’s not broken, why are we trying to fix it, she asked. Selectman Smallidge and Bob Smallidge both thought voters assumed the change in the Town meeting date would be accompanied by a change in the fiscal year.
The vote on the motion was 4 to 1. Selectmen Coombs, Mooers, Smallidge and Smith voted for the motion. Selectman Branch voted against it. The motion carried.
B. Approve liquor license for Michael Phillips & Barbara O'Brien d/b/a Redbird Provisions.
C. Approve liquor license for Journey's End Inc. d/b/a The Docksider.
D. Approve liquor license for WinterSpring Inc. d/b/a Colonel's Restaurant.
E. Approve liquor license for Stanley Enterprises Inc. d/b/a Abel's Lobster Pound.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve all four of the above, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was 4 to 0 to 1. Selectmen Coombs, Mooers, Smallidge and Smith voted for the motion. Selectman Branch recused herself. The motion carried.
F. Approve one year lease agreement with Lurvey Wright American Legion Post No. 103.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
G. Approve five year lease extension with Somesville Fire Company.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VII. General Issues
A. Selectman liaison to investment committee.
Chairman Coombs asked Selectman Mooers if he would be willing to serve as the above.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to appoint Selectman Mooers to be the liaison to the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was 4 to 0 to 1. Selectmen Branch, Coombs, Selectman Smallidge and Smith voted in favor of the motion. Selectman Mooers recused himself. The motion carried.
VII. Other Business
Ms. Bonville asked if any action had been taken on the Town’s foreclosure of properties in the past year. Discussion followed. Finance Director Hamor said the Town has an agreement on two of them and is working on the third. He will prepare more information about them.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants None
X. Executive Session None requested
At 7:31 PM, Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, April 2, 2007 at 6:30 P.M. in the Meeting Room, Town Office, Northeast Harbor.
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