MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, June 18, 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; Public Works Director Tony Smith; Harbor Master Shawn Murphy, 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 None.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Confirm appointment of Christopher Pitman as Part Time Police Officer, effective June 19, 2007 at hourly rate of $13.00.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to confirm the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B. Confirm appointment of Kristopher Tracy as Northeast Harbor Marina dockhand, effective June 14, 2007 at hourly rate of $11.00.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to confirm the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C. Acknowledge receipt of department monthly reports: Fire, Harbor Master, Public Works, Code Enforcement No action required
D. Acknowledge receipt of Monthly Financials, Trial Balance, Revenue Control Report, and Appropriation Control Report. No action required.
E. ADD notice of contract extension request and negotiations. No action required.
F. Maine Dept. of Conservation notice of Submerged Lands Application for Penelope Harris, Smallidge Point Road, Gilpatrick Cove. No action required.
IV. Selectmen Reports
1. Selectman Smith suggested holding another meeting with the School Board about the school property possible legal action. The board agreed to schedule it for the July 2 Selectmen meeting.
2. Selectman Smith asked about the status of Red Zone. Town Manager MacDonald said they are attempting to get permission for hosting radios in three locations. Discussion followed about the process for subscribing.
3. Selectman Branch noted that the Department of Education has set a regional meeting for school funding at the Holiday Inn, Ellsworth on June 28 at 7pm. She encouraged attendance.
4. Selectman Branch hoped the Town could encourage the State to do some safety repairs to the road between Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor. Town Manager MacDonald will find out the best way will be pressure on the Department of Transportation.
V. Old Business
A. Josef Stone foreclosure.
Town Manager MacDonald said Mr. Stone wants to repurchase the property and last week sent three checks, two of which were postdated. If he is refused redemption, the process for the Town to dispose of it is quite involved. He was last given 60 days to pay his taxes and he responded within 30 days. Selectmen were inclined to accept the proposal. Selectman Mooers thought Selectmen have an obligation to live up to their end of the bargain.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to accept Mr. Stone's check for $2,500 with the caveat that if the other two checks don't clear, his money will be returned to him, seconded by Selectman Mooers. Katrina Carter said she hoped Mr. Stone will be serious about paying taxes in the future. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B. Approve and sign Judith Swett license agreement.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C. Review draft Capital Investment Strategy section of Comprehensive Plan.
Town Manager MacDonald said the CPC wants to know if the above is acceptable to Selectmen. Selectman Mooers and Public Works Director Smith discussed insurance matters. Selectman Smith said it was great to have the information on paper.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to endorse the concept as written, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VI. New Business
A. Approve Request for Proposals for Assessing Services.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. Chairman Coombs said this does not mean the Town will not hire a full time assessor. Town Manager MacDonald said the above is for learning the costs. He also said Gary Blanchette told him the tax bills will probably be late getting out because he has found a need for some adjustments. They will not go out the first week in July. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B. Approve Request for Proposals for Northeast Harbor Marina improvements.
Rick Savage said the marina has had the same layout since 1954. It is antiquated and not particularly user friendly. Public restrooms are inadequate. A University of Maine work study group recently offered 5 different proposals, all of which were pretty good. The marina needs to be upgraded if it is to stay competitive with other Maine harbors. The changes would be on the land side, not the water side of the marina. The current request is for release of invested funds for a study. The funds won't be needed until the proposals from engineering firms are opened.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved approval of the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C. Approve expenditure of $807.75 from Selectmen's contingency account 403-2903 (balance $7,500.00
MOTION: Selectman Smith approval of the above, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VII. General Issues None
VIII. Other Business
Public Works Director Smith withdrew a request made at the June 4 meeting for additional funds. At the time he said he thought he had made an accounting error in the Summit Road and Seal Harbor project budgets. Based on his research, and as confirmed by him with the auditors, it was an auditor error made by not carrying forward funds for the Summit Road and Sea Street projects from 2006 to 2007.
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
Approve Treasurer's Warrant #41 for $193,189.57; #44 for $112,952.75 and #45 for $300,796.74
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor.
X Executive Session None requested
At 7:25 pm Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith,
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, July at 6:30 P.M. in the Meeting Room, Town Office, Northeast Harbor.
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