MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, October 22, 2007
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Somesville Fire House, 1157 Main Street, Mount Desert, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Ernest Coombs, Selectmen Kathy Branch, Rick Mooers, Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Finance Director Brent Hamor; Public Works Director Tony Smith; Harbor Master Shawn Murphy; Town Clerk/Recording Secretary Pro Tem Joelle Nolan and members of the public.
I. Call to order.
Chairman Coombs called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Minutes
Minutes are unavailable.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Accept with regret resignation of Fredrick F. "Buddy" Brown from Warrant Committee.
Board discussed Mr. Brown's many contributions to the Town and recognized his dedication.
MOTION: Selectman Branch moved to accept with regret the resignation of Frederick F. "Buddy" Brown from the Warrant Committee, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor 4-0.
B. Approve Jock Crothers leave of absence until April 2008 from Marine Management Committee.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to grant Jock Crothers leave of absence until April 2008 from Marine Management Committee, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor 4-0.
Selectman Mooers arrived at 6:35 p.m.
IV. Selectmen Reports
A. Selectman Smallidge reported he had heard from the Trenton School Board Chairman thanking this Board of Selectmen for its support to overturn the State Referendum for school consolidation. Selectman Smallidge requested that the next Board meeting agenda contain an item for discussion regarding this Board's willingness to donate money in support of overturning the above-mentioned referendum.
Selectman Smallidge also requested an agenda item for the next meeting for an open discussion of the legal information received from Eaton Peabody concerning the implications of the School Administration Consolidation legislation on the 1963 Act creating the MDI Regional High School and other legal means of preventing implementation.
B. Selectman Smith reported on the Reorganization Planning Committee [school consolidation] (RPC). It appears there is a move to allow the RSU to have over-sight, on a local level that would result in even more loss of local control. The RPC dissolves the current Board of Trustees. Areas of hiring/firing, combining of reserves, and transportation costs under an umbrella were mentioned. It was noted the Model 4 option that the Town of Mount Desert favors is quickly sliding to the Model 5 - Mount Desert is not interested in Model 5.
V. Old Business
None
VI. New Business
A. Approve 2007 Rural Wastewater Support Program grant amount, recommend $580.00.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the 2007 Rural Wastewater Support Program amount at $580.00, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
B. Authorize release of funds up to $1,000.00 from Horace and Mary Reynolds scholarship.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to authorize the release of funds up to $1,000 from the Horace and Mary Reynolds scholarship fund, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was in favor 4-1, with Selectman Branch voting against.
Citizen Jean Bonville suggested the authorization take place in May prior to the MDI Regional High School awards night, thereby allowing the action to be taken in a timelier manner.
VII. General Issues
A. Budget Workshop
Finance Director Hamor explained there is a separate warrant article for the Somesville Sewer Plant design money of $400,000 that has yet to be added to the budget. He also described the Conversion Contingency line for each department. Town Manager MacDonald directed him to add 5% of the department total as a contingency in the event something was missed in the transition to the new chart of accounts. The addition of these two items puts the mil rate at 1.90.
Board discussed various aspects of the budget including the amount of the overlay, the fact that any unused overlay goes to surplus, and when the tax commitment will be set. Selectman Mooers asked if the Conversion Contingency is limited to only those items "missed" or could the money be used for other things and if so, wouldn't that be like a reserve?
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the inclusion of the Conversion Contingency line for each department in the proposed 2008 six-month budget, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was 0-5 against; the motion failed.
B. Review of December 3, 2007 Special Town Meeting Warrant.
Finance Director Hamor noted a reduction in the total number of warrant articles with the consolidation of categories per department.
Chairman Coombs began the review of each article. Suggested changes include:
Change any dollar amounts to reflect deletion of Conversion Contingency
Article 2: Change "2007 Annual" to "Special Six-Month"
Article 4: Change "2007" to "2008"
Article 5: Add retiree's life insurance dollars
Article 10: Change "for Sewer Design" to "for the design and reconstruction of the Somesville Sewer Treatment Plant on Parker Farm Road"
Article 11: Move Parks & Cemeteries to Article 9
Article 12: Change "$58,784" to "$58,784.00"
Article 15: Change "December 31" to "June 30"
Article 16: Change "For the year" to "For the 6 months of"
Article 17: Delete; it was defeated at March 5-7, 2007 Annual Town Meeting
Article 19: Board unclear of intent. Requested that a copy of RFP be sent to them and that a representative from the Planning Board be at the next meeting to discuss the issue.
Article 24: Change "fiscal year" to "6-month budget year"
VIII. Other Business
A. Appoint Town Clerk Joelle Nolan as Warden for the November 6, 2007 State Referendum Election.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to appoint Town Clerk Joelle Nolan as Warden for the November 6, 2007 State Referendum election, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
B. Sign Municipal Officers' Return for the Notice of Public Hearing, November 5, 2007 regarding proposed Warrant Articles for the December 3, 2007 Special Town Meeting.
Board members signed the Return after determining that the posting was made as required.
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
Approve Treasurer's Warrant # 77 for $45,682.14
Warrant signed as required.
X Executive Session
None requested
At 7:40 p.m., Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith,
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, October 29, 2007 at 6:30 P.M. in the Meeting Room, Town Office, Northeast Harbor.
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