MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, October 29, 2007
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room at the Town Hall, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Ernest Coombs, Selectmen Kathy Branch, Rick Mooers, Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Finance Director Brent Hamor, Public Works Director Tony Smith, Superintendent of School Union 98 Rob Liebow, 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 6:33 p.m.
II. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of October 22, 2007.
MOTION: Selectman Branch moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting October 22, 2007, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Acknowledgement of memo, dated October 26, 2007, from Public Works Director Smith regarding highway garage septic system. No action taken. Issue will be addressed at next meeting.
IV. Selectmen Reports
A. Selectman Smith reported great progress at the last RPC meeting - there was a consensus for local control.
V. Old Business
A. Discuss Trenton's [School Board] request for local support on [school consolidation] referendum
Selectman Smallidge clarified that the request did not actually come from Trenton. He said he asked to have this item added to the agenda after conversing with someone from the Trenton School Board and hearing from Skip Greenlaw. He asked if, beyond the letter support, the Board would approve making a monetary contribution to the Maine Coalition to Save Schools, and volunteer to collect petition signatures at the upcoming November election. After a thorough discussion regarding resources available and dollars needed Board agreed to contribute $500.00.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to contribute $500.00 to the Maine Coalition to Save Schools fund, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
B. Discuss legal opinion from Attorney on RCP
Board referred to correspondence from Town Attorney Erik Stumpfel dated September 27, 2007 and agreed the purpose of this agenda item is to make the information public.
VI. New Business
None presented.
VII. General Issues
A. Budget Workshop
B. Review of December 3, 2007 Special Town Meeting Warrant
Board began its review by addressing Article 17 regarding the acceptance of a gift up to $75,000 for the purpose of hiring a planner to assist the Planning Board in an analysis and updating of the Subdivision and Land Use Zoning Ordinances. Planning Board Chairman Jim Clunan was present to answer questions. Selectman Smallidge asked if the LUZO is functioning as voters intended. Chairman Clunan replied that both the LUZO and Subdivision Ordinance functioned well with the recent Robinson Lane/Acadia Mountain issue. However, he said, none of the Planning Board members are experts on steep slopes. They have recognized the need for help. A planner is needed and it is up to the voters to decide.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 17 as written, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
Board continued its review of the Warrant beginning with Article 2.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 2 as written, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 3 as written ($600.00), seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
After considerable discussion, Board asked that Article 4 be re-written, bearing in mind the objective is to keep the mil rate under 2.00.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 5 as written ($475,000.00), seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 6 as written ($463,923.00), seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 7 as written ($1,500.00), seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to recommend passage of Article 8 as written ($661,973.00), seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to recommend passage of Article 9 as written ($1,445,487.00), seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to recommend passage of Article 10 as written ($400,00.00), seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was in favor 4-1, Selectman Smallidge voting against..
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 11 as written ($55,985.00), seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
Board discussed the Article 12 and decided the wording needed to be changed to broaden the scope and to better define the funds.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to remove the word "school" from Article 12, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to change Article 12 as follows: delete "raise and appropriate (or use out of surplus)" and add "appropriate through surplus", seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 12 as re-written at $25,000.00, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
Gail Marshall, member of the Mount Desert Elementary School Board and RCP suggested the Board as resources, such as Maine Municipal Association, for a legal opinion of "local control". If there is a battle with the State, it would be useful to know the lay of the land. Board acknowledged Ms. Marshall's suggestion. Selectman Smallidge expressed his concern that MMA does not serve the Towns on the issue of local control.
Board awaits determination of whether or not Article 13 [LE#1] needs to be included.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 14 as written, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to recommend passage of Article 15 as written, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 16 as written, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to recommend passage of Article 18 as written, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to recommend passage of Article 19 as written, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 20 as written, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to recommend passage of Article 21 as written, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 22 as written, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to recommend passage of Article 23 as written, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to recommend passage of Article 24 as written, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to recommend passage of Article 25 as written, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
Town Manager MacDonald noted new Article 26 is a recommendation from the Marine Management Committee. Selectman Smallidge wondered if CES, Inc. has the skills needed for marina design. Town Manager MacDonald referred to the proposals and noted work will be sub-contracted as needed.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 26 as written, seconded by Selectman Mooers. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
VIII. Other Business
None presented.
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
A. Approve Treasurer's Warrant #79 for $109,269.25
MOTION: Selectman Mooers moved to approve Treasurer's Warrant #79 in the amount of $109,269.25, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
The Warrant was signed as presented.
X. Executive Session
None Requested
At 8:00 p.m. Selectman Mooers moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meetings is Monday, November 5, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. in the Meeting Room, Town Hall, Northeast Harbor.
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