MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
December 17, 2007
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Town office Meeting Room, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Selectman Kathy Branch, Rick Mooers, Vice- Chair Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Harbor Master Shawn Murphy, Public Works Director Tony Smith, Finance Director Brent Hamor, Recording Secretary Jennifer McWain and members of the public.
I. Call to order.
Vice Chairman Smallidge called the meeting to order at 6:30p.m.
II. Minutes
A. Approval of Town Meeting Minutes for March 5-7, 2007.
No action acknowledgement of minutes.
III. Appointments and Communication
A. Approve appointment of Kevin Stradley as seasonal highway employee, effective December 18, 2007 at rate of $12.00 per hour.
Selectman Brach moved to approve the appointment of Kevin Stradley as seasonal highway employee, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 4-0.
B. Acknowledge receipt of department reports: Code Enforcement, Harbor Master, Police, Fire, Assessor.
No action acknowledgement of reports. Vice Chair Smallidge commented that he liked the degree of cooperation with the departments.
C. Acknowledge receipt of monthly financials, Trial Balance, Revenue Control Report, and Appropriation Control Report.
No action acknowledgement of monthly financials.
IV. Selectman's Reports
None
Chairman Coombs joined the meeting at 6:50PM
V. Old Business
A. Discuss status of Island Housing Trust Ripple Tract project with IHT Executive Director Chris Spruce.
There was a brief update from the Island Housing Trust Ripple Tract project from Executive Director Spruce. The project has not started yet building yet, as they near their goal and will look for additional funding from the bank, but they are not there yet. Selectman Smallidge was concerned at the time span, he felt that the Town was giving away a large asset, and as projects drag on, people loss interest. It was agreed that the Board wanted to be kept informed of the status of the project in the future.
B. Support for "Save Our Schools" petition effort.
This agenda item was taken out of order until Chairman Coombs had arrived. Discussion with the Board began at 6:50PM. After considerable discussion and soul searching on the appropriateness of spending money on signature collection for the "Save Our Schools" petition effort, Selectman Smith moved and Selectman Branch seconded, to send $2,000 to Maine Coalition to Save Schools to "defend against threat to local control" with the restriction that the funds be used of coalition administration costs but not to be used for signature collection. Motion passed 3-2 Selectman Smallidge, Branch, and Smith- for and Chairman Coombs and Selectman Mooers- against.
C. Resolve to oppose legislative effort to "fix" school administration consolidation.
There was an error on the agenda. Resolve to oppose legislative effort to "fix" school administration consolidation. No action taken.
D. MDI HS funding formula.
School Board Chairman Gail Marshall discussed with Reorganization Planning Committee member Selectman Smith and other audience members on the recent decision of the Department of Education Commissioner Gendron's rejection of the MDI consolidation plan. The RPC is planning to meet on January 9, 2008 to discuss how to proceed.
VI. New Business
A. Approve Calendar 2008 holidays and meeting schedule.
Selectman Mooers moved to approve the Calendar for 2008 holidays and meeting schedule, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
III. General Issue
A. None
VIII. Other Business
A. Approve Marina Budget
There was very brief discussion on the Marina budget, noting the timing of cash flow results in $9.5 thousand deficit for a six-month period. Selectman Mooers moved to approve the Marina Budget, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
A. Approve Treasurer's Warrant #91 for $227,469.91; #93 for $107,779.17, and #94 for $136,518.83.
Selectman Smith moved to approve the Treasurer's Warrant #91, #93 and #94, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
X. Executive Session
None
At 7:35 p.m. Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor, 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith,
Secretary
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