MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, August 7, 2006
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 Rick Savage, Selectmen Kathy Branch(arrived at 7:00pm); Ernest Coombs, Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Public Works Director Tony Smith; Assessor John Brushwein, Finance Director Brent Hamor, Fire Chief Mike Bender, Code Enforcement Officer Kimberly Keene, Recording Secretary Ellen Kappes and members of the public.
I. Call to order.
Chairman Savage called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
II. Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of July 24, 2006.
Selectman Coombs said the minutes should show that Selectmen came out of executive session before voting.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of July 24, 2006 as corrected, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Confirm appointment of Lee Peasley as Mechanic B effective August 8, 2006 at hourly probationary rate of $15.11, increasing to $15.91 upon successful completion of six-month probation.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to confirm the above appointment, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B. Confirm advancement of Phillip Frost from MEO I to MEO II, retroactive to July 1, 2006.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to confirm the above, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C. Acknowledge receipt of Board and Committee meeting minutes; None
D. Acknowledge receipt of Monthly Department Reports; Code Enforcement, Harbor Master,
Responding to Chairman Savage, Code Enforcement Officer Keene said several people have been calling about pump outs.
George Peckham was concerned that a problem could have been created with fishermen in this
Town when several floats were given to another town which then gave them to lobstermen. Chairman Savage said he had heard the same talk but that, when the Town received only two bids on the old floats, it found itself stuck with 10 floats. They would have had go to the dump at Town expense. He did not feel it was necessary for the Town to follow the trail of those floats.
E. Acknowledge receipt of Monthly Financials, Trial Balance, Revenue Control Report, and Appropriation Control Report.
Finance Director Hamor said the revenue in the harbor was up about 6% over last year as of the end of July.
F. Time Warner Cable memo advising of dropped stations (NFL Network and ESPN U) No action required.
IV. Selectmen Reports
1. Chairman Savage brought up the issues of parking spaces at Bartlett Island Landing for commercial fishermen and workers on Bartlett Island and of the number of illegal parking by transient vehicles. A suggestion had been made to issue parking permits for 8 to 10 vehicles alongside the road. Town Manager MacDonald said Police Chief Willis and he had met with the manager of Bartlett Island Farm, John Pyne who was upset because workmen on the island ended up getting tickets if they parked along side the road when they showed up for work and found the 23 legal parking spaces were filled. It would be necessary to determine who qualifies for the permits. Selectman Coombs said people could request the permits from Police Chief Willis. Selectman Smallidge said permits should be issued to people who make a
living working on Bartlett Island and to commercial fishermen. Chairman Savage asked Public Works Director Smith to put together a memo for possible widening of the road in the future.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to have the Town produce a reserved parking permit system for up to 10 spaces for Bartlett Island Landing oriented around commercial fishermen and the work force on Bartlett Island that require utilization of that parking lot, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor. (24 min 25 sec)
2. Selectman Smallidge read a letter of support for the White Tail Deer Management study from Seal Harbor summer resident Finlay Matheson. Town Manager MacDonald said he had received phone calls from other summer residents who had received the committee's letter in the mail and who supported the committee's efforts. They said the deer have affected their enjoyment of their time on MDI. Responding to Selectman Smith, Selectman Smallidge said the questionnaire was not put at One Stop in Somesville to avoid complicating the results with responses from non-residents of the Town.
3. Selectman Smith said Brian Hamor had asked him if bus routes could be expanded to Pond's End to cut down on the parking problem. Selectman Smith thought that proposal would mean fewer cars but thousands of people at Pond's End.
V. Old Business
A. Fiscal year Change, decide on advisory referendum question for November 7, 2006 general election and schedule public hearing prior to 11-7-06.
Town Manager MacDonald wanted to know if amending the charter to change the election of all elected officials from the March town meeting to the November general election should be added to the advisory questions that will be presented to voters at the November 7 general election. He noted that will mean less work for office staff during the busy May month. Chairman Savage favored the addition. Selectmen also agreed to Town Manager MacDonald's suggestion to use a paper ballot that would be marked inside the voting booth. Responding to Mr. Peckham, Chairman Savage said he would not sign any statement that might attempt to influence public opinion. Town Manager MacDonald noted that the Board would have to recommend for or against any warrant article on the subject.
B. Authorize Town Manager to sign Small Harbor Improvement Program (SHIP) Project Agreement with Maine Department of Transportation
MOTION: Chairman Savage moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VI. New Business
A. Approve letter of support for Somes Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary dam restoration project on Somes Brook.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B. Mount Desert Water Coalition report on Stanley Brook Watershed Survey.
Jane Disney passed out copies of the report and reviewed it and the background information in detail. Her trained volunteers visited 210 properties on the shore line and in the watershed and talked to residents about what they could do to improve the watershed. She reviewed types of pollution sources found. Most of the 17 major pollution problems included dirt running off the property. They saw only three above ground broken sewer lines but have heard the problem is recurrent. Responding to Code Enforcement Officer Keene, she said they do not have a list of polluters. They promised people they would not point fingers.
B. Approve fire protection Mutual Aid Agreement with Acadia National Park.
Fire Chief Bender reviewed the agreement provisions with Selectmen. Chairman Savage thought the agreement seemed one-sided and wondered what the benefit would be to this Town. He thought the park has been difficult to deal with. Selectman Branch was concerned about the liability clause. Selectman Smith supported the agreement saying the park does have equipment and training.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above agreement, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was 3 to 2. Selectman Smallidge, Selectman Smith and Selectman Branch voted for the motion; Chairman Savage and Selectman Coombs voted against it. The motion carried.
VII. General Issues
A. Receive Town Office exterior wall paint/stain condition report from PW Director Smith
Public Works Director Smith said David Burr told him the type of stain now being used on the building would last only about three years. He showed samples of vinyl shingles. Selectman Coombs did not think the shingles needed to be replaced. Chairman Savage thought vinyl shingles could be too costly but had no problem with Public Works Director Smith getting a price from Mainly Vinyl for them. Selectman Smith agreed the Board should get an idea of what the expense could be.
VII. Other Business
A. MDI League of Towns Elected Officials TABOR workshop with MMA, 6:30 PM September 27, 2006 at MDI HS Library
Selectmen agreed to table the above.
IX. Treasurer's Warrants
Approve Treasurer's Warrant # 62 for $100.803.12; #63 for $140,095.80
Signed as presented.
X Executive Session
None requested
At 8:01PM, Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, August 21, 2006 at 6:30 P.M. in the Community Room, Seal Harbor Fire Station.
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