SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, November 15, 2006
A Special 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, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Finance Director Brent Hamor, Fire Chief Mike Bender, 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 - None.
III. Appointments and Communications - None
IV. Selectmen Reports - None
V. Old Business - None
VI. New Business
A. Discuss past due sewer charges repayment agreement
Chairman Savage explained the background for the above and said Town Manager MacDonald has worked out a payment schedule for the individual who lives on the Otter Creek/Bar Harbor boundary area. Town Manager MacDonald said he owes about $2,000 and plans to pay $50 per month. He will now be charged the same interest as that for past due taxes. Selectman Smith and Selectman Branch thought the schedule seemed fair and doable. Chairman Savage wanted some reassurance that the Town will be paid. Town Manager MacDonald suggested if non-payments go beyond 30 days, it could go to small claims court proceedings. Since the connection was not approved by a town meeting vote, probably a disconnection would require only a Board of Selectmen action, a serious step to undertake. Chairman Savage said if the individual were
a resident of the Town, Selectmen would be required to take more serious steps.
B. Discuss Non-binding referendum options
Chairman Savage reviewed the problems with releasing the above voting results on the deer and fiscal year questions. One resident who had voted absentee, showed up at the polls wanting to vote on the deer and fiscal year (straw poll) referendum questions. Kim Parady then requested advice from Maine Municipal Association which suggested mailing separate referendum question ballots to all those who voted absentee. The voting results had not yet been released. Only three people on the Town staff knew what they were. Considerable discussion followed among Selectmen. Members of the public offered opinions and advise. Selectman Smith said two options were available: 1. to release voting results that night and move on or 2. to mail ballots to those 195 people who voted absentee. Another option
was suggested - to release the results and also mail absentee ballots with a time limit for returning votes. The fact that the referendum questions were actually straw polls and informational only ballots was frequently clarified. It became clear that not everyone would be satisfied no matter what Selectmen did.
MOTION: Chairman Savage moved to release the results of the straw poll votes that night, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was 2 to 1. Chairman Savage and Selectman Branch voted for the motion; Selectman Smith voted against it. The motion carried.
George Peckham said there has to be a majority of 3 out of 5 for a motion to carry. Chairman Savage and Selectman Smith said the Board had a quorum and that it was a legal vote.
Selectman Smith opened the ballots and read the results:
On the deer management question #1: yes 270; no 434.
On the second part about recreational hunting: yes 260; no - 0 answers.
On the fiscal year question: 566 voted in favor of changing the fiscal year; 377 voted against it.
Town Manager MacDonald had left the room and returned with a copy of regulations that showed Mr. Peckham to be correct.
MOTION: Selectman Branch moved to reconsider the vote, seconded by Chairman Savage. The vote was unanimous in favor.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to release the results of the straw poll referendum that night, seconded by Chairman Savage. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VII. General Issues
A. Budget discussion
Fire Department: Fire Chief Bender said he had cut his previous requests by $28,500, bringing the increase down to 17.5% over the last year. He asked the Board to consider the $50,000 donation for truck reserves last year that lowered that year's increase. With that in mind, the average increase over the last 2 years is 2.5%. Cuts were made in building and maintenance and fire engine reserves. Repair expenses were discussed.
Treasurer: Finance Director Hamor explained the requested new computer program. It will be an upgrade of the current antiquated and inadequate DOS system to a windows version.
Assessor: Finance Director Hamor said the $7,000 for the server is a one time fee. The $2,000 to Vision for web hosting will be annual but will save on office staff time.
Insurance: has increased partly because there are more things to insure.
Rural WW Support: Town Manager MacDonald said 3 appeals have come so far from the 15 letters that he sent out advising people of their application rejections.
Chairman Savage said R. L. Jordan now says they do not have time to finish the Summit Road project and want to leave it undone and unpaved over the winter. He was concerned about poor access for people who live there. Town Manager MacDonald understood that the contractor will be responsible for keeping the road passable over the winter and for plowing and sanding it. He said Public Works Director Smith has requested a waiver of the fault factor in the matter.
Northeast Harbor Marina: Town Manager MacDonald said this has been transferred to the end of the budget as a separate section under Revenue. He explained how the auditors have suggested that it be handled.
VII. Other Business - None
IX. Treasurer's Warrants - None
X Executive Session None requested
At 8:00 PM, Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith
Secretary
Adjournment. The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, November 20, 2006 at 6:30 P.M. in the Meeting Room, Town Office, Northeast Harbor.
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