Board of Selectmen Meeting, January 10, 2005
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, January 10, 2005
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 Ernest Coombs, Patrick Smallidge, Jeff Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Public Works Director Tony Smith; Harbor Master Will Boddy, Finance Director Brent Hamor, Fire Chief Chris Farley, Recording Secretary Ellen Kappes and members of the public.
Call to order.
Chairman Savage called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
At 6:30 p.m. Chairman Savage suspended the regular meeting because of a conflict in the same location with Mount. Desert Planning Board’s Regularly Scheduled Meeting.
At 7:00 p.m. Chairman Savage reconvened the meeting in the Meeting Room, Somesville Fire Station, Somesville.
Public Hearing – 2005 Budget Appropriations and Revenue
At 7:05 p.m., Chairman Savage opened the Public Hearing.
Town Manager MacDonald said the bottom line in the budget includes some corrections for wages and energy costs. He and Chairman Savage agreed that approvals would be made after the public hearing. He then reviewed the budget, department by department and displayed the proposed budget in a spread sheet projected onto a wall.
0400 Elected Officials
0403 Administration - Town Manager MacDonald said the major increase in this department was for a new position in the Town Office. Responding to George Peckham who asked what the duties of the new person would be, he said they would involve clerical assistance for the Assessor and the Code Enforcement Officer and eventually secretarial work for the Planning Board. Preparation for the meetings now takes 10 to 12 hours of Mrs. Nolan’s time.
0404 Assessor – The significant increase in this area is for assistance for the appraisal so that it could be in effect for the 2006 tax year. Responding to Laurie Fernald, Town Manager MacDonald confirmed that it is a one-time expenditure.
0405 Tax Collector/Treasurer
0406 Code Enforcement – Asked by Mr. Peckham if the Planning Board service position was necessary, Town Manager MacDonald said it was needed to for assembling the Comprehensive Plan. Chairman Savage suggested that a report on its existing status be made available to the public and agreed that a status memo would suffice.
0407 Buildings and Grounds – The $29,600 increase was for a conceptual design from Mr. Rivers and a cost analysis for renovations for the municipal building. Some of the additional space is needed for Fire Department equipment that will be moved to the Northeast Harbor building. Asked by Ms. Fernald if the drawings were put out to bid, Town Manager MacDonald said Mr. Rivers was suggested by the person who donated the building.
0409 Town Clerk
0421 – Police Dept – Twenty- five percent of the increase is for fuel. Responding to Jean Fernald, Town Manager MacDonald said the Town hires two summer officers, one for patrol and one for traffic.
0422 – Fire Dept – The major increase is for fire engine reserve.
0423 – Communications – The budget is up $5,000 for the preliminary amount to replace radio equipment on top of Cadillac Mountain.
0431 – Highways
0433 – Solid Waste Collection – Mr. Peckham asked why the Town picks up twice a week in the summer since he has no more garbage then than in the winter. Town Manager MacDonald said he did not think it was fair to target the year-round population with one pick-up and then pick up twice for summer residents and businesses. Public Works Director Smith said the Solid Waste Committee is looking at the number of pick-ups and will have a report by spring.
0435 – Parks & Recreation
0440 - Compliance Mandates – The big increase is for dredging Otter Creek Pond which is used by the Fire Department for water hook-up for fire fighting purposes.
0440 – Other Services – Two representatives from Hospice explained the differences from Hospice of Hancock County and Hancock County Home Care & Hospice. After reading newspaper articles about a previous meeting, they wanted to set the story straight. They responded to Jean Fernald saying Hospice served 20 people in Mount Desert this year and provided crisis intervention in the school. The Home Care service provided aid for about 30 patients in the Town. Ms. Fernald was upset that the Town could not see its way clear to give them funds and hoped that Selectmen could take a closer look at them in the future. Chairman Savage confirmed that the Town received the request in time but that with the exception of Mount Desert Nursing Association and the Seal Harbor VIP, the Board chose to
keep the funding the same as last year.
Responding to Jean Fernald, Town Manager MacDonald said 29 organizations asked for funds. He thought two or three were new ones.
0450 – Recreation – The Board Town Manager MacDonald said the basketball court and fence needed repair. Responding to Mr. Peckham, Selectman Smallidge thought the decrease in fuel probably happened because the pool was shut down for a couple of weeks for repair after it had been damaged by vandals.
0453 Rural Waste Support – Town Manager MacDonald thought about 50 more people would take advantage of the program. He plans to put an application for funds in the Annual Report.
0454 Sewer Capital & Debt – The major increase is for the postponed work in Seal Harbor, including the outfall extension. Responding to Mr. Peckham, Chairman Savage said the Board felt the Town could never fund Summit Road sewer repair adequately through reserves and would probably have to take out a bond for it.
0455 Sewer Treatment - Town Manager MacDonald said increases resulted from lab equipment, maintenance supplies and compliance and safety for all three plants.
0456 Northeast Harbor Plant and 0457 Somesville Plant – Increases in electricity prices caused most of the additions in these budgets
0458 Seal Harbor Plant – The increase is based on the engineer’s estimate of what it will cost to run this equipment after the flow from Otter Creek starts coming over.
0459 Otter Creek Plant –The increase is for the energy costs and chemicals to run the pump station after improvements in Seal Harbor go on line and decommissioning begins in this plant.
0461 NEH Marina - Harbor Master Boddy requested that line item 2503 floats be moved to line item 4404 capital improvement reserves to save the town $2,000. He explained that the bid for the floats came under expectations by about $9,000. As a result the State grant amount will be lower than requested. He wanted to order two additional floats so that he could negotiate for a lower price per float and also increase the expenditure in order to receive more in grant money from the State. He would need $2,226 in additional funding from the Town. The negotiations would have to be done soon, by the next week at the latest but he needed Selectmen to agree to take that extra money out of capital reserves to fund those floats. Money would go back into the capital improvement reserves as a counter
balance. Last year $66,667 was approved for the floats. An opportunity exists to increase the State grant to $44,000 by using all of those funds. The State grant is based on the $66,667 estimate. If less than that is spent, the grant goes down proportionately. The two more floats will push the figure up. The floats are in this year’s budget. Town Manager MacDonald said just shifting the $45,000 to the 4404 line, making it $72,000 would not affect the bottom line of $314,995. Chairman Savage clarified that the same contractor would give the Town a discounted amount on the additional floats. Selectman Smith thought it made a lot of sense and was in favor of it. Selectman Smallidge noted it would save a significant amount on the each of the extra floats.
Jean Bonville asked for clarification about the reserve account. Harbor Master Boddy said $69,000 would be coming from reserves for those floats. Harbor Master Boddy said the bids came in significantly lower than expected. $66,677 was put away for the floats. The float bid was $57,000 plus change. He wanted to increase the $66,677 by $2,226 to allow for two extra floats. The Town will save $2,000 because of the State grant. Following Selectman Coombs’s query, the balance that would be left in the reserves was estimated.
MOTION: Chairman Savage moved to change the $54,000 on line 2503 to a zero amount and increase line 4404 by $54,000 so that the final amount will be $72,000, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
0462 Seal Harbor Marina and 0464 Bartlett Narrows Harbor – These budgets were down because of cost cutting efforts.
0466 Somes Harbor – Mr. Peckham wanted to know why the Town was paying for work there when only Somesville residents have access to it. Selectman Smallidge said all residents have access from the water. Harbor Master Boddy said the Town has the responsibility to help maintain the moorings.
0471 Finance
0474 Personnel – The increase is due to an increase in insurance costs and a new office position.
Responding to Bob Smallidge, Town Manager MacDonald said the overall increase is 10% or a 4.74% increase in the mil rate.
At 8:20 pm, Chairman Savage closed the Public Hearing.
Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of January 3, 2005.
Selectman Smallidge questioned line 26 on page 2. The recording secretary said to delete “and stood by the”.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 3, 2005 as amended, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
III. Appointments and Communications
A.~~~~~~Olver Associates Weekly Construction Summary for Seal Harbor Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade for December 30, 2004
B.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of Department Head monthly reports
Town Manager MacDonald pointed out that Harbor Master Boddy had written letters to the newspapers thanking the community for assistance with the Roxy Lee when she broke her mooring recently.
IV. Consent Agenda
None
V. Selectmen Reports
Chairman Savage noted that the approved budget is what Selectmen will send to the Warrant Committee.
VI. Old Business
A.~~~~~~Approve Revised/Amended departmental budgets, revenue, and carry forwards and appropriation Warrant Articles.
Town Manager MacDonald said total revenue of non-property property tax revenue was $1,832,653. Responding to Mrs. Bonville, he said that the prior year unexpended funds were not included in the revenue line. She said $15,000 needed to be added this figure because of State projections.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to raise the $1,832,653 figure by $15,000 to $1,847,653, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve a carry forward of $252,608, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Town Manager MacDonald said he expected the mil rate to be about 14.35.
B. Approve additional non-budgetary warrant articles
Articles 3, 4 & 5 were previously recommended by Selectmen for passing.
Town Manager MacDonald said the staff will fill in the numbers for Articles 6 through 22.
Article 23: Selectman Coombs moved to recommend approval, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Selectmen skipped Articles 24 through 29 which deal with the school. Articles 30 through 34 were previously recommended by Selectmen for passing. Articles 35 through 38 were the responsibility of the Planning Board.
Article 39: Town Manager MacDonald said this was a new article. The insurance company requires that there be an agreement between the Town and the Neighborhood House for management and maintenance of the pool. The article gives Selectmen the authority to negotiate and approve an agreement.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to adopt Article 39, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Article 40 and 41: Town Manager MacDonald said he had been persuaded by Jean Bonville and Assessor John Brushwein that these two articles would probably cause more confusion than clarification in Town Meeting. The Board had previously recommended passage.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to remove Articles 40 and 41 from the Warrant, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Articles 42 and 43 were previously recommended by Selectmen for passing.
Article 44: The article had been changed to an affirmative version.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to recommend not approving this article, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Article 45: MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to recommend not approving this article, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Article 46: Town Manager MacDonald said when the Rockefellers gave the Town a piece of property on Schoolhouse Ledge, there was no acknowledgment of the infrastructure of the Water Company on it. The amendment will codify who has what authority where.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 46, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Article 47: MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to recommend passage of Article 47, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Articles 48 through 50 were previously recommended by Selectmen for passing.
Article 51: Town Manager MacDonald said the rate of interest on unpaid taxes would have to be added at the Town Meeting. Mrs. Bonville said the same rate as last year’s could be set and then changed by Town vote if necessary.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to include 6.5% as the maximum rate, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Article 52 was previously acted upon.
Article 53: Selectman Smallidge moved to insert 2.5% as the maximum rate in this article, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Articles 54 through 57 were previously acted upon.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to adopt the Warrant as prepared, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VII. New Business
Town Manager MacDonald brought up to matters that were not on the prepared agenda.
1. He said that Harbor Master Boddy had submitted a letter of resignation and that Feb. 3 would be his last day. Chairman Savage thanked Harbor Master Boddy for his service, support, comments and judgment
2. He said Public Works Director Smith wanted to fill a vacant labor position at the Treatment Plant before Selectmen’s next meeting on Feb. 7. The Board did not object to a retroactive confirmation.
A.~~~~~~Review of Acadia Disposal District 2005 Operating Budget.
Public Works Director Smith said the budget is approximately $7,000 higher than last year. The district is now fully insured through MMA. The budget is based on negotiations with EMR for purchasing the property.
B.~~~~~~Authorize additional funding from Reserve Account R2840 for Marina float project.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to authorize $2,226 for the above, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VIII. General Issues
None
IX. Other Business
In view of the time frame, Harbor Master Boddy wondered if he could have authorization not to exceed $36,000 from the capital improvement fund reserve account #2840 for the 6 earlier discussed floats. It would save money to order them all at once.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to authorize Harbor Master Boddy to take an amount not to exceed $36,000 from reserve account #2840 for the purchase of 6 additional moorings floats, seconded by Selectman Smith.
X. Treasurer’s Warrants
Approve and sign Treasurer’s Warrant #130 for $264,119.89 and #131 for $5,195.25
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Signed as presented.
XI Executive Session
None requested
At 9:02 pm, Selectman Smallidge moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Smith
Secretary
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