Board of Selectmen Meeting, August 15, 2005
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, August 15, 2005
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Seal Harbor Fire Station Community Room, Seal Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Rick Savage, Selectmen Kathy Branch, Ernest Coombs, Patrick Smallidge, Jeffrey Smith; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Public Works Director Tony Smith; Harbor Master Shawn Murphy, Acting Fire Chief Mike Bender, Recording Secretary Ellen Kappes and members of the public.
Call to order.
Chairman Savage called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of July 18, 2005 and August 1, 2005.
Selectman Branch said a word was missing on page 4, line 25 for August 1st. The word “it” should be inserted between said and would. Selectman Smallidge said in the minutes for July 18 on page 3, line 4, “the Mr. Schafer” should be “members”.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meetings of July 18, 2005 and August 1, 2005 as amended, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
III. Appointments and Communications
A.~~~~~~Appoint Tom Wallace, Rob Norwood, Norris Reddish, and Dave Higgins to Fire Chief Search Committee.
Town Manager MacDonald said he wanted to approach members of the Northeast Harbor Ambulance Service to see if one of them wanted to serve on the committee. He wanted Police Chief Willis on it too so that all groups working with the Fire Department would be involved.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve appointments of the above, seconded by Selectman Branch. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B.~~~~~~Confirm appointment of Bruce MacDonald as seasonal refuse helper, effective August 4, 2005 at hourly rate of $11.00.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above appointment of the above, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of monthly department reports.
Responding to Selectman Smallidge, Harbor Master Murphy said the harbor’s revenues so far are definitely off. Responding to Selectman Smith, Town Manager MacDonald said revenues average in the five figures plus.
Responding to Chairman Savage, Public Works Director Smith said paving on Sargeant Drive would be finished towards the end of August. He said they are at Lane’s mercy. Lane was the most competitive bidder.
No action was required on the reports.
D.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of MDI Water Quality Coalition Seal Harbor Beach report.
Public Works Director Smith said he was not satisfied with the new format. Selectman Smith agreed with his suggestion at the last meeting that testing would make a good master’s thesis and asked about contacts at the University. Public Works Director Smith said he has contacts at University of Maine and will follow up on the idea. Chairman Savage agreed it was a good idea. The new signs say swim at your own risk. Responding to Chairman Savage, Public Works Director Smith thought it would be prudent to post a sign saying no lifeguard on duty.
E.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of monthly financials, revenue control report, appropriation control report, and trial balance (with reserve account balances)
Selectman Smallidge asked about the status of the allowance for increased patrolling and if it would be necessary to add more funds at the special Town Meeting. Public Works Director Smith thought the department would be under enough in some items to offset the expense. He has applied for reimbursement for salt and sand from Maine Emergency Management Agency because the federal government declared two February storms to be disasters.
F.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of Police Chief Willis memo regarding Northeast Burglar & Alarm
Town Manager MacDonald said the equipment was out of the building.
IV. Selectmen Reports
Selectman Branch thanked Public Works Director Smith for filling in the rut on the Jordan Pond Road.
Selectman Branch brought up sewer odors, particularly those behind the Fire Department building and Saturday night on the beach. Public Works Director Smith said wastewater from Otter Creek is pumped to Seal Harbor and discharged into a manhole at the top of the hill under pressure and flows down the hill. Gerald Frost’s service is the first one on the line. At least his line acts as a vent for the odors. Five weeks ago the department thought the problem was increased by high humidity. Two weeks ago after turning on the pumps, they checked the manhole. The odor was quite bad. They added dioxide to the system. The contactor is currently monitoring the manhole with a hydrogen sulfide meter. The problem occurs when the pump starts in Otter Creek. He said he would follow
through with the designer of the project to solve the problem. Neighbors spoke about the problem and overpowering odor. Chairman Savage apologized to them for the distressing inconvenience, saying the Board was taking it seriously. Selectman Smith suggested that the Board back Public Works Director Smith with whatever action he takes to resolve the situation. Public Works Director Smith will check to be sure no danger is caused by the hydrogen sulfide.
Referring to the odor on Rockefeller Point, Public Works Director Smith had no idea what was causing it. His department will walk the shoreline at different times.
Selectman Branch said when the Town truck heads towards Otter Creek with cardboard recycling from Seal Harbor, cardboard blows out and gets spread along the road.
Selectman Branch suggested a possible amendment to the sewer ordinance making mandatory an annual inspection for private sewer lines in order to prevent breaking of the lines. She said Code Enforcement Officer Keene supports the suggestion. Public Works Director Smith did too. Selectman Coombs asked Public Works Director Smith to bring something to the Board.
V. Old Business
Town Manager MacDonald said he has received only one application for the White Tailed Deer Management Committee. Chairman Savage told him not to give up during this high season.
Chairman Savage asked about interest in purchasing the old floats. Harbor Master Murphy said nothing has changed.
VI. New Business
A. Consider adding Island Housing Trust request to approve transfer of ten acres at Ripples Road Tract to Special Town Meeting warrant.
Executive Director Chris Spruce updated the Board on IHT progress. Sam Coplan will meet with surveyors Thursday at the site to determine where the 10 acres would be. He did not think IHT will have a problem meeting the September 10 deadline with its material and a warrant article. He and Selectman Smallidge discussed the term “affordable”.
B.~~~~~~Consider amended contract with Vision Appraisal Technology.
Town Manager MacDonald said if Town Meeting turns the agreement down, the Town will have no further obligation with Vision.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the above, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C.~~~~~~Utility Location Permit for Gretchen LeGre
Town Manager MacDonald reported a legal recommendation to postpone approval of the permit until the first meeting in Septembers so that research may be done on a right of way and whether or not an easement is required. Chairman Savage approved postponement.
D.~~~~~~Consider location of handicap parking spaces in front of the Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor Post Offices.
Public Works Director Smith said the recommendation came from the Traffic Committee.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to locate a handicapped parking space on the Somesville side of the alleyway next to the Northeast Harbor Post Office, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Selectman Branch suggested that the space in Seal Harbor be whichever Public Works Director Smith determined would be easiest to drive into.
VII. General Issue
A. Discuss citizen request to install hoist at Seal Harbor pier.
Harbor Master Murphy opposed the above because of oversight and too great an increase in the Town’s liability. Town Manager MacDonald agreed with him. Responding to Selectman Smith, Harbor Master Murphy said citizens could make do with what’s there.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to decline the above request, seconded by Chairman Savage. The vote was unanimous in favor of the motion.
VII. Other Business
Public Works Director Smith said he would follow up on fuel costs.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants
Approve Treasurer’s Warrant #68 for $227,548.16, #71 for $59,728.17 and #72 for $319,928.24.
Signed as presented.
X Executive Session
None requested
At 7:24 pm, Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Smith
Secretary
Adjournment. ~The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, September 6, 2005 at 6:30 P.M. in the Meeting Room, Town Hall, Northeast Harbor.
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