Board of Selectmen Meeting, April 18, 2004
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Special Meeting for Fire Station Tour
Sunday, April 18, 2004
A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Town Office, Northeast Harbor, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Rick Savage, Ernest Coombs, Patrick Smallidge; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Fire Chief Chris Farley, Recording Secretary Ellen Kappes and members of the press.
Call to order.
Chairman Savage called the meeting to order at 2:00 p.m.
Minutes
None.
III. Appointments and Communications
None
IV. Consent Agenda
None
V. Selectmen Reports
None
VI. Old Business
None
VII. New Business
None
VIII. General Issues
A. Tour of fire stations, convene at NEH, begin inspection at Otter Creek, then Seal Harbor, and Somesville ending at Northeast Harbor.
At 2:00 Chairman Savage moved to reconvene the tour in Otter Creek, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
At 2:17, the meeting reconvened at the Otter Creek Fire Station. The 1979 Ford fire truck had been moved elsewhere. Fire Chief Farley said he was waiting to put something different there but that if the building were to be closed, there would be no need for any vehicle.
Selectman Smallidge asked if there would have to be a working furnace if the Town returns the building. Town Manager MacDonald thought the building might have been a gift with restrictions. Fire Chief Farley thought the only argument for keeping it would be for a place to assemble. The furnace was discussed. Chairman Savage said the deed and agreement should be researched and that any release or closing would have to go before Town Meeting. He noted there was not much equipment in the building. Fire Chief Farley said he had taken out a lot of the useful stuff. No one is there during the day. Chairman Savage saw no reason to keep the building. Fire Chief Farley said previous Treasurer Bonville had told him utilities for it cost $1,500 per year. Nothing has
been done to it for years. Leaves are piled up around it. The chimney top is crumbling off. Selectman Smallidge thought the furnace might be too close to the oil tank.
At 2:28, Selectmen left Otter Creek.
At 2:35 Selectmen met at the Seal Harbor Fire Station. Chairman Savage was concerned about the height of the fire truck. Fire Chief Farley said the 1986 truck which carries air compressors was not yet scheduled for removal. He said Engine #2 has had a number of issues with its electrical system. Last year, the fire department expected it to do way more than it could. A lot of work was done on it last year. It is now quite serviceable. The 1981 American La France ladder truck is second on the list for replacement. Selectman Coombs said it would be useful as long as it can be kept going. Fire Chief Farley added as long as parts can be obtained for it.
When Selectmen saw the office room, Chairman Savage asked if Fire Chief Farley had considered using the building for his office. Fire Chief Farley said he had but that only 8% of the calls were from Seal Harbor. 50% were in Northeast Harbor and 21% were in Somesville. The rest of the Town’s business is conducted in Northeast Harbor. None of the firemen are in Seal Harbor in the daytime. Once the ventilator system is installed in Northeast Harbor, a lot of problems will be solved. Looking at the growth of the Town and at the future, Chairman Savage said this is an example of underused space. There is a good meeting space upstairs. He wanted to compare it to the spaces in Northeast Harbor and Somesville. Selectman Smallidge noted that Fire Chief Farley is not in the office all
the time, he is out meeting people. Fire Chief Farley said it is hard to get the guys from Northeast Harbor to come over to Seal Harbor for training. Chairman Savage understood the matter of the activity and the dispatch center being in Northeast Harbor, but he thought maybe the whole Seal Harbor building could be turned into a public safety office for both police and fire departments. Selectman Smallidge said it’s almost a waste of space if it doesn’t get used. Chairman Savage was concerned about discussions he hears about adding to the building in Northeast Harbor where the administration and dispatchers are running out of space. With the communication skills and mobility that everyone has today, it’s really a matter of minutes to get to Seal Harbor, he said. Selectman Coombs mentioned the foot traffic in Northeast Harbor. On the mezzanine level, Selectmen looked at a nearly empty room that is not being used.
Referring to the status of the roof replacement, Fire Chief Farley said he tried to get several bids for it last fall but received only two, from Wallace and from Holbrook. Chairman Savage asked him to put it out to bid again to get a firm bid.
At 3:14, Selectmen left Seal Harbor.
At 3:30 Selectmen met at the Somesville Fire Station and reviewed the vehicles there. The International Load Star is used for forest fires. If something were to go wrong with it, Fire Chief Farley said he would not fix it. On Tanker #1, the brakes aren’t heavy enough. It spills when it goes down the road. It is scheduled to be fixed in late May. Engine #3 purchased in 1993 is the one with the least amount of problems because it is not loaded with a lot of equipment. It is a basic fire truck, Fire Chief Farley said. He thought the Department should keep the Zodiac for cold water rescues. It was a gift and doesn’t cost anything. A problem with cleaning the building after recent Town use was discussed.
Chairman Savage asked about getting rid of an old tank out back. Town Manager MacDonald will look into getting it cut up and removed.
At 3:45 Selectmen left Somesville.
At 4:00 Selectmen met in the Northeast Harbor Fire Station. Chairman Savage measured the height of the ceiling – 12 feet and the height of the doors – 10 feet. There was considerable discussion about whether or not the ladder truck, which is 11 feet, 6 inches high, could fit under the doors. Engine #1 is a good truck but it spills antifreeze every time they use it. Fire Chief Farley said $250,000 more needs to be raised for a new fire truck. He would eliminate the two box trucks. Chairman Savage said that amount is a lot to raise in one year. He did not think they would dare to do that in taxes. The plan makes a lot of sense down the road, he said.
In the space being used by Fire Chief Farley for an office, the question of moving his office to Seal Harbor was again discussed. Chairman Savage asked if the room would be adequate once the exhaust system was in place. Selectman Smallidge thought a temporary solution would be to move Fire Chief Farley to Seal Harbor. Chairman Savage suggested that if Selectmen are authorizing money for an exhaust system, that they might put it in Seal Harbor where the door heights are right and where the ambulance situation would not be a problem. Selectman Smallidge asked if there is room in Seal Harbor for the fire and police departments and the dispatchers. Town Manager MacDonald said the Town is just about to spend $15,000 on the dispatcher space in Northeast Harbor and wanted to know now if Selectmen want him
to put skids on it. He said there is not enough room in Seal Harbor for the evidence room. Chairman Savage thought that if Fire Chief Farley is satisfied with the Northeast Harbor space, it could be o.k.
Selectmen discussed the height of the garage doors.
IX. Other Business
None
X. Treasurer’s Warrants
None
XI Executive Session
None requested
At 4:30 Chairman Savage moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Smith
Secretary
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