Board of Selectmen Meeting, December 6, 2004
MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, December 6, 2004
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; Police Chief James Willis, Assessor John Brushwein, Harbor Master Will Boddy, Finance Director Brent Hamor, Fire Chief Chris Farley, Code Enforcement Officer Kimberly Keene, 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 November 1, 2004.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 1, 2004 as presented, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Out of order Executive Session. Pursuant to MSRA 1, §405.6.A; consideration of employment.
At 6:33 pm Chairman Savage requested an Executive Session for the above.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to go into Executive Session, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
At 6:48 pm, Chairman Savage reconvened the meeting.
III. Appointments and Communications
A.~~~~~~Confirm appointment of Kimberly A. Keene as Code Enforcement Officer, effective November 29, 2004, at a starting hourly rate of $18.75, increasing to $19.69 after successful completion of six-month probationary period.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to approve the above appointment, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B.~~~~~~Approve appointment of Kimberly A. Keene as Building Inspector, effective November 29, 2004.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the above appointment, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C.~~~~~~Approve appointment of Kimberly A. Keene as Local Plumbing Inspector, effective November 29, 2004.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the above appointment, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Public Hearing:~6:45 PM~~~~~~~~Adoption of General Assistance Model Ordinance Appendixes (A-C) for the period of Oct. 1, 2004 – Oct. 1, 2005.
At 6:45, Chairman Savage opened the above Public Hearing. Town Manager MacDonald said every year the State Dept. of Human Services makes an adjustment in the general assistance maximums. They are going up by about 4% so that, for instance, a family of three in Hancock County with a monthly income of $672 would not qualify for assistance.
At 6:54, Chairman Savage closed the Public Hearing.
Appointments and Communications – continued
D.~~~~~~Approve appointment of Joelle D. Nolan as Registrar of Voters, effective January 1, 2005
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to approve the above appointment, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
E.~~~~~~Accept with regret resignation of Police Patrol Officer Edward Montague, effective December 30, 2004. No action was required.
F.~~~~~~Confirm appointment of Edward Montague as Part-Time Police Patrol Officer, effective December 31, 2004 at an hourly rate of $11.00.
Chairman Savage asked Police Chief Willis if he would be looking for a full time officer. Police Chief Willis said he should have a name by the next meeting.
G.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of $10,204.92 performance credit check from Municipal Review Committee. ~(revenue account R3502 Solid Waste Performance Credit).
H.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of $1,000.00 contribution from Atwater Kent Foundation.
Town Manager MacDonald will send a letter of appreciation. Responding to Sydney Roberts Rockefeller, he explained the funds are used to defer general expenses.
I.~~~~~~Acknowledge Bangor Hydro Electric notice of MDOT utility Location Permit for two poles at Pretty Marsh Road. No action required.
J.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of Planning Board meeting minutes for October 12, 2004, October 25, 2004 and November 8, 2004. No action required.
K.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of County Services Committee meeting minutes for November 3, 2004 and December 1, 2004.
Jim Robinson said he and Kathy Branch are the committee. They need more help and would like more members. Town Manager MacDonald said the Town has advertised for assistance.
Mr. Robinson said the County is obviously spending too much. Money is mismanaged. This Town subsidizes other counties for the cost of sending people to the jail. It costs Bangor less than it does this Town. He figures this Town gets about half or less than what it pays for. Edie Crowley asked how one finds out about an opening for a representative on the county budget advisory committee. She and Selectman Smallidge debated the value of having a representative.
L.~~~~~~Acknowledge receipt of Seal Harbor WWTP Upgrade Weekly Construction Summary for November 12, 2004 and November 19, 2004
Public Works Director Smith said the work is being done on schedule.
M.~~~~~~Monthly Department reports. For information
IV. Consent Agenda
None
V. Selectmen Reports
Selectman Coombs wanted to know why this Town planned to not continue selling diesel fuel to the Town of Tremont. Town Manager MacDonald cited the difficulty of keeping adequate track of the sales. They are charged for the fuel but not for the administrative work of compiling the numbers. The Town sells it for the same price that it pays for it. Selectman Coombs wanted to keep up a good neighbor policy. Tremont transports some students for this Town. He said Tremont does not have fuel pumps. Chairman Savage did not think the Town should be in the fuel business at all.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to continue selling diesel fuel to the Town of Tremont but at or above this Town’s exact cost, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VI. Old Business
Kathy Branch asked about the status of wild cats in Northeast Harbor. Police Chief Willis said the Animal Control Officer is working with residents to catch the cats and get them neutered and to find homes for them.
VII. New Business
A.~~~~~~Approve 2005 Holiday Schedule.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to approve the 2005 Holiday Schedule, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
B.~~~~~~Approve Utility Location Permit; waste pump line on Dodge Point Rd.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the above permit, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C.~~~~~~Adopt and approve MMA Model Ordinance GA Appendixes (A - C) for the period of October 1, 2004 through October 1, 2005.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to approve the above ordinance as written, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
D. Authorize Town Manager to sign “Agreement and General Release of All Claims” license to permit Mount Desert Fire Department to conduct training at 128 Peabody Drive.
Town Manager MacDonald said Fire Chief Farley had received an offer from Curt Strohacker to use for, interior training purposes, a structure that would be demolished in the spring.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to approve the above authorization, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
E.~~~~~~Approve donation of Fire Department surplus equipment (extrication equipment) to Osborn Fire Department.
Town Manager MacDonald said Fire Chief Farley indicated he tried to sell the older set of Jaws of Life but got no takers.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the above donation, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
F. Approve purchase of plow truck and chassis from Colwell Diesel for $53,698.60 and body and plow set-up equipment from Howard P. Fairfield, Inc., for $43,838.00 from Public Works Equipment Reserve Account # 2875.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to approve the above purchase, seconded by Selectman Smith. The vote was unanimous in favor.
G.~~~~~~Island Housing Trust discussion of Ripples Road tract.
Chairman Savage asked about a desirable time frame for this property.
Farnham Butler explained the need for housing for the average working person who can’t afford to buy land on Mount Desert Island. The Ripples Pond tract was given to the Town, with the intent of putting it back into taxation, in exchange for a Day Mountain tract.
Selectman Coombs thought it would be a good approach to make that land available to people at a cost they could afford. Mr. Butler reviewed who would be eligible to qualify for the property.
Ned Butler cited other resort towns that had the same sort of housing crisis experiences.
Chairman Savage thought this Town has intended for this property to be used in this way but that no group with the expertise to manage and develop it has come forward. The Board needs a specific and direct approach from the Trust.
Selectman Smallidge said that although former Selectman Jerry Suminsby pushed a year ago for waiting until the Comprehensive Plan is completed, he did not think the Town could afford to wait. He said he was more interested in infilling with property owned by the Town.
Chairman Savage asked if the Trust has the professional planning expertise to make a specific presentation. Ms. Rockefeller said yes and asked if the Board would like them to come back with a plan. She thought also that all the options, such as the Schoolhouse Ledge tract brought up by Selectman Smallidge, needed to be reviewed at the same time.
Chairman Savage saw no resistance from the Board or from the Town as a whole to the affordable housing concept. Responding to Farnham Butler, he said the Trust should ask for a specific 10 acres and whatever else would be needed. He confirmed with Ned Butler that if Island Housing Trust were to come to Selectmen with a plan, they would take it to the Town for a vote. Selectman Smith said the Board needs a scheme, something to react to. Chairman Savage said it was important enough for the whole island for the subject to really be pursued. A special Town Meeting could be called if the Trust can’t be ready for the March Town Meeting.
Selectman Smallidge asked Town Manager MacDonald for an itemized list of Town holdings.
Ned Butler asked if the Town is interested in being part of the process of deciding who would be eligible to purchase the houses. Chairman Savage liked Farnham Butler’s idea of having two Selectmen represent the Town as part of that group. He encouraged the Trust to go forward with the project.
VIII. General Issues
A.~~~~~~Schedule annual Human Resources Committee compensation presentation for Monday, December 13, 2004 at 4:00 PM Approved.
B.~~~~~~Schedule annual meeting with employees for Monday, December 13, 2004 at 4:30 PM Approved
IX. Other Business
A.~~~~~~General Budget discussion – Service Group Requests
Chairman Savage wanted to approve the same requests that were approved last year but not any new requests. Selectman Smallidge said he would like the Seal Harbor Village Improvement Society to get their additional request because they do services that would otherwise be provided by the Town. Ms. Crowley said they are asking for less than one-half the operating costs. Selectman Coombs and Selectman Smith favored the increase.
Selectman Smith referred to the Mount Desert Nursing Association request for $4,000 more. He recommended giving them one-half their request, increasing their appropriation to $18,500. Ms. Rockefeller and Selectman Coombs offered personal testimonies in favor of the organization.
MOTION: Selectman Smith moved to approve the 2004 budget for the Other Services Budget with the exceptions of the Nursing Association which would receive $18,500 instead of $15,500; the Seal Harbor VIS which would receive $22,700 instead of $18,700; and those services who decreased their requests, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
X. Treasurer’s Warrants
Signed as presented.
XI Executive Session
None requested
At 8:02 pm Selectman Smith moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Smith
Secretary
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Monday, December 20 at 6:30 P.M. in the Town Hall Meeting Room, Northeast Harbor.
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