MEETING OF THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN
TOWN OF MOUNT DESERT, MAINE
Monday, May 19, 2003
A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Somesville Fire House, Mount Desert, Maine.
Those present included: Chairman Rick Savage, Ernest Coombs, Emily Damon Pascal, Patrick Smallidge, Jerry Suminsby; Town Manager Michael MacDonald; Public Works Director Tony Smith; and members of the public.
6:35 P.M. Public Hearing Liquor License Application for Astikim Corporation
6:40 P.M. Public Hearing Liquor License Application for Christopher Jalbert D/B/A Peloton Restaurant
Call to order.
Chairman Savage called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Minutes
A. Approval of minutes of Regular Meeting of May 5, 2003.
Selectman Savage asked to change the minutes of May 5, page 4, line 8, changing the word “adjourned” to “recessed.”
MOTION: Selectman Damon Pascal moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of May 5, 2003 as corrected, seconded by Selectman Suminsby. The vote was unanimous in favor.
III. Appointments and Communications
A. Letter of appreciation from Bar Harbor Fire Chief Rand.
Mr. MacDonald explained that members of the Bar Harbor fire department had joined Mount Desert firefighters on training exercises, and Fire Chief Rand had expressed his thanks for the training experience and for the opportunity to enhance relationships between the different fire departments on the island.
B. Letter from Adelphia with notification of channel relocations.
Adelphia informed the Town of channel switches between Lifetime (now located on channel 24) and The Weather Channel (now located on channel 37).
C. Letter from ME DOT advising of project representative Ron Simbari.
Mr. MacDonald noted that Mr. Simbari would have a field office located on the project site. When questioned on the status of construction projects in Town, Public Works Director Tony Smith said that much of the clearing had been completed on the Pretty Marsh Road work, and Rte. 198 and Rte. 102 projects were both on schedule.
D. Approve appointment of Michael C. Bucklin and Valerie G. Doyle at $10.00 per hour and Matt Bucklin, Rory Stratton, Kurt Budke, Gary Hooper and Steve Ray at $11.00 per hour as seasonal employees for Northeast Harbor Marina.
Mr. MacDonald explained the difference in hourly wage was for returning employees with more experience.
MOTION: Selectman Suminsby moved to approve the above appointments, seconded by Selectman Damon Pascal. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Selectman Savage opened the public hearings and asked for comments on the following matters:
Liquor License Application for Astikim Corporation
Liquor License Application for Christopher Jalbert D/B/A Peloton Restaurant
There were no comments from the public. Selectman Savage closed the public hearings.
IV. Consent Agenda
A. Approve liquor license for AstiKim Corporation.
B. Approve liquor license for Christopher Jalbert D/B/A Peloton Restaurant, Seal Harbor.
MOTION: Selectman Suminsby moved to approve the consent agenda for the liquor licenses of the above named applicants, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
V. Selectmen Reports
Selectman Suminsby reminded those gathered that the next Selectmen’s Meeting would be held June 2 starting at 6:00 p.m., with a presentation by the College of the Atlantic students of their work on mapping the Town relevant to issues in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan. He noted refreshments will be served and all are welcome.
VI. Old Business
Selectman Savage questioned the status of the marine improvement project. Mr. MacDonald said the pilings were in place, but believed the wiring had not been completed.
Public Works Director Smith said the sidewalk work on Sea Street will not be completed by Memorial Day, but was in good shape. He also noted that work on the Somesville sewage treatment plant has begun, and safety plans for the Otter Creek treatment plant are falling into place.
VII. New Business
A. Discuss videotaping and archiving of Selectmen’s meetings.
Mr. MacDonald said he had contacted the Maine Municipal Association regarding requirements or limitations relative to video taping meetings. They responded that the Town was limited to direct the person filming as to where they could place their camera. It was confirmed that the tape is then for individual use or ownership, and not an official town record.
Selectman Suminsby said in light of this information, no action by the Board would be the most appropriate course. He also stated that he did not see video tapes as a benefit to the Town, believed that some will find it distracting, and that it is moving away from traditional town interactions into a bigger city mode.
There was some further discussion on the matter, all agreeing that the official Town record will remain the written minutes, approved by the Board at subsequent meetings and kept at the Town office. There was also some discussion about the videos being used as an educational tool and reference source in the future, and the possibility that some individuals will not speak publicly if the meetings are video taped. Jim Robinson said the videos would be available through the Northeast Harbor Library on DVDs. It was noted that the minutes are currently available on the Town’s new web site.
Selectman Savage summed up the sentiment of the Board that this is a recording form they will allow, but not promote, and feel obliged to make it the least disruptive as possible, with a camera positioned in the back and as inconspicuously as possible. He also said it would be up to the chairperson of any meeting to determine if videotaping, by one or more individuals, disrupted a meeting and decides how to handle each case.
B. Approve Neighborhood House youth programs on NEH village green.
Mr. MacDonald explained that Anne-Marie Hart of Neighborhood House had requested permission for summer camp children, up to 3-4th graders, to play at the village green in the mornings since the school playing fields will be under reconstruction this year.
MOTION: Selectman Damon Pascal moved to approve the request of Neighborhood House, seconded by Selectman Coombs. The vote was unanimous in favor.
C. Approve or reject surplus equipment bid results.
Mr. MacDonald listed the bids received for the floats, which if accepted would total $4660, and noted the single bid for misc. parts of $21. He said two bids were received for the packer truck, but that Public Works Director Smith recommended rejecting those bids as too low. Mr. Smith suggested an alternative for selling them, and if not sold for an adequate price he recommended taking the packer off the truck and continuing use of the truck in the Town for some other purpose.
MOTION: Selectman Suminsby moved to accept the nine (9) highest bids on the floats, seconded by Selectman Smallidge. The vote was unanimous in favor.
Mr. MacDonald said he would notify the bidders by mail.
MOTION: Selectman Suminsby moved to accept the bid of $21 for misc. auto parts, seconded by Selectman Damon Pascal. The vote was unanimous in favor.
MOTION: Selectman Coombs moved to reject the bids for the packer truck, seconded by Selectman Damon Pascal. The vote was unanimous in favor.
VIII. General Issues
A. Sign appointment list for members of Sewer Cost Study Committee.
Selectman Savage thanked the members of the new committee. Mr. MacDonald noted that Bob Smallidge has been elected chairman of the committee, Jim Robinson as vice chairman, and Kathy Branch as secretary.
Bob Smallidge said he thought it was a great first meeting. In the future, meetings will be open to the public, but generally not for public input. He said anyone was welcome to put in requests with committee members. They will establish subcommittees, which may meet sometimes in people’s homes. He said there would be no executive sessions. Jim Robinson said that public access had been a big discussion at the committee meeting, but the group felt they had heard all the messages, so would prefer to get written comments.
IX. Treasurer’s Warrants
There were three Treasurer’s Warrants signed.
X. Other Business
A. Update on Cranberry Islands Parking lot.
Mr. MacDonald said the Town dispatcher has the list of 123 people from Cranberry Isles entitled to parking space stickers. Representatives from Cranberry Isles said if there were any disagreements there were three people on the Isles to refer them to who had made the decisions. He also said that Cranberry Isles and Mount Desert continue to work towards a long-term lease to bring before the Town Meeting in 2004.
MOTION: Selectman Smallidge moved to adjourn the meeting, seconded by Selectman Suminsby.
The meeting adjourned at 7:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Emily Damon Pascal
Secretary
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