Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
September 17, 2008
1. Call to Order: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:02 PM. by HF. RM & LJA were present.
2. Secretary’s Report:
A. Meeting Minutes from September 4, 2008. Motion to accept minutes. RM/LJA– Unanimous.
B. Special Selectmen Meeting Minutes from September 10, 2008. Motion to accept minutes w/ minor edits.
RM/LJA Unanimous.
3. Geoff Hole, Town Attorney, on Great Oaks dangerous buildings, map U4 lot 11A
A. CEO and Great Oaks owners contractor taking charge of effort.
4. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. None.
5. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A. EMA Director- Frank Blauvelt update on Generators and EMA Plan.
1) Generator installs. Plans to place one at Town Office & one at Spurs Corner. Generators will have an
automatic disconnect. The power will need to be shut off approx. (4) hours ahead of time for Town Office
location and possibly (1) hour at the Fire Station.
2) Emergency Plan. About ½ to ¾ complete. When Frank finishes it, he will meet w/ Kyle and Mike Hooker for
their input then it will be brought before County. Once everyone agrees, it will be brought to BOS for adoption.
Plans to have this completed by the end of the year.
6. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
A. Jim Bishop – Member of the Appeals board. Would like to see new faces on this board. BOS: This is on
tonight’s Agenda.
B. Karen Turino – Regarding special meeting last week. Karen realizes it was not illegal, but her question is, do
the BOS approve of this and if not, is there something that will prevent it from happening in the future? HF has
spoken w/ individual at great lengths on how it could have been handled.
C. Karen Turino – Regarding Lenny serving as Chair of Ordinance Committee. Suggests it’s a better idea not
having the BOS as chair. LA: Currently unable to find anyone to accept chair position. HF: Taking suggestion
under advisement, but BOS let the committees choose their own chair.
D. Bonnie Rolf – Works for Harvest Hills Animal Shelter. Recently had her first experience w/ Animal Control
Officer. She would like to conduct a Special studies group to poll people of the town on their feelings for him.
Board Trustee of Harvest Hills Animal Shelter lives on the Ahonen road and she too has had no response. HF:
Put something in writing, to go on record and BOS will review it. Each selectmen will call the animal Control
Officer about this situation tomorrow.
E. Herb Olsen – Would like to see the town buy some decent recording devices. He feels every meeting should
be recorded. BOS have noted this.
F. Dan Peaco –Signage at intersection. BOS: “Dangerous intersection” sign will be placed at intersection. Dan’s
concern is people are not slowing down. There is currently no speed limit sign Also,there are two maple trees
that inhibit site when you come out of Saturday Pond Road. BOS: Will ask Richard to take a look at it.
G. Otisfield Citizen: Questions the campaigning at town office and transfer station? HF: If someone calls to ask
who is campaigning, the office employees will inform them of the candidates. It’s not town policy to campaign
within the office and employees have been counseled on this subject.
H. Ahonen Road resident – Lives two driveways from where the pavement ends. Is there going to be a posted
speed limit sign on it? Discussion: Richard Bean decides where speed limit signs need to be placed, BOS will
check w/ Richard.
7. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS
A. Town Fee – Tom Dubois, Main Land Dev. Brought in a check for $2100. 00 the new fee was approx.
$8,000.00. Motion that since fees were approved by the BOS, the new fee is applicable. HF/LA – Unanimous.
Discussion: Let the people decide if fees should be taken right out of ordinance. BOS: MIM will respond to
letter, explaining where the BOS stand on this issue.
8. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
A. None.
9. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED
A. Motion to sign Warrant #5 to pay the towns bills. LJA/HF – Unanimous.
B. Motion to approve Planning Board By-laws. RM/LJA – Unanimous.
C. Transfer station box repairs: Discussion Pine Tree Waste repairs the boxes at a cost of $1500 each. RM:
Concerned that it’s $1,000 for welding, is that reasonable? Or is it worth a 2nd opinion? More detailed
breakdown needed, ask MIM to research. Motion to authorize from solid waste account repairs that are not to
exceed $3,500. HF/LA – Unanimous.
D. Board of Appeals – Two applications for review.
1. Motion to accept Annie Pastore with a term to expire 06/30/2012. – RM/LJA –
Unanimous.
2. Motion to accept Sharon Matthews with a term to expire 06/30/2011– RM/LJA – Unanimous.
*Workshop Tuesday, September 23, 2008 in South Paris. If available they will be signed up.
E. Town Report will be dedicated to Bob Kane. BOS statement will be done by HF. Discussion: Possibly
expanding number of Selectmen from 3 to 5. RM: Suggests taking it to a Public Hearing and putting a warrant
number on it. Finance Committee should be involved.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Review Bid Process- Given to Ordinance & Policy Review Committee. Anything over $5,000 needs to go out by bid. *moved until the 1st of the year.
B. Review Job descriptions for all positions.- Dec. 08.
C. Review contract for snowplowing & develop snow shoveling bid/contract- Oct. 08
D. Bulky Waste Poundage- Oct.08 – * Tabled, MIM has this info.
E. Division of Duties- Sept 08 * Each member keeping the board updated w/ their involvement in things. If
something comes up, whoever is available will step up. Completed 9.17.08
F. Develop Performance Review Forms- Nov. - Dec. 08 – This should be tied in w/ Job descriptions.
G. Develop Annual Municipal Calendar- Oct-Nov. 08
H. Health Officer- Oct. 08 *info needed from MIM
I. Name Plates- Sept 08 *completed as of 9.17.08
11. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
A. RM: Economical PA system for Board Meetings – RM Will research price and get back to MIM.
B. Name Plates - $14 for name and holder. Motion to supply name plates for the BOS, BOA, PB, & Finance
Committee. LJA / RM – Unanimous.
C. Heniger Park –RM: Feels that 90% of the work is done and there is still 10% that needs work. HF: suggests
going out there again. RM suggests having this done before putting up signs welcoming the public. LJA:
Thinks someone should be hired and not rely on volunteers. BOS will figure out a date to get together and it will
get posted.
D. Shoveling contract to be developed by HF and also changes to the Snowplowing Contract, and presented at
the next meeting. Frank: Can you make sure generators are shoveled out.
12. SCHEDULED MEETINGS
9/23 - 5:30pm Appeals/Planning Board workshop- S. Paris Fire Station
9/24 -7pm Ordinance Review Committee
10/1 -7pm- Junkyard Hearing
10/1 -Selectmen's Meeting after Junkyard hearing
10/7 - 7pm Planning Board
10/9- 7pm Ordinance & Policy Review Committee
10/15-7pm Selectmen Meet
10/21-7pm Planning Board
10/22 -7pm Conservation Committee
13. ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:45 PM. RM/LJA – Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary.
Approved by
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on: 10/01/08
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