Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
August 15, 2012
1. CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:01 PM. Hal Ferguson, Chairman,
Rick Micklon & Lenny Adler present.
2. FLAG SALUTE
*Audience and Board members saluted the flag.
3. SECRETARY’S REPORT:
A. Meeting minutes from August 1, 2012. *Motion to accept minutes. LA/RM – Unanimous.
4. SPECIAL EVENTS
A. Community Hall: RM wondered when the next event would need to be set up and disassembled. MIM said not until October 6th. RM asked that she keep him in the loop so that he can assist w/ this.
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Heniger Park Reassessment Committee: There have been applications received for volunteers for this committee: *Tabled until the end of next month.
6. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A. Fire Chief, Mike Hooker: Wants to list the safety benefits of having a cell tower and assure the BOS that the FD is in favor of this tower. He has seen a lot of opposition but needs to go on record that the tower is crucial in saving lives in Otisfield. FD would like to put something on the web site listing the pros. 43%, of the 12,000 calls to 911 are received from cell phones … When it comes to our first responders, a lot of the calls come from the elderly who fall down and get hurt. Not everyone can afford life alert. In this town it’s difficult to get cell service out to 911 when you need it. With FD, radio communication is a line of site technology. For us, because there are a lot of hills, ¾ of a mile is as far as we will get. If we put a tower up, RCC may have a grant for the FD for
dispatching the town. It can be run off the repeater that US Cellular is agreeing to allow us to have on their tower. Large scale incidents, are a major safety concern. For emergency services in Otisfield he needs the town to see how important it is from a life safety perspective. It will save homes and knows that Scribner Hill is the best possible site in town. He is 100% in favor of the cell tower, its 180’ height and the Scribner Hill location.
B. EMA Director, Frank Blauvelt: Communications in town is essential, in 1969 there was nothing. You yelled or hoped someone was passing you. Then came cb’s. Then the Town got radios w/ a grant. Most fatalities are from personnel responding to the scene in a hurried manner. The radios would eliminate the stress factor and we can slow people down, or turn them around. There are many dead spots in town with the radios. During disasters, flooding, hurricane, etc. communication is critical. Hoping everyone can remain friends and iron out the problems. As emergency manager this is the most logical step to take. I am in favor of this tower, although I sympathize w/ “friends of Scribner Hill”, but they have not convinced me that the tower shouldn’t be built where it is proposed.
C. Richard Bean, Road Commissioner: Unless something happens before winter we are not going to have communications on a stormy winter night, as cell phone service is almost at zero now. We rely on radios. This summer we had to change our radios to narrow band and we have had them since June and with anything over a mile, we’re not getting any reception. We will be without communications shortly. Something needs to be done. No medical emergency, but lots of other reasons to communicate, ie: cars off roads. We use communication a lot at night so I would like to see something done and I am in favor of this tower being built just as soon as possible.
7. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
A. Tanya Taft, Otisfield resident: I don’t usually speak up at meetings, but I would like to mention I am in favor of the tower. I have no home phone and had an incident in June where I needed the Fire Dept to respond to my home. My cell dropped the 911 calls twice and I finally got through. Having the tower may improve my cell connection and I’m in favor of that.
B. John Poto: Couldn’t agree more w/ everyone who is saying they need better cell coverage for life safety reasons. The recent newspaper article is the first step for opening communication between us. We have been pleading to be heard. I don’t agree w/ all the information in the article. They are portraying that we don’t want cell tower. We have never said that, what we said was, let’s conduct the proper review. Let’s look at alternative locations and to support what I’m saying, let me review what I asked at our first appeal. John Poto started to discuss the case, but HF stopped him saying that he needed to wrap it up because we are in litigation and cannot discuss the appeal’s case while it’s being reviewed by the court. John got upset and started saying the BOS are
again refusing him his right to speak. HF: I’m not stopping you from speaking, I’m just reminding you and everyone here that this is in litigation and we are not to discuss court items or things of that specific nature. RM: I’m not opposed to hearing what John has to say, I just don’t want to talk about the court case. John: You (RM) were quoted in the paper saying that you asked department heads to come forward to speak on this issue and I want to do the same but I’m not allowed to? RM: I am in no position to talk to debate you about what you interpreted in the newspaper. I did NOT ask the department heads to come forward. I said that the department heads were allowed to come forward, for the first time since this issue has been raised, so that they could speak to the issue of life safety and what a tower and a repeater will do to save lives. You can speak John but we can’t have a discussion about the court case. HF: To be clear, I didn’t ask you to step down, I asked you to wrap
it up because you were starting to discuss the appeal. John Potto: I’m intelligent enough not to discuss litigation. I was simply going to open some communication between us. That’s ok, this is how it’s been. It’s been like this since the beginning of this appeal. HF: You may speak if you would like to speak. I was just reminding you that we are in litigation. John Potto said he chooses not to speak.
C. Kristin Roy: I made a request that all the documents for this facility be made available so the public can review them, was hoping the town can understand how the tower was handled. Without tying up CEO’s time. I asked that all the emails be printed so the public can review it. Freedom of access law states that waiving the fees for this service is allowable for the public to request. HF: We received your request and responded back to you in writing, stating you needed to bring a check. You said in your letter back to us that you were going to bring a check on Tuesday, did you not? Kristen: I’m put off by your hostility. Why are you shouting at me? HF: What hostility? I’m simply asking you about letters that were sent between us. Kristen: Why is everyone being so unfair to me? I just want to be
heard. RM: We hear you and no one is being unfair to you. You have that right and we recognize that. In the letter you sent us, you asked that all the information be available upon request. It’s in Rich St. Johns office. It’s already existing and available to everyone. We are not denying you access. Kristen: Why are you yelling at me too? RM: I’m not. No one is. Kristen: What I’m requesting now, is the file in the office be made available and printed for free. Print the information so that anyone who wants to view it, can. RM: Kristen, again I repeat that any and all files are available at the town office and the CEO’s office, but the copying fees and the staff time will not be provided for free. Kristen: No charge no fee, that’s what the law states for freedom of information. RM: The law states that if you are taking up the personnel time, they can charge you a reasonable fee after the first two hours. The town’s fee is fifty cents a
copy. In your first request, you wanted everything in the file. There could be as many as 900 pages in that file. I am just throwing that number out there and you may want to review it and only ask for certain copies. So we are asking our CEO to sit w/ you and go through it and if you ask for copies he will document what you want and ask that you pay in advance. Kristen: I want it for free and have asked you in writing, as a towns person who is trying to learn about town government. Don’t you understand what I’m asking? RM: Your request isn’t as a towns’ person learning about town government. You’re suing the town. You’re a litigant in a lawsuit against the Town Of Otisfield. You’re group has told the Selectmen to stop spending taxpayers money in legal fees, well then stop suing us. That’s our position why we feel you have a special interest and are not acting on behalf of anyone other than yourself and the Friends of Scribner Hill.
This is you saying, I may or may not want multiple copies. We have to say to all people that if the staff is being utilized and you want a large number of copies then there is a fee. Kristen: If Mike Hooker, your Fire Chief, wanted forms, would CEO watch him review the emails line by line? The law states that you can charge a ten dollar compiling fee. Reading the files and if anything needs to be deducted that is the time you pay for. Having files for myself. I’m not asking for myself, I’m asking the emails be printed so if anyone wants to look at the emails they can without asking CEO to take up his time. You offered to let me bring in a flash drive. RM: Absolutely, if anyone wants a digital copy, bring in the flashdrive and you can have it all and so can anyone that requests it. We are not trying to hide anything; we just don’t want the town to needlessly pay when it’s available electronically. HF: The attorney doesn’t think we should make anything
available for free. It sets a precedent that will allow others to ask for free things. You get a refund if you don’t spend the money. Our goal is to not treat anyone differently. Kristen: I feel I’m being treated differently because if Mike wanted something you would get it, but you become disrespectful and hostile if I request it. RM: It’s not being disrespectful, or hostile to tell you in writing what we require to honor a request. If Mike came in as a regular citizen requesting information he would need to pay just like you or me. If he needed something for the FD, then clearly he wouldn’t need to pay as the Chief and town employee. You want free copies of everything for your case. That’s not fair to the Otisfield taxpayer to spend their money on paper, toner, and resources. KR: The paper said you were looking for affirmation of the tower. I want everyone to know that the RF mapping was not done w/ due diligence. RM: That’s your
interpretation but as Hal said, we are not discussing the case.
D. Herb Olsen: Otisfield citizen, I just want to say that from what I read in the newspaper, I want to thank you BOS for trying to speak for everyone and I appreciate that, along w/ many other Otisfield residents.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS:
A. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Audit letter received stating that the program for the Town Of Otisfield is in compliance.
B. Oxford County Commissioners meeting to ask Selectmen to elect 2012-13 County Budget Committee 8/29/12 @ 6pm. All three BOS will attend. Rick Micklon has served on the committee for three years.
C. Application for a Caterers License party 8/18/12- 421 Ahonen Rd. The State of Maine needs a signed copy by the BOS. It must be approved by municipal officers. *Motion to sign application. LA/HF – Unanimous.
D. Seeds of Peace, Executive Director - Leslie A. Lewis, sent a thank you letter to the town for the support of the camp program this summer.
E. T.O. boiler has been inspected and certified for the upcoming year.
F. SAD 17 has contacted the Town Office. They have openings for Pre K, children who are 4 years old and who are residents of Otisfield. Sign up can be done on or before October 15, no household restrictions. 4 year olds will ride the bus and have bus buddies in 5th and 6th grade.
G. Next BOS meeting, September 5th will be in the new Annex. There will be parking signs and the lights will be on to bring people to the rear of the building. RM: Access can be from the front parking lot as well.
9. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA:
A. None
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Town Garage update. Fish Street Design, David Hart is the clerk of the works: Building Solutions won the bid at last mtg. RM: Steel has been ordered. Septic system is in. We met w/ DM Well Drilling and located the well, should be done by this time next week. Running water will be installed at the Transfer Station too.. Road Commissioner, Richard Bean will do the trenching on the town’s behalf. A week from tomorrow Henry’s Concrete out of Harrison should be pouring the concrete over there. Expected completion day should be approx. 13 weeks.
B. Community Hall Furnace update: RM: (5) Bids received. CEO did a line by line comparison sheet for the BOS. All bidders are pretty local. ER Truman is close to home, but one of the higher bidders, but an excellent reputable businessman. *All agree to “not” award bid to Robert Kahkonen and J. Palmer and Sons, due to lack of code required items not found in their bid proposal. E.R. Truman has a tub cover that goes over the top of the tank. All 3 are reputable and they would pass the LPI inspection process but I don’t think the cover is worth over $2,000.00. We’ll still need a cover or roof but could do it for $800 to $1,200.
*Motion to go w/ Bradbury Plumbing and Heating in Raymond HF/LA – Unanimous.
C. Fire Stations: HF: Would like MIM to put three (3) Separate bids in newspaper. Two of the garages will need roofs; a metal roof for Gore Station and an asphalt roof for Spurrs Corner. The lighting system will need to be updated on all three buildings. RM suggests having Jared Damon involved in the wording of the Request for Bids, as he’s the one who spec’d the work for the BOS. All BOS agree.
11. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED ON:
A. Town Warrant: *Motion to sign Warrant #3 to pay the town bills. HF/LA – Unanimous.
12. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD:
A. RM: I just wanted to mention that our Sun Journal & Advertiser Democrat press coverage for board meetings and all town issues, regardless of what the reporters’ position on the topic is or side they may be on, I don’t find it inaccurate. The only exception I have was in the recent “Editor’s Opinion” section of the Sun Journal, by Judy Meyer. She had written what was stated as facts but was erroneous. She completely missed the mark and the facts. I didn’t respond to her, as it was the opinions of the editors so I respect that. The reporting however has been outstanding. This is a tough topic for people to cover if you don’t have technical expertise. It must be pretty difficult. I appreciate it no matter what side of the aisle they fall on. HF: I certainly agree.
B. Community Hall insurance: LA would like MIM to look into the insurance for the new sewing event. HF: I believe it came out of the Otisfield Social group. RM: I believe this was a town sanctioned group, not an individual luncheon event. I think its fine but MIM could call and verify with the carrier. All agree.
C. American Flags: Board would like to remain consistent on when flags will be put up and taken down. All agreed at last meeting they would fly from the weekend before Memorial Day through August 15th. HF: Had an injury on his hand that did not allow him to get to the flags being removed in the time agreed, but he said he will get them down in the next few days. All agreed this was not an issue.
D. Robinson Dam Committee Update: HF & Dan Peaco are Otisfield members. This committee is being represented by four towns Oxford, Otisfield, Casco & Poland. There is a Public Hearing at the Oxford Town Office on August 30th at 6:30 PM. HF would like this posted on the board and web-site.
13. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. HF/RM – Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on September 5, 2012
| 
