Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
December 18, 2013
1. CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Hal Ferguson – Chairman, Rick Micklon (Absent - Lenny Adler).
2. FLAG SALUTE:
Audience and Board members saluted the flag.
3. ACTION ON MINUTES:
A. Meeting minutes from December 4, 2013. *Motion to accept minutes. HF/RM – Unanimous.
4. SPECIAL EVENTS
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Conservation Committee; Bob Blake- Two Ponds Trails Update: The trail signs are $3.45 /each. 6 x 6 signs should work. (23) 6 x 6, approx. (2) 8 x 8, metal reflective signs. BOS suggest larger signs for visibility. Total number of signs would be (39). Several individual signs will be in the same location. BOS suggest he decide what should go on one sign at a specific location and combine the verbiage into one sign rather than having several individual signs. A 2 x 8 with signs underneath will be considered. Nature areas sign colors should be what the conservation committee
decides. $10.95 on a 9 x 12, $262.00 total. Multi signs will be revisited. MIM will order what is needed. Bob wants to mark the trees w/ paint throughout the trail so people can identify the trails. BOS suggest a committee member do this if they are offering because of Insurance. The OCC will hang the signs when they come in. RM donated benches for the trail and Dan Peaco will bring them down in the Spring. Brochures are being worked on. OCC intends to keep it simple and inexpensive.
6. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A.
7. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
A. Vicki Rogers- concerns with Ohuivo Camp Road: How much of Cobb Hill Road is being addressed? RM: We are not sure as of yet. Vicki would like to know if the effect on the land and the buildings below Cobb Hill Road has been taken into consideration? She would like to see diversion along Ivory Hill Road so erosion doesn’t come down the road into the lake. A lot of people down there are concerned about what is happening on Cobb Hill Road because it all comes down-hill from there. RM: Ross was asked to take a look at this location on behalf of the town, do a courtesy site walk and then propose what he would do. BOS would like Ross, Richard Bean, Jeff Stern and residents involved with this process. BOS suggest any road issue concerns be directed to Road Commissioner. All agree, once we start to
address the big picture, we will have a clearer picture of why we have the problems. HF: We will post when Ross will make his presentation to the selectmen and urge any interested parties too attend.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS
A. Ryefield Bridge in Otisfield is the last remaining suspension bridge of its style in the State of Maine and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The State has sent a letter saying they will be working on this bridge.
B. MMA Unemployment Compensation fund will be returning dividends and the Town of Otisfield will receive a $510.00 reimbursement.
C. Credit Card Payment Training: MIM will be taking this training on New Year’s Eve Day.
D. Town Office Closing: BOS agreed to close the Town Office Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Years Day. HF would like it clear on the website. MIM will update website.
E. Department heads and Committee reports for the Town Report need to be in by January 20th. MIM will send reminders.
9. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED ON
A. Town Warrant: *Motion to sign Warrant #11 to pay the town bills. RM/HF - Unanimous.
B. *Motion to move into executive session @8:35 PM pursuant to Title 1 M.R.S.A. § section 405 (6) (F) to discuss Confidential records & 36 M.R.S.A. section §841 (2) @ 8:37PM. HF/RM – Unanimous. *Motion to close executive session @ 9:20 PM. RM/HF – Unanimous. Discussion: None.
10. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
A. Town Office Boiler System: RM: Would like to again recommend we replace the boiler system and both HF & RM agree that LA needs to be present for a thorough discussion. The boiler is inefficient and costing the Town money for high fuel costs and ongoing mechanical maintenance. RM: Charlie Bradbury (Heating) has kept the system limping along but can’t say if it will last another day or another year, but its life expectancy has expired. We received (3) bids at a prior meeting. RM: Reiterated that bids need to be looked at closely at an upcoming meeting because they are not apples to apples. *Further discussion tabled until next meeting when Lenny is present. Possible that the BOS will need to have a separate meeting to discuss specifics of what is necessary prior to taking bids because it
could be a lengthy process.
B. Winter carnival: HF: Will be held on February 15th this year. The Community Hall will need to be opened up for sled making the prior Sunday. Arts and crafts will likely be held at the Annex. The Spaghetti dinner will be at the Community Hall the evening of the 14th.
11. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Furnace discussion with Lenny present.
B. Great Falls Security installation at Spurr's Corner Fire Station
C.~Credit Card Machine: *Tabled until an upcoming meeting.
D. Performance Appraisals: Every employee will be brought in with BOS~in executive session. *Times to be scheduled at an upcoming meeting.
E. Updating the Employee Handbook.
12. ADJOURNMENT. *Motion to adjourn at 9:20 PM. HF/RM-Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on January 3, 2014
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