Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
March 05, 2014
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. ACTION ON MINUTES:
A. Meeting minutes from February 19, 2014. *Motion to accept minutes. RM/LA – Unanimous.
B. HPRC Workshop Minutes from February 20, 2014. *Motion to accept minutes. RM/LA – Unanimous.
4. SPECIAL EVENTS
A. None.
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Conservation Committee: RM submitted letter from Jeff Stern, and OCC members. (Submitted into public record) Letter states their support of purchasing and protecting the 252- acre Twin Bridges parcel and the use of it in perpetuity as a Community Forest.
B. Conservation Committee – HF: Pixie Williams’ resignation letter of January 2013 was brief, but she recently explained to HF over the phone why she resigned from this committee and why she would like to be re-assigned to the committee. Currently this committee has 6 members, but they are allowed to have as many as 9 members. *Motion to appoint Pixie Williams to the Conservation Committee. RM/HF – Discussion: RM: Both HF and LA know how he feels. While the prior Select Boards may have had an unwritten policy to not re-appoint people who resign and then wish to be re-appointed, he feels that Pixie is an exception to the rule. He hopes that this Board will see her strong desire to be a voting member, her importance to the committee and the town and asks that HF & LA agree to appoint her
tonight. VOTE: RM & HF in favor. LA- Against. TT will update web site with a term ending 06/2017.
6. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A. David Hyer: Phone System: The voicemail set up has been completed. David will help Sharon re-record the external message. The extensions will be changed to 1) Town Clerk, 2) Admin. And 3) CEO/Planning Dept.. Names will be removed and only titles will be used. All BOS agree this is how they would like it to be.
7. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC.
A. NONE
8. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS
A. Personal Property abatements -Wild Blue Communications & Bank of America Leasing. *Motion to agree to the O’Donnell & Associates abatement dated 3/5/14 in the amount of $176.38. RM/LA – Unanimous.
B. Independent Contractor Status is needed from all individuals who work for the Town. Information goes out in September. Next year as always, this will be required of anyone who works for the Town and no exceptions will be allowed. If this paperwork isn’t in order then no work is to be started. *Motion to sign Frank Blauvelt’s plowing contract. LA/RM – Unanimous.
C. Department of Transportation – The State will be tarring State Route 121 for 3.58 miles.
D. MIM contacted Dead River, School District & CK Burke Oil – Formal bid package will be sent out to the Town.
E. Tree Growth: At RM’s request, in reference to upcoming discussion re the 252- acre Twin Bridges parcel and the use of it as a Community Forest; MIM submitted information from O’Donnell & Associates. If land is removed from Tree Growth a tax will be assessed. If land is kept in TG, no tax implication. No penalty to change status to Open Space. If land is bought and status changes, percentages need to be changed to adjust accordingly.
9. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
A. None.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A.
11. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED ON
A. Town Warrant: *Motion to sign Warrant #16 to pay the town bills. HF/RM - Unanimous.
B. Town of Otisfield APPOINTED Board/Committee Policies: HF: BOS wanted to revisit and update. HF provided a draft with changes to be added. (Submitted into public record) Discussion: Extenuating Circumstances: LA would like it to remain as is. If you resign from a board, you should not go back on that Board. RM and HF understand that there are extenuating circumstances. *Motion to add verbiage: “However the BOS may take into consideration extenuating circumstances” and on point #15: change “officials” to “officers”. HF/RM Discussion: LA I’m not comfortable because it leaves it open to interpretation. We have had people quit because they didn’t like the way the direction of the group was going. It opens the door for people who quit and then they
wanted to get back on if something different comes up before the board; then they came back with what they feel are extenuating circumstances. HF: I like the flexibility and we don’t need to accept the extenuating circumstances. RM: It’s a case by case scenario and it’s the opinion of the BOS at that point in time and any future board can change it if it seems that’s its being abused. Vote: RM & HF in favor. LA- Against
12. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
A. CN Brown: LA spoke with them and Town is on a 2 week delivery schedule.
B. Great Falls Security: LA spoke with Todd Olfene to provide signs and stickers stating Security Cameras in Use and they will drop off tomorrow.
C. Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District – RM: Contract submitted into public record. A $500.00 Deposit is required.* RM/LA - Motion to sign contract for the town which will total $5,795.00. Discussion: The first contract proposal was too expensive, so BOS asked that he remove phase 3. Ross came back with new contract including phase 1 & phase 2. Design work was in Phase 3. He is going to do research and come back to the Town with his findings. VOTE – Unanimous.
D. Town Attorney: HF contacted Geoff Hole for a Fair Market Value re Heniger Park. A realistic estimate from a commercial appraiser would be provided. A Site-Walk will be conducted. With or without the BOS is tbd.
E. Two Ordinances to be discussed at Town Mtg.
1) Fuel Tank – Needs to be updated if approved at Town Meeting.
2) BOA fees, VIII. Appeal Procedure:
Currently Reads: The fee to accompany application for appeal shall be set by the Selectmen annually. Fees shall not exceed an amount equal to the Town’s actual cost of administering and enforcing the ordinance. Checks are to be made payable to the Town of Otisfield.
Proposed Change: The amount of the fee to accompany applications for appeal shall be reviewed and set by the selectmen annually. This fee identified in the Town of Otisfield Fee Schedule, is a firm fee and is non-refundable. A check in this amount is to be made out to the Town of Otisfield.
13. ADJOURNMENT. *Motion to adjourn at 8:45 PM. HF/RM-Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on March 19, 2014
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