Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
July 15, 2015
1. CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Chairman; Hal Ferguson & Rick Micklon present (Absent - Lenny Adler).
2. FLAG SALUTE: Audience and Board members saluted the flag.
3. ACTION ON MINUTES:
A. Meeting minutes from June 17, 2015. *Motion to accept minutes. RM/HF – Unanimous.
B. Meeting minutes from July 8th and July 9th 2015. *Motion to accept minutes. RM/LA – Unanimous. Discussion: *Anne Pastore has been hired to fill Marianne Izzo-Morrin’s position.
C. Meeting minutes from June 29, 2015. Discussion: On hold because HF was absent from this meeting and LA is needed for vote.
4. SPECIAL EVENTS:
A. Mia Purcell, Economic Development Community Concepts, gave an introduction of what they are about: (Overview submitted into public record) They are facilitators of economic development and connect people with resources needed. Pamphlets will be posted at Town Office. Website: www.community-concepts.org
B. Stan Brett- Discussion on forming an ATV club in Otisfield. An ATV club would help Otisfield get more money from the State in maintaining trails. Oxford and Casco are ATV active and many snowmobile club members think Otisfield would benefit as well. (Road maps and mileage submitted into public record). This would connect ATV/snowmobile trails and give the ATV club some mileage to get started. Once a club has established 5 miles of trails they are eligible for $3,000.00 in State Funding for trail maintenance. HF: Heniger Park currently has about 2 miles worth of ATV trails that are for public use. HF/RM are in support of an ATV club but suggest a Public Hearing be held for public input. ATV season is May 15 – December 5th.
5. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Board of Appeals: Member Marianne Izzo-Morrin’s term expired 06/2015. *Motion to renew Marianne Izzo-Morrin’s term for a (5) year period ending 06/2020. HF/RM – Unanimous. TT will update website.
6. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A. David Hyer: IT, Tech: BOS discussed moving forward with computer training for office staff and they would like to discuss options. Time frame is approx. October or November. David: The release of windows 10, would be the only change that comes since this was discussed a couple of years ago with BOS. Two training sessions may be needed.
7. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
A. David Hyer: HF: Auditor responded in writing re question about overlay funds that David had asked about. What can the overlay be used for? According to the response, under the auditor guidelines it can be used for multiple items that concern abatements, unpaid taxes, etc but any unused amounts must end up in Undesignated Surplus. David: Everything I have read says you are not supposed to use the overlay for anything towards the surplus. RM: Do you think we should announce that our overlay is a set amount at town meeting. David agrees that this will help. HF: Says it’s already put it in the financial report. David says if you are rolling into surplus, it’s not accurate. RM: Perhaps we could be more clear in exactly how much is raised and how it is to be used, but bottom line is that we follow the advice
of the certified auditor. HF: I agree.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS:
A. Heniger Park, Lease assignment lot #1 being reassigned from Harlan and Elaine Gilman to John and Judith Romano. *Motion to sign the lease re-assignment. RM/HF – Unanimous.
9. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
A. None.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
11. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED ON
A. Town Warrant: *Motion to sign Warrant # 1 to pay the town bills. HF/RM - Unanimous.
12. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
A. Maine DOT is currently accepting applications for Free; 3-foot bicycle passing law signs from municipalities that would like to install them on State roads or State aid roads in their community. RM: John Poto sent an email asking if BOS would consider applying and RM thinks this is a great idea. HF agrees. Sandy will call and put in a request.
B. Heniger Park August Agenda: RM: In preparation for our next meeting with Heniger Park members. I’m asking that we not stop people from talking if they are not being redundant. I prefer not to put a time limit on them. This is an important discussion and due to the tax implication and income to the town when we really need such income, I’d like us to allow them to speak freely without a time limit. Want to treat the Heniger Park residents as we do our voters. We have always tried to work with our residents and I want to work with HPR as we would everyone else. If someone missed tax payments, we’d work with them; and we have on multiple occasions. Missing this lease signing agreement deadline isn’t something the BOS can’t bend on. HF: I feel like we have been cordial and have no problem with allowing
them to be heard but there has to be a time when once we heard what they have to say, we must move on. We know how LA feels on this subject so let’s see how the discussion goes, OK? Herb Olson: From a tax-payers point of view, I have heard over and over that this has been discussed. You have been more then generous with them and I think the case is closed. They missed deadlines.
C. Heniger Park Lot 4 – Check received from Linda Cleary for $57,500.00.
D. Heniger Park 99 Year Lease Reconsideration email from HF to Shirley and James Boyce submitted into Public Record. Email from Thomas R. Kelly to BOS submitted into Public Record.
E. Pleasant Lake Dam: HF: Town Manager of Casco, signed the consulting agreement.
F. Richard Bean, Sr. wants to replace the big culvert on Cobb Hill Road. RM will call Ross Cudlitz to discuss.
13. EXECUTIVE SESSION:
A. Motion to enter into executive session pursuant to MSRS. *Motion to close executive session by___ 2nd___, All Y-N. Discussion: *There was no executive session held at this mtg.
14. ADJOURNMENT. *Motion to adjourn at 8:55 PM. LA/RM-Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman __________________________________________
Rick Micklon __________________________________________
Lenny Adler __________________________________________
Approved on August 5, 2015
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