Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
February 3, 2016
1. CALL TO ORDER: The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00 PM. Chairman; Hal Ferguson, Lenny Adler & Rick Micklon present.
2. FLAG SALUTE: Audience and Board members saluted the flag.
3. ACTION ON MINUTES:
A. Meeting minutes from January 20, 2016. *Motion to accept minutes. LA/RM – Unanimous.
4. SPECIAL EVENTS:
A. None.
5. BOARD & COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. Finance committee: Next meeting date will be March 17th. FC requesting to meet with the BOS May 26th.
6. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A. None.
7. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
A. Ray Metcalf, Hidden Lake Road: When there is work being done in the town is it being advertised? HF: If it’s under $5,000.00, no, but more than that we have a Bid Policy. Town meeting voted on this, years ago. Ray: Is it advertised? HF: Yes, the Town puts this in local papers, (2) times in the Sun Journal and (2) times in the Advertiser Democrat. Ray: I understand there is an electrician doing work in town, and want to know the process. HF: Last one that was over $5,000.00 went to bid and electrician we chose was less than the others. Ray: I’ve heard there is work coming up at Community Hall that’s more than $5,000.00. HF: No electrical down there. Christmas tree coming next year, so we’ll have an electrical box out there. We have talked about replacing the lights but that’s only in discussion.
You may be thinking of the stove hoods. If it approaches or comes close we typically put it out to bid. Ray: Who is in charge of choosing what roads get worked on? The roads are in need of repair. Peaco Hill Road is a mess. RM: Richard Bean, Road Commissioner. He is available to speak with, anytime. Ray: I want to voice my displeasure with how the roads are and how they’ve been. BOS: All agree this is a conversation that you should have with him. RM: Hope you got your questions answered tonight. Ray: I got the political answer I was expecting. How does this Road Commissioner being elected get changed? HF: you go to the Town Meeting and nominate someone else and the people vote on it. RM: I’m not sure that,” you got the political answer that you expected”, is a fair statement. I take exception to it. You got the truth tonight. Everything you asked was answered with the correct answer and not the political answer. We have the same vote as you, so it’s not political.
HF: The roads were addressed at Town Meeting last year and the vote to spend large sums of money was voted down. The townspeople decided this, not the BOS. Ray: Yes, but Mr. Bean spoke against it and that no doubt carried the vote. LA: That could be, but he had the same right to express his opinion just like everyone else in the room. BOS thanked him for coming in and voicing his opinion.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS:
A. ATV Policy draft reviewed by BOS. RM: Michelle, from Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District (OCSWCD), does not intend to charge Otisfield to take a look at this. RM will pass this on to her for review and report back at next BOS mtg. LA: I think we should have the OPRC review it as well. They meet next Thursday.
9. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
A. None.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. None.
11. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED ON
A. Town Warrant: *Motion to sign Warrant # 14 to pay the town bills. LA/HF - Unanimous.
B. Bank Account changes: HF: Androscoggin came in last week. Anne and I have now spoken with all three: Androscoggin, TD, and Northeast. After looking at the services provided along with the associated costs Northeast comes out the most cost effective. *Motion that we try Northeast Bank for a year. LA/RM – Unanimous.
C. Road Crew holidays: Annie is going to print off a copy of all the observed holidays and put it in the Town crew’s paychecks. All agreed.
D. Sign Supplemental Tax Assessment – Carpenter. Assessors Certification of Supplemental Assessment and Certificate of Supplemental Commitment were both submitted into public record and signed by BOS. *Motion that we send the amended Real Estate Tax bill to, Heirs of Carpenter for the 6 month bill of $387.00. HF/RM – Unanimous. (Map U17/Lot 13)
E. Sign proposal for hood at Community Hall: RM: We received an estimate of $4,985.00. Acceptance of proposal submitted into public record. BOS signed.
12. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
A. Western Maine Transportation: RM: Spoke to Craig Zurhorst of WMTS and invited him to attend an upcoming BOS mtg. (back ground: Rick is the 2014/15 Chair of the 9 member County Budget Committee (all Selectmen) and represents District 3, served by Commissioner Tim Turner) Due to Oxford County now funding them and our Finance Committee being opposed to such funding, Rick felt it was best to have Mr. Zurhorst, the Finance Committee and the BOS all in the same room. Quentin Henderson is in direct contact with them and is asking Mr. Zurhorst attend the Finance Committee meeting. RM will coordinate with both to attend an upcoming BOS mtg. BOS agree that a joint meeting is a good idea.
B.Winter carnival: HF: The cardboard sled construction will be held Sunday February 7th 2016. Not much snow at this time. Winter Carnival will be held on Saturday February 13th, 2016. Arts and crafts will be held at the Annex. Spurrs Corner Church will be having breakfast with lunch and dinner being held at the Community Hall on February 13th.
C. The BOS Letter for the Town Report has been approved & HF will send to RM who in turn will send to Anne.
D. Junkyards: (2) letters were sent, one for Spurrs Corner and one for Cobb Hill. Spurrs Corner responded, Cobb Hill, did not. A certified letter will be sent to Cobb Hill resident. All agree.
E. Will kayak classes require certified instructor? It was discussed that the kids will need to use their own life jackets. HF requested that Anne check with MMA.
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 8:35 PM. HF/LA -Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on February 17, 2016
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