Town of Otisfield
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
September 6, 2017
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 August 15, 2017. *Motion to accept minutes. HF/LA – Unanimous.
B. Meeting Minutes from August 16, 2017. *Motion to accept minutes. LA/RM – Unanimous.
4. SPECIAL EVENTS:
A. None.
5. BOARD & COMMITTEE REPORTS:
A. None.
6. DEPARTMENT HEADS:
A. None.
7. QUESTIONS/COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC:
A. Herb Olson: Would like to know if the money raised at Town Meeting for the school, goes back to undesignated funds or remains as is; now that the State has given money to the District? HF: We haven’t voted on it yet, but we thought we’d put that money aside in a reserve account for next year’s first payment to SAD 17. It will reduce next year’s taxes, not this years.
8. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT ITEMS: (Anne Pastore – Absent)
A. None.
9. ADJUSTMENTS TO AGENDA
A. None.
10. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Saturday Pond Dam easement.
11. SELECTMEN’S ITEMS TO BE DISCUSSED & VOTED ON
A. Town Warrant: *Motion to sign Warrant # 4 & #5, to pay the town bills. HF/LA - Unanimous.
B. Discuss/sign Cable TV Ordinance: HF: We have created a Cable TV Ordinance. We used another town for a template. It has been modified to make it appropriate for Otisfield and was sent to Town Attorney, Phil Saucier who was fine with it. *Motion to sign this new Cable TV Ordinance. LA/HF – Unanimous. HF will send to Sharon to sign and then TT will post on website. Discussion: RM: I agree with Ordinance today, but if something comes up after this , is this something we can revisit. HF: Yes, we can modify the Ordinance, but we can’t change the Charter Agreement which is separate from this.
C. Charter Communication Cable TV Franchise Agreement: HF: Spoke to Town Attorney, Phil Saucier and he recommends we use the State Franchise, but Charter Communications does not do it that way anymore. Phil has marked up the agreement and made his recommended changes. HF will contact Phil again to make final changes. All agree. *Tabled until an upcoming meeting.
D. Annual Oxford County Budget Committee Caucus for Dist. 3: RM: The meeting was held on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at 6:00 PM at the Oxford County Commissioners’ Office in the South Paris Courthouse. Only 3 towns showed up (West Paris, Hebron and Otisfield). They are now the 3 representing Towns.
E. Electronic sign update: RM: At the Public Hearing we had agreed that we would discuss the electronic sign with other sign companies to get some bids. We spoke to (4) other businesses. 1) Terry Sweat who thanked Otisfield for the opportunity to bid, but said he doesn’t do message signs and recommended the Town do a “one stop shop” for it, so if there are any problems, it’s one person to deal with. 2) The Sign Store in Auburn, said the same thing and passed because they felt it was above there capability and also suggested a “one stop shop”. 3) Muddy River Signs in Bridgton, who said he’d bid everything but the sign part, but as of tonight, we have not heard back and 4) Bailey Signs out of Wesbrook who said they were aware of what Cirrus was, but they don’t do that at this time or anything in
white. It’s a newer technology. They do offer amber and full color, but after the Public Hearing all agreed they are leaning towards the white because of those who are color blind. They have expressed that amber and red are difficult to see. Discussion: RM: We have the money and the vote of the people and if we want to get this started before winter, we should be preparing for it now. There is a 6-8 week waiting period. HF: The townspeople wanted us to check with other companies and we have done that. LA: “One stop shopping” is the way to do business. Dealing with more than 1 person, can make it difficult. RM: Knowing this in advance, we’ll want to have Richard Bean dig it and have Seth Field get the wire across so that it’s safe and ready to go. All agree. *Motion to move forward and accept the proposal from Neokraft on the electronic message board and sign system for the Town of Otisfield Town Office. RM/LA. – Unanimous.
F. We have a liquor license request for John Pottle. *Motion that we sign the liquor request for John Pottle. RM/HF – Unanimous.
12. QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE BOARD
A. Transfer station: RM: New containers. We have a 2nd container down at the Transfer Station and talking to Eric there have been some complaints. The holes are pretty archaic and someone could get hurt. The access to putting things in the containers for someone who is shorter is not very ideal. We have less than a ton a year of glass in Town which is not worth the extra effort for something that goes in the landfill anyway. *Motion that we no longer accept glass recycling. LA/HF – Unanimous.
B. LA: Noreen Edwards was thrown off a horse and is at Maine Med. In light of all the things that she and Dan Fogg do in Town I’d like to get her a card from the Town. All agree and will get her some flowers too.
C. Work Safe: LA: Department of Labor had a visit to the Transfer Station and Town Garage today. Everything was good, with the exception of a few things. The Transfer Station, needs a vest for Eric, which we have and will provide and the Garage needs a place to wash hands. After they left, I remembered we had the outside hose which also has hot water, so we should be all set there. Everything has been taken care of, but when the official list comes in via email, LA will address any other concerns.
D. Pleasant Lake Dam: HF: T-Buck came out and dug up the dam yesterday and found where the leak was around one end of the Dam. The end has been sealed and appears to be holding. The gate has been losing a lot of water and a wooden blockage gate is being fabricated to enable for a detailed inspection and remidy for the issue. Last payment will be made when everything is done and satisfactory.
E. Silvaqua Easement: HF: Silvaqua had a meeting on July 29th, but their Attorney is still looking over what Otisfield has sent. They will contact us when things are ready to move forward. *Tabled until an upcoming meeting.
F. HF: Performance Appraisals: Annie Pastore, Administrative Assistant and Richard Bean, Road Commissioner need to be scheduled. *Tabled until an upcoming meeting.
G. Equipment Usage Contract: HF: The equipment usage contract between the Town and Richard Bean needs to be updated for another year. LA will discuss that with Richard and have him provide that to the Town.
H. HF: Pine Tree Waste contract still needs to be received and signed. HF will ask AP to check on that when she returns.
I. Definitions Ordinance: TT is looking for the original to make the changes that were approved at Town Meeting. Once changes are made, Sharon will sign and TT will post on website. HF will check with Beth Damon to see if she has the original.
J. Town Website makeover: RM: It should be ready to go in 3 – 4 weeks. Changes have been made and they are doing some last minute tweaking.
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 8:05 PM. HF/LA -Unanimous.
Respectfully submitted,
Tanya Taft, Secretary
Approved by:
Hal Ferguson, Chairman
Rick Micklon
Lenny Adler
Approved on September 20, 2017
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