Poland Board of Selectmen
Minutes of Meeting
August 21, 2007 – 6:30PM
CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Lionel C. Ferland, Jr. called the meeting to order at 7:00PM with Erland Torrey, Wendy Sanborn, Sandra Knowles, and Joseph Cimino (arrived at 6:45pm) present.
Also present were Town Manager, Dana Lee, Nancy Fraser, Carolyn Paradis, Mary Morin, Karen Brown, Robert Brown, George Bernier, Robert Morin, Richard Fraser, Ernest Ray, Dan Boyd, George Sanborn and George Twine.
Executive Session – Personnel & Negotiations of Benefits
Selectman Torrey moved that the Board of Selectmen enter into executive session at 6:30pm with the Town Manager pursuant to Title 1 MRSA Chapter 13 Public Records and Proceedings, subsection 405 Executive Sessions, subsection 6(A) to discuss a personnel matter. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 4-yes 0-no
Executive Session finished at 7:15pm.
Minutes of Previous Meeting
Selectman Cimino moved to approve the meeting minutes of June 5, 2007, June 19, 2007, June 20, 2007, June 28, 2007, and July 3, 2007. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Bids
For Sale Items – 99 Ford, 69 Chevy, and 250 Tank
Selectman Sanborn moved to award the bid for the 1999 Ford truck to Wilson Excavators in the amount of $11,552.03. Selectman Knowles seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Selectman Knowles moved to award the bid for the 250-gallon tank to Dan Boyd in the amount of $211.10. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Selectman Sanborn moved to award the bid for the 1969 Chevy truck to Mr. K. Byras in the amount of $2,503.00. Selectman Knowles seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Assessing Business
Abatements
Selectman Knowles moved to grant the abatement to Herb Chickering tax account #2936 for tax years 1997 and 1998 in the amount of $315.19 plus interest. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Selectman Knowles moved to grant the abatement to Arthur Caron tax account #105 for tax years 2005-2007 in the amount of $241.31 plus interest. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Selectman Knowles moved to grant the abatement to Claude Sanders tax account #808 for tax years 2005-2007 in the amount of $204.50 plus interest. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Selectman Knowles moved to grant the abatement to Asa Strout tax account #1041 for tax years 2004-2007 in the amount of $231.54 plus interest. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Sale of Tax Acquired Properties
In relation to business from the previous meeting the Board, given that it is within their jurisdiction to sell tax acquired property, agreed to move forward with the two parcels discussed at the last meeting.
Selectman Cimino moved to sell by public bid the property located on Herrick Valley Road, map 17, lot 45. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: Selectmen Knowles felt the town should be holding on to the property for future use or to preserve wildlife.
Vote: 4-yes 1-no (Selectman Knowles voted in the negative.)
Members of the Loon Point Lane Right of Way Association were present to discuss their request to purchase map 47, lot 1A. All members of the association have a right of way in their deeds to this piece of property. They have made several attempts in the past to purchase the property but never received a response. They would like to purchase it for the amount of taxes that are currently due.
Selectman Knowles felt the town should keep the property as a public access to Thompson Lake. A lengthy debate followed regarding the possible access. The majority of the Board did not feel it was necessary to retain the property.
Selectman Cimino moved to sell by public bid the property located on Loon Point Lane, map 47 lot 1A to the Loon Point Lane Right of Way Association in the amount of $2,138.87 and to issue a quitclaim on the property to the association. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 4-yes 1-no (Selectman Knowles voted in the negative.)
Selectmen Knowles stated for the record that she feels this decision is very shortsighted, inappropriate, and that the lake belongs to everyone and that we should never ever sell any part of land that is on any lake.
FYE 2008 Commitment of Taxes
The Town Manager presented to the Board the necessary mil rate for the FYE 2008. He summarized for the public and the Board the circumstances surrounding the high mil rate with the principal source being that of the Poland Spring Bottling TIF districts. Factoring in the $800,000.00 used to lower the mil rate for 2007, the payment due in 2008 for back monies owed to the bottling plant and using an overlay of 83,000.00 the mil rate needed to cover the costs of the 2008 budget is 24.50 per thousand. The manager also noted that the town is at a valuation ratio of 60%.
Selectmen asked the manager to meet with Poland Spring Bottling to see if it would be possible to renegotiate the payment schedule.
Selectman Knowles moved to set the mil rate for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2008 to 24.50 per thousand dollars of valuation based on a 60% ratio. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Reports and Communications
Departmental, Boards, Committees, Misc. Reports (By Consent Vote)
Board members discussed and agreed that their business meeting packets still contained too much information. They would prefer to have the department reports available upon request at the front office.
Town Manager’s Report- (report is available upon request) – The Town Manager gave a verb presentation of his report to the Board. The following was noted:
· Suggested dates for a goal setting workshop the Board and the manager will go out shortly.
· The payment in lieu of taxes letters will be going out later this month.
· Bid items are out.
· The manager is investigating the status of the Adams Bridge, which was last inspected in 2005.
Communications
The following materials were included in the meeting packets:
· Customer Satisfaction Survey – The Board asked that a revised survey be put together on an annual basis and available at every election.
· MMA Risk Management Services – WC Unemployment Compensation Funds
· Department of Education – RE: Consolidation
OLD BUSINESS
Birch Drive Reconstruction
Upon review of engineer Norm Chamberlain’s correspondence and acknowledging that townspeople approved $132,400 at town meeting for the construction, the consensus of the Board was to have Taylor Engineering put the project out to bid.
Board of Selectmen Meetings – Public Participation – Tabled
Financial Policies
Selectman Cimino moved to adopt the Financial Policies manual as presented by the Town Manager. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
New Business
Quitclaim
Selectman Sanborn moved to authorize a quitclaim to Guy Hart for account #106 in the amount of $1,459.88 for tax years 2005-2007. Selectman Knowles seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Land Purchase Installment Agreement
Selectman Sanborn moved to approve and sign the Land Purchase Installment Agreement for Ralph Felker and mortgage holder Raymond Felker in the amount of $4,754.71 for tax account #106. Selectman Cimino seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
History of Growth Maps – Robert Faunce Letter of Proposal
The manager stated that he spoke to Planning Board members regarding this proposal and they did not feel it was a priority at the present time considering the town’s financial situation.
Reimbursement of Motor Vehicle Excise Taxes
The Town Clerk submitted a memorandum to the Board in explaining LD 227 “An Act to Allow the Reimbursement of Motor Vehicle Taxes in Certain Cases” and her concerns over the municipality choosing to adopt this law. The consensus of the Board agreed with the Town Clerk. Selectman Knowles moved to adopt LD 227 “An Act to Allow the Reimbursement of Motor Vehicle Taxes in Certain Cases”. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 0-yes 5-no Motion fails.
Recognition of Visitors
Nancy Fraser would like the Board to consider a moratorium on all school and town spending. The manager spoke to say that a thorough analysis of the budget would need to be preformed before any type of spending moratorium was implemented. Adding that reacting harshly to the current situation could do even more damage.
Payables
Selectman Sanborn moved to approve the bills payable from August 8, 2007 through August 21, 2007 in the amount of $683,622.04. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: The total includes the addendum.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Any Other Business
Selectman Cimino stated his concerns with the excess speed on Plains Road and whether there was appropriate signage. The manager would look into it.
The manager brought before the Board a ballot for Dan Blanchard to serve on the Androscoggin County Budget Committee. Selectman Sanborn moved to sign the ballot for Dan Blanchard to be elected to the Androscoggin County Budget Committee. Selectman Torrey seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 4-yes 1-no (Selectman Knowles voted in the negative.)
The manager asked for permission to remove the tree on Route 26 that is located in front of the Town Office marquee. The tree is not very healthy and blocks the view of the sign. The Board granted permission for the tree to be removed.
Adjourn
Selectman Torrey moved to adjourn. Selectman Sanborn seconded the motion. Discussion: None.
Vote: 5-yes 0-no
Recorded by: Rosemary E. Roy
Board of Selectmen
________________________________ ________________________________
Lionel C. Ferland, Jr., Chairman Erland M. Torrey, Vice Chairman
________________________________ ________________________________
Wendy S. Sanborn Sandra T. Knowles
________________________________
Joseph F. Cimino
| 
