TOWN OF TREMONT
REGULAR SELECTMEN’S MEETING
TREMONT TOWN OFFICE
MEETING ROOM
MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2007
1. CALL TO ORDER
The Monday, January 22, 2007, Regular Selectmen's Meeting was called to order by Chairman Scott Grierson at 6:00 pm.
2. ROLL CALL
Present were Chairman Scott Grierson, Selectmen Charlie Dillon, Heath Higgins, Kathi Thurston, Chris Eaton, Town Manager Millard Billings, Recording Secretary Debbi Nickerson.
Members of the public present were Jennifer Plurtte, Joe Dronre, Mark Good – Islander, Laurie Schreiber – Bar Harbor Times, Brad Reed, Beth Lawson and Jenny Gray.
3. ADJUSTMENTS/ADOPTION OF AGENDA
None
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Minutes of December 18, 2006
Chairman Scott Grierson asked to have a spelling correction in 9. Agenda Item 6. A. Land Acquisition. Charlie Dillon opposed not apposed.
Motion made by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Heath Higgins, to accept the minutes of December 18, 2006. Motion passed 5-0.
B. Minutes of January 8, 2007
Chairman Scott Grierson asked to have page 3 “Motion by Chairman Scott Grierson that the town would abstain from any prosecution from State excise tax on documented boats” checked against the recording of the meeting to verify what was said, because that was different then he remembered saying. Selectman Charlie Dillon asked to have “fail to pay” changed to “failed to pay”.
Motion by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon,
to table the January 8th minutes. Motion passed 5-0.
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Kathi Thurston, to reconsider the minutes of December 18th. Motion passed 5-0.
Motion by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Kathi Thurston, to accept the minutes of December 18th as corrected. Motion passed 4-0-1. Selectman Heath Higgins abstained; he was not present at the meeting.
5. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
Warrant 89 5,205.45
Warrant 90 76,865.88
Warrant 91 36,774.94
Warrant 92 1,424.21
Motion made by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Heath Higgins, to approve Warrants 89 – 92. Motion passed 5-0.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Tremont Fire Department has asked to receive their budget money yearly to pay their own bills. The town auditor has approved (see attached).
Motion by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Kathi Thurston, that the Tremont Volunteer Fire Department’s operating funds approved at town meeting be paid to the department in one check [for FY 2008]. Motion passed 5-0.
B. REC BOARD/BACKSIDE BLAST
Rec Board Members Beth Lawson and Jennie Gray asked the Selectmen if they could have the Backside Blast on the town wharf. The Rec Board felt having the Blast by the water would help make it a success (see attached). Selectman Chris Eaton expressed concern about the water and small children as well as parking issues. Selectman Charlie Dillon liked the idea of having the Blast at the wharf like other towns and made some suggestions of the games or competitions that could be held. He also felt there would be enough people around incase someone fell. Jennie Gray had even more suggestions and concerns. Chairman Scott Grierson suggested consulting with the Harbor Committee. Also, MMA to be sure is would be covered by insurance.
The Rec Board also spoke to the Selectman regarding the proposed walking trail and the estimate from John Gooodwin, Jr. to construct the walking path (see attached).
C. SEAL COVE FISHWAY
Town Manager Millard Billings updated the Selectmen on his and Chairman Greisen’s meeting with various State Departments were there including DEP, Inland Fisheries, Natural Recourses Counsel, etc. The Natural Recourses Counsel has a W.H.I.P. Grant available that is a matching 75% to 25% grant and is due by March 1, 2007. The old fishway plans will be located and sent to the town for review. There is money available from other sources that were also present that the town manager is now aware of.
Town Manager Billings then asked the Selectman to have a Special Town Meeting to appropriate $7,000.00 as seed money to start the work on the Seal Cove fishway.
D. COMMUNITY CENTER LEASE
The Selectmen approved the changes to the Community Building’s Lease (see attached).
Motion by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Heath Higgins, to accept the revised Memorandum of Understanding/Lease between the school and the town and authorize Millard to sign it if the school is OK with it. Motion passed 5-0.
E. UPDATE NEW TOWN OFFICE
Elevator inspection is January 23rd. Still waiting on the final price of one last change order. Town Manager Millard Billings asked what kind of flag pole they would like to have for the new office and where to place it. The Selectmen felt an aluminum flag pole would be best.
AC Parsons and Ben Hodgdon were at the meeting to submit landscaping proposals (see attached). The Selectmen asked to have more time to think the plans over. Chairman Scott Grierson suggested using an area in front of the town office for a community donated perennial garden.
Motion made by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Heath Higgins, to leave the agenda and go to 7. A. Acquisition of Property. Motion passed 5-0.
7. OLD BUSINESS
A. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Kathi Thurston, to go into executive session pursuant to Title 1 Maine Revised Statutes Annotated section 405 subsection 6 paragraph C to discuss the acquisition or disposition of real property or interest therein because premature disclosure of the information would prejudice the bargaining position of the Selectpersons. Selectman Charlie Dillon voiced his opinions of the executive session for discussion of the Hinton Bequeath. The Lyon’s asked to go into executive session. Mark Good, with the Islander, voiced his objection to the board going into executive session. Motion passed 4-1. Selectman Charlie Dillon objected going into executive session. The Board of Selectmen went into executive
session at 7:15 pm.
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon, to come out of executive session and return to the regular meeting. Motion passed 5-0. The Selectmen come out of executive session at 7:38 pm.
Chairman Scott Grierson read a letter to the Selectmen that he received from the Bass Harbor Memorial Library Chair of Trustees Carey Donovan (see attached).
Motion by Chairman Scott Grierson to go into executive session pursuant to Title 1 Maine Revised Statutes Annotated section 405 subsection 6 paragraph C to discuss the acquisition or disposition of real property or interest therein because premature disclosure of the information would prejudice the bargaining position of the Selectpersons. The motion failed due to a lack of a second. Selectman Heath Higgins explained the fact that there is no Library representative present. Selectman Charlie Dillon assured the Lyons he would like to discuss the issues, but there were no Library representatives. Selectman Kathi Thurston requested the Selectmen accept her resignation from the negotiating committee. Selectman Heath Higgins said he interprets the letter to the Chairman of
the Select Board to be the Library would like to leave the Paul Hinton Life Estate and the Paul Hinton Grantor Trust as originally conveyed by Paul Hinton. The Selectmen agreed to continue to discuss the issues when all interested parties are present. The Lyons thanked the Selectmen and left the meeting.
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon, to return to the agenda. Motion passed 5-0.
8. AGENDA ITEM 6. F. SALT/SAND SHED
Town Manger Millard Billings gave the Selectmen information he has gathered for the town’s salt/sand shed (see attached). He also said any public building over $100,000.00 is required to have an engineer or architect’s seal. The Selectmen chose a wood frame building.
9. AGENDA ITEM 6. G. PROPOSED SPECIAL TOWN MEETING
The Selectmen approved of the Warrant for the Special Town Meeting on February 5, 2007 except change Art. 4 from “General Reserve Fund” to “Undesignated Fund Balance” and strike “from the State of Maine”.
10. AGENDA ITEM 6. H. RESIGNATIONS
All the resignations are attached.
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon, to accept Marc Fink’s resignation [from the Warrant Committee]. Motion passed 5-0.
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon, to accept Maynard Young’s resignation from the Planning Board. Motion passed 5-0.
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon, to accept Terry Paulos’ resignation from the Rec Board and the CIP Committee. Motion passed 5-0.
11. AGENDA ITEM 6. I. APPOINTMENTS
Frank Gray’s appointment request is attached.
Motion by Selectman Charlie Dillon, with second by Selectman Heath Higgins, to put Frank Gray back on the Warrant Committee [for 3 years]. Motion passed 5-0.
12. AGENDA ITEM 6. J. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
Town Manager Millard Billings advised the Select Board the Warrant Committee would be meeting on January 31, 2007.
A hard wired generator is estimated to cost $22,900.00.
Town Manager Billings has received an e-mail from the Army Corp of Engineering in regards to the dredge project (see attached).
13. AGENDA ITEM 9. SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS FOR NEXT MEETING
The Select Board did not take any action on a letter written by Mike Ryan. They would like the Harbor Committee’s input (see attached).
14. AGENDA ITEM 10. OTHER
None
15. AGENDA ITEM 11. SET DATE FOR NEXT MEETING
February 12, 2007
16. AGENDA ITEM 12. ADJOURN
Motion made by Selectman Heath Higgins, with second by Selectman Charlie Dillon, to adjourn. Motion passed 5-0. The Selectman’s Meeting was adjourned at 8:50 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Debbi Nickerson
Recording Secretary
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Scott Grierson Charlie Dillon
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Heath Higgins Katharine Thurston
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Chris Eaton
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