TOWN OF TREMONT
REGULAR SELECTMEN’S MEETING
TREMONT TOWN OFFICE
MEETING ROOM
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2007
6:00PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
The January 8, 2007 regular Selectmen’s meeting was called to order at 6:00PM by Chairman Scott Grierson.
2. ROLL CALL
Present were Chairman Scott Grierson, Selectmen Charlie Dillon, Heath Higgins, Kathi Thurston and Chris Eaton, Town Manager Millard Billings and Recording Secretary Heidi Farley.
Members of the public present were Laurie Schrieber from the Bar Harbor Times, Mark Good from the Mount Desert Islander, Superintendent of schools Rob Liebow, Tremont School Principal Diane Waters, Tremont School teacher Tammy Crossman-Turner, Town Attorneys Chad Smith and James Collier, local fisherman Wayne Rich and Harbor Committee member Art Paine.
3. ADJUSTMENTS/ADOPTION OF AGENDA
None
4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to accept minutes of December 4, 2006, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
5. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS
Warrant 78 1,400.00
Warrant 79 95,172.37
Warrant 80 1,424.21
Warrant 81 4,696.34
Warrant 82 3,749.50
Warrant 83 4,890.35
Warrant 84 1,600.00
Warrant 85 4,971.75
Warrant 86 371.00
Warrant 87 101,622.44
Warrant 88 5,416.46
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to approve warrants 78-88, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. COMMUNITY CENTER LEASE
Town Manager explained that some questions have come up as to who is responsible for damages to the community building when it is used by the public. Selectmen agree that the Town, not the School, would be responsible for cost and damages and asked Town Manager Millard Billings to add a new paragraph stating that in the lease. The Selectmen would also like him to check with MMA about insurance for the next meeting.
B. PROPOSED GARDENS/BLACK PROPERTY
Tremont School teacher Tammy Crossman-Turner explained to the Board how the greenhouse will tie in with the science curriculum for all grades. Total cost for everything will be around $23,000.00 and the school is applying for several grants to cover the cost.
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to approve proposed project for a greenhouse on the Black House property next to the school, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to leave agenda and go to 6E documented boats, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
C. AGENDA ITEM 6.E. DOCUMENTED BOATS
Town Manager Millard Billings gave the Selectmen copies of State law concerning documented boat excise tax, a copy of the bill, list of documented boats given to the Town Clerk by a member of the Select Board, a proof of payment form, and a memo from Boothbay Harbor. Town Manager Millard Billings reported that Southwest Harbor and Bar Harbor do not bill for documented boats and Mount Desert does send out reminders at the end of summer. Selectman Kathi Thurston told the Board that she suggested collecting excise tax on documented boats to the Harbor Committee as a resident not a selectman and that it was not well received. Selectman Charlie Dillon stated “the Selectmen did not do this and I have a problem with the procedure that brought this about.” Selectman Dillon further pointed
out that he thought billing for 2006 was an insult to the fishermen and wanted to know who initiated this. Selectman Thurston responded that she did not direct the Town Manager but made him aware as a resident not a Selectman and that she didn’t take it to the Selectmen because she felt it was a Tax Collector issue not a Selectman issue. Chairman Scott Grierson said that in hindsight this should have been discussed as a Board and what happened was a misunderstanding.
MOTION by Chairman Scott Grierson that the Board decided a policy to abstain from any prosecution for unpaid excise tax on documented boats in past years if they pay 2007 excise tax, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 3-2, Selectmen Charlie Dillon and Kathi Thurston voted no and Selectmen Heath Higgins, Scott Grierson and Chris Eaton voted in favor.
Chairman Scott Grierson would like the Harbor Committee and the Tax Collector to deal with how to proceed with the documented boat issue.
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to return to agenda item 6C, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
D. AGENDA ITEM 6. C. EXECUTIVE SESSION WITH TOWN ATTORNEY
MOTION by Selectman Heath Higgins at 7:15PM to go into executive session pursuant to title 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6) (E) to discuss with the Town Attorney the Boards legal rights and duties concerning ongoing or pending litigation, second by Selectman Charlie Dillon. Motion passed 5-0.
MOTION by Selectman Heath Higgins to come out of executive session at 7:50PM, second by Selectman Charlie Dillon. Motion passed 5-0.
E. AGENDA ITEM 6.D. UPDATE NEW TOWN OFFICE
Town Manager Millard Billings reported to the Selectmen that the punch list is continuing on schedule, the elevator and air handlers are the major items that still need to be brought on line. The elevator inspection will be on January 23rd and the air handlers will be done tomorrow. There are several minor touchups and corrections that are still needed but everything is coming together. Town Manager Millard Billings submitted a request for approval for change order number 2.
7. Sump pump cover in base of elevator shaft $3725.44
8. 3’x6’ recessed floor mat entry $ 884.76
9. Fur out Eastern wall lower level $ 509.75
$5119.95
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to approve change order number 2 for $5119.98, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
Town Manager Millard Billings also reported that there is one more change order outstanding but we are waiting for final price with return of shunt trip breaker, total change order estimated to be around $6000.00. Town Manager Millard Billings said that he is planning to have proposals for landscaping the new building site at the next meeting. Town Manager Millard Billings told the Selectmen that $975,000.00 was appropriated for the new Town Office and so far we have only spent $822,825.79 so we are well under budget.
F. TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT
Town Manager Millard Billings told the Selectmen that there have been two wharf violations and would like to ask Selectmen to allow Town Manager to collect or turn them over to the Town Attorney.
MOTION by Selectman Heath Higgins for the Town Manager to collect on the fines and send on to the Town Attorney if necessary, second by Selectman Charlie Dillon. Motion passed 5-0.
Town Manager Millard Billings reported to the Selectmen that the Town needs to hold a special Town meeting for Alewives before April 20, 2007 and that Wayne Libhart and Norman Closson Jr. are both willing to serve on a committee for a Dam and a fishway. He also reported that the Seal Cove Ramp needs updating. John Cullen from DEP thinks the Town may be able to get a permit by rule. Town Manager Millard Billings said that he spoke with Mr. Coughlin at DOT about a salt/sand shed and Mr. Coughlin recommended the laminated arch shed which would cost approximately $80 per cubic yard of sand to be stored. Town Manager Millard Billings recommended that the Selectmen look at this for this year’s budget. Mr. Coughlin also told Town Manager Millard Billings that the DOT is going to be
selling plow trucks with wings and that now would be a good time to buy one if the Town was going to. Town Manager Millard Billings suggested tying in a request for authority to appropriate from the undesignated fund for a snowplow with a wing with the Public Hearing for Alewives. Selectman Kathi Thurston asked if landscaping could be tied in as well. Town Manager Millard Billings said yes. Town Manager Millard Billings told the Selectmen that he estimates that the last snow event cost $1893.75 and we still have $30,300 left in the winter roads fund. Selectmen agreed to a Special Town meeting the first of February.
Town Manager Millard Billings told the Selectmen that Mike Avery from CES has recorded the survey of the Town Line at the Hancock County Registry of Deeds.
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to leave agenda and go to 8 quarterly reports, second by Selectman Heath Higgins. Motion passed 5-0.
7. AGENDA ITEM 8. QUARTERLY REPORTS
Selectmen decided to discuss quarterly reports at their next meeting.
8. AGENDA ITEM 9. SUGGESTIONS/COMMENTS FOR NEXT MEETING
Selectman Charlie Dillon suggested that everyone remember to bring their quarterly reports back for the next meeting.
9. AGENDA ITEM 10. OTHER
Chairman Scott Grierson reported that the lip on the cardboard dumpster in Bass Harbor is very sharp.
10. AGENDA ITEM 11. SET DATE FOR NEXT MEETING
January 22, 2006
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to return to agenda item 7.A. acquisition of property. Select board agreed.
11. AGENDA ITEM 7. OLD BUSINESS
A. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY
MOTION by Selectman Heath Higgins to go into executive session at 8:35PM pursuant to title 1 M.R.S.A. §405(6) (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, second by Selectman Kathi Thurston. Motion passed 5-0.
MOTION by Selectman Heath Higgins to come out of executive session at 9:01PM, second by Selectman Charlie Dillon. Motion passed 5-0.
12. ADJOURN
MOTION by Selectman Charlie Dillon to adjourn meeting at 9:02PM, second by Chris Eaton. Motion passed 5-0.
Respectfully submitted,
Heidi Farley
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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