Upcoming Agenda
   
Minutes

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

April 26, 2016

  

1.         APPROVAL OF AGENDA:  Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Ed Walsh, to accept the agenda as presented.  The motion passes 3-0.

2.         APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:  Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Ed Walsh, to approve the Minutes of the meeting of April 19th as written.  The motion passes 3-0.

 

Mr. James Batchelder representing the Southern Maine Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery Association, was present to accept a donation in the amount of $500 from the Town of Acton.  He also announced that there a service is schedule for Saturday, May 21st at to dedicate a memorial commemorating the Merchant Maries for the first time and on Monday, May 30th at the annual Memorial Day ceremony will be celebrated.

3.         DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES 

A.        Warrant and Finance Committee:  Larissa Crocket, Chairman of the Warrant and Finance Committee, stated that the Committee will meet on Monday, May 9th at 6:00 p.m. to make the final recommendations on the Warrant to be presented a the Annual Town Meeting in June.

 

B.         Planning Board - 4.2.2.6.:  Jennifer Roux noted that she spoke at length with MMA as a result of the Board Member’s request that she get a determination as to whether another Public Hearing would need to be scheduled if the second article relative to revoking 4.2.2.6 (b) is added to the Warrant of the Annual Town Meeting in June.  She stated that based on the manner in which the Public Hearing was posted in the Journal Tribune, a second public hearing is not necessary.

 

Bob Smith reminded the Board that the Planning Board’s decision to offer the second article was based on citizen dialog at the Public Hearing and the Town Meeting in November. 

Ted Kryzak, having been absent at the April 26th meeting, stated that he had viewed the video of the meeting and wanted to remind everyone that the reason that the Board of Selectmen imposed a deadline for submitting Warrant articles was to avoid confusion and last minute efforts to properly process articles.   This process has worked well for five years.

 

Ed Walsh stated that he viewed the second article as an extension of the article regarding 4.2.2.6 (a) and hoped that if these two sections of the Ordinance are revoked, the Planning Board can proceed with working on a better resolution for Resource Protection exceptions. 

Paul Poyant repeated his statement that he made at the Public Hearing that for the sake of clarity and uncomplicated, it’s important to stress that 4.2.2.6 (a) is illegal, 4.2.2.6 (b) is not.   He felt that the second article should be presented at a future Town Meeting. 

Ted Kryzak asked Bob Smith, based on the recent accident at Clair Bragg’s property on , if the Planning Board could work on allowing an exception in the Zoning Ordinance relative to the emergency repair of a structure that results from an accident or other catastrophe.   Mr. Smith agreed that the Planning Board can review the request at the next meeting.

 

Moved by Ed Walsh, seconded by Bill Shields, to include the second article relative to revoking 4.2.2.6 (b) on the Warrant at the Annual Town Meeting in June.  The motion passed 2-1.

 

4.         OLD BUSINESS:

 

A.        Gym Door:  Mrs. Roux reported that the contractors working on the Lobby renovations will put the door in when that project is finished.  David Winchell agreed to bring the new door to the Town Hall during the coming week.

 

B.         MMA Action Plans:   Mrs. Roux noted that only the railing on the second floor landing is left to do.  It was agreed that the contractors working on the Lobby renovations are willing to complete this task.

 

C.        Abandoned Properties:   Mrs. Roux informed the Board that the new owner of the first property has reimbursed the Town for all fees and expenses related to this issue and cleaned up the property to the Town’s satisfaction.  The Town’s Attorney has scheduled a court date of May 17th to hear the town’s complaint relative to the second property.

 

D.        Foreclosure Properties:  Ed Walsh stated that he is working on having someone from Southern Maine Communications to review one of the properties to determine if it would be a suitable site for a communications tower. 

E.         Firefighter/Paramedic:   Mrs. Roux reported that the deadline for accepting applications for the firefighter / paramedic positions closed on Friday, April 22nd and that three complete application packets were received.    Mrs. Roux will set up interviews with the applicants with the Fire Chief, the Assistant Chief and the three selectmen.

 

F.         Old Sand/Salt Building:  Ted Kryzak explained that because MMA’s deadline for removing the structure was a full year, he felt that there is no need to proceed quickly.   David Winchell stated that the building is secured and doesn’t pose any danger.  He felt that the disposal and hauling portion of the project could be offered for bid.  Ted Kryzak wondered if it would be cheaper for the Road crew to disassemble the building and dispose of it through the Transfer Station.   Ed Walsh noted that nothing can be done until the new budget is set after July 1.

 

G.        Elections Training Update:   Jennifer Roux reported that the State introduced the new equipment at the mandatory training session.  The existing AVS system which offered assistance to voters who needed help with voting has been eliminated and replaced with an “express vote” system.  The new system is a unit that stores votes on a flash drive which will link with the town’s DS200 ballot machine.  She also explained that a cost saving change the State made is that write in candidates will no longer accepted unless a write-in candidacy intention has been submitted prior to a deadline, this year it was April 15th.   There are no declared write-ins for the State this year.

 

H.        Yoga:  Bill Shields reported that Susan Chadbourne has been offering yoga sessions at the Congregational Church, however, the Church will be doing renovations.  Because Mrs. Chadbourne’s business is now a non-profit status and the yoga sessions are offered for no charge nor donation, the town’s policy would allow her to use the Town Hall to offer these sessions on Thursday afternoons for about four weeks.   Moved by Ed Walsh, seconded by Bill Shields, to allow Mrs. Chadbourne to conduct the yoga sessions at no charge at the Town Hall during the Church’s renovations.  The motion passed 3-0.

 5.         NEW BUSINESS:

A.        Meetings vs. Workshops:  Ted Kryzak stated that two Department Heads have asked that workshops again be scheduled to work on administrative issues such as policies and ordinance changes.  These sessions would still be open to public attendance and be video taped.  In response to Ed Walsh’s question as to how these meetings would differ from a regular meeting, Mr. Kryzak responded that there would be no agenda, it would be less formal and that he feels more could be accomplished.  Things that are worked on at workshops would still have to be finalized at regular Board of Selectmen Meetings.   Consensus of the Board Members was to consider the request and to discuss it at the next meeting.

B.         12 Town Group:   The Chairman read correspondence from the Selectmen of the Town of Alfred:

“To Twelve Town Group Members from Board of Selectmen, Town of Alfred:   Notice of Alfred’s withdrawal from the Group dated April 19, 2016.  At our April 12, 2016 Selectmen’s Meeting, we voted to withdraw the Town of Alfred from the Twelve Town Group.  After respectively considering what the Twelve Town Group had actually accomplished during its existence, and combined with the amount of time and funding we have put into the Group, we feel that it is no longer in the Town’s best interest to remain a member at this time.  We will not be sending in the requested $300.00 for the 2016 period.  All of wish each town who is in the group individually or together much success in the future.  Sincerely, George Donovan, Tony Palminteri, Glenn Dochtermann; copy John Sylvester

C.        The Shed - Wild Willey's Liquor Application:  Mrs. Roux noted that the application states an expiration date of June 6th.  Board Members instructed her to initiate the background check.  Ed Walsh asked that she also requests a copy of the sprinkler system report. 

6.         OTHER BUSINESS:  None

7.         PUBLIC COMMENT:  None

 8.         ANNOUCEMENTS:

A.        Public Hearing / Romac Orchard April 26 @

B.         Public Hearing / 2107 Route 109 - May 5 @

C.        Nomination Papers are due on Friday, April 29th @  

9.         MEMBERS PRESENT:   Ted Kryzak, Ed Walsh, Bill Shields

10.       OTHERS PRESENT:   Jennifer Roux, Larissa Crockett, David Winchell, William Williams, Bob Smith, Tom Cashin, Gavin Maloney, Paul Poyant, James Batchelder