Upcoming Agenda
   
Minutes

 

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

March 28, 2017



1. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Elise Miller, to accept the agenda as presented. The motion passed 3-0.

 

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Elise Miller, to approve the Minutes of the Meeting of March 14, 2017 as written. The motion passed 3-0.


3. DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES

 

A. Animal Control Officer / Scanner Presentation: Sue Walsh, representing the Piscataqua Obedience Club based out of Kittery, Maine, explained that the group does community projects, such as providing a Kevlar bullet proof vest for a police dog, distributing K9 oxygen masks to fire departments to be used when saving pets. This year, the Club is providing scanners to small towns with part-time dog officers to be used to identify lost dogs. Mrs. Walsh requested and received approval from the Club’s Board of Directors to present a unit to the Town of Acton. Mike Roux Sr., ACO for the Town of Acton, accepted the unit and demonstrated a scan on Olivia, the pet of Sue and Ed Walsh. The animal’s number appeared instantly on the screen of the device and Ed Walsh noted that the whole identification process takes about ten minutes to contact the owner. Mrs. Walsh cautioned that while the scanner is an excellent resource, it is not intended to replace licensing through the Town which provides information for the ACO as well. Mrs. Roux noted she that may be able to enter the scanned information into the Town’s Trio program for lost animal identification.


Elise Miller presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Town of Acton to the Piscataqua Obedience Club for the Data Mar Pet Link Micro Chip Scanner.


B. Three Rivers Land Trust: Carl Davis reported that the grant has been approved for the purchase of the Goat Hill property; however, the farmer that intended to farm the remaining property as required by the project is no longer interested. The property owner is unwilling to sell the summit until this is resolved. Mr. Davis assured the Board that they are working on getting this resolved.


Mrs. Miller read a letter dated from Doug Beck addressed to Lee Burnett, the grant writer and a member of the Land Trust:


“In a letter dated December 22, 2016, I notified you of a tentative award of LWCF assistance for the Acton Goat Hill project. The actual award was pending the status of a proposed State acquisition project. I learned in January that this project was not going to be pursued by the State and, therefore, that additional funds were available to fund your project in addition to several others who also receive notice of a conditional award.


The additional delay from that moment until now was due to the need to wait until we had approval from the Executive Office to allocate this most recent funding to projects.


I finally received that approval on Monday, March 13th. I am very pleased, therefore, to inform you that the Town of Acton’s Goat Hill Acquisition and Development Project has been awarded $118,875. Congratulations.


Still, your grant award won’t be official until the required paperwork has been submitted to the National Park Service for their approval and formal award. I am already working on this process.


You are advised not to begin any project-related construction work until you have received a fully executed Project Agreement. Any expenses incurred before the Project Agreement is in place will not be eligible for reimbursement or match. Project-related planning and engineering costs, however, may be incurred prior to receipt of your Project Agreement.


If you have questions about the distinction between the type of eligible expenses and/or if you have a need to either complete an acquisition or begin construction before receipt of a Project Agreement, please contact me for guidance.


I will be in touch again soon and look forward to working with you.”


Mr. Davis provided a copy of the proposed walking trail plan from the Bureau of Parks and Land for the Board to approve and sign. Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Elise Miller, to approve and sign the plan. The motion passed 3-0 and the Chairman signed the document.


Mrs. Roux noted that the Selectmen plan to request bids for a loan for their portion of the purchase and asked that Mr. Davis provide her with a Purchase and Sale Agreement so that she can begin that process.


4. OLD BUSINESS:


A. MMA Action Plan: Mrs. Roux reported that a staff meeting was held on Friday, March 24 for terminal safety training. The batteries in the emergency lighting in the Townhall hallway were changed, however, they still do not work, therefore, she will call an electrician to evaluate the problem. She has requested proposals for painting the gymnasium building. Many of the items relative to the kitchen will be discussed when meeting with the Lions Club next Tuesday.


B. Dog Warrant: Mrs. Roux noted that the Selectmen signed the Warrant at the last meeting authorizing the Animal Control Officer to actively pursue getting the fourteen outstanding dog licenses resolved.


C. BCN Contract: Mrs. Roux requested that this item be tabled until she has all the information gathered to determine which proposed contract is most beneficial. The contract does not run out until August so there is still plenty of time.


D. Road Committee Ad Hoc: Mrs. Roux reminded the Board that two residents have expressed interest in working on this committee. Paul Poyant suggested holding a public workshop or offering a survey in order to determine what the residents would prefer relative to forming a Road Committee, what the purpose would be, what the members’ duties would entail and based on that information, presenting an Ordinance, if that is the preference, at the Annual Town Meeting. Mrs. Roux will contact the two interested parties, Paul Poyant, William Williams and the two Road Commissioners to begin this dialog.


5. NEW BUSINESS:


A. Open Surplus Vehicle Bids: The Chairman opened a bid from Richard Levesque Excavation, Springvale, to purchase the surplus vehicle for $5502.00. The Chief recommended awarding the bid to Richard Levesque Excavation. Moved by Bill Shields, seconded by Elise Miller, to award the bid to Richard Levesque Excavation for $5502.00. The motion passed 3-0.


B. 4 H Request: Mrs. Roux reported that in previous years, the Town included donating $250 to the local 4 H Club, however, in recent years, the money was not requested, nor dispersed so it was not included in last year’s warrant. She was approached by someone who is forming a club and wanted to know if the new club could make a request in the upcoming budget. The Chairman noted that the group has been actively doing fund raising so he would support disbursing the money to the club. Mrs. Roux will get a copy of the list of the Acton 4H Club members and send a request form to the Club organizer so that she can work through the budget process.


C. Maine Health Care at Home Update: Maine Health Care notified the Town that effective April 1st, the foot care service fee will increase from $25 to $30, fingernail cutting will remain at $5, blood pressure checks are free.


D. Liquor License Hearing Application: Mrs. Roux reported that Greg Martinez, the owner of Iron tails, is requesting a renewal of their existing liquor license. The usual process is to request a report from the Sheriff’s Department regarding responses to issues at the facility, post the required notices and schedule a public hearing. The Fire Chief noted that he has been working with the applicant to schedule an inspection of the sprinkler system. Consensus of the Board was to schedule a public hearing on April 18th at 5:00 p.m. and state in the notices that emails relative to the issuance of the liquor license will also be considered.


6. PUBLIC COMMENT: Lois Michaud stated that she is working on organizing a class reunion and asked about public gathering criteria. Mrs. Roux will forward a Mass Gathering Permit Application to her.


Mrs. Roux reported that she is working on getting donations towards building a ramp for a local elderly couple. She has received cash donations, one from the Lions Club, others from private citizens, a construction company in Sanford has offered to do the building and she has sent letters to area lumber companies requesting materials.


7. ANNOUNCEMENTS:


A. Emery Mills Dam Meeting - March 30 at 8:00 am

B Easter Hunt, April 15, at the Acton Town Hall at 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

C. Free Pancake Breakfast - April 16th at 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. at the Acton Congregational Church

D. Nomination Papers Available until April 28th


8. MEMBERS PRESENT: Ed Walsh, Bill Shields, Elise Miller


9. OTHERS PRESENT: Jennifer Roux, Lois Michaud, Mike Roux Sr., Sue Walsh, Paul Poyant, Lois Michaud, Steve Johnson, Members of the Piscataqua Obedience Club, Eric Dawalga