TOWN OF ACTON SELECTMEN’S MEETING
November 3, 2021

6:00pm

1.         CALL MEETING TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2.         TOWN ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY UPDATE

· York County Sherriff’s Report – There were several notable events from Acton and Shapleigh on this month’s Sherriff’s Report:

o Shapleigh:

§ Burglary-Drug Violations Theft – Coley Trafton Road (twice)

§ Burglary – Emery Mills

§ Theft of Catalytic Converter – North Road

§ Fugitive Arrest – Back Road

§ Sexual Assualt on 10 year old child - Shapleigh

o Acton:

§ Burgulary – French Street

§ Drug, Warrant Arrest – Hopper Road

· Election Results – The town of acton had exactly 800 ballots casted and all three questions passed. Results were:

o Question 1: Yes: 476, No: 320, Blank: 4

o Question 2: Yes: 535, No: 258, Blank: 7

o Question 3: Yes: 564, No: 224, Blank: 12

· Thank You Notes Received –

o Veteran’s Cemetery

o Trafton Center

o Southern Maine Veteran’s Association

o Friends of Eagle Trace Cemetery – donation received for Neighbors Helping Neighbors

o Lions Club - $500 fuel donation

· Board of Selectmen Seat, Nomination Papers – Papers are available at the Town Hall. Reminder deadline is November 12^th. There are currently 4 sets of active papers out.

· E911 Signs – The E911 Sign drive has been popular and requests for signs have been coming in. These requests are being processed in batches. Other signs ordered are the No Smoking signs and Road Commissioner District One’s road sign order.

3.         WARRANTS/BILLS  - Signed

4.         APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Selectmen Ed Walsh made a motion to approve the agenda; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor.

5.         MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

Selectmen Ed Walsh made a motion to approve the October 27, 2021 minutes; seconded by Selectmen David Winchell Jr. No discussion. All in favor. (Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn abstained as she was absent.)

6.         DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES

Will Langley, District One Road Commissioner updated the Board that all the sand was put up; just shy of 1,500 yards. There is still salt left over from last year but consideration needs to be made to get salt in.  Discussion ensued regarding the need to get salt bids or just call COG and Granite State these are always the only two usual bidders for the contract.  Outcome was to get the numbers for next week and not officially post for bids.  

7.         OLD BUSINESS - None

8.         NEW BUSINESS

A.        Large Truck Traffic Complaints -
Selectmen David Winchell Jr. brought up the fact that there have been multiple complaints received regarding H Road: fast driving, engine noise and heavy truck traffic early in the mornings. It was noted that when these calls come into the Town Administrator they are passed onto the Board of Selectmen Chair; there have also been quite a few complaints issued at the Town Clerk’s window.  In all cases, the Deputy Sherriff needs to be notified by the complainant. 

Selectmen Winchell Jr. continued to report that he had talked to different individuals regarding the speed of large trucks and that the companies identified were starting early and using engine breaks when travelling on Acton Roads. One company with a 7:00 am start has been generating noise as early as 5:30 am.  Other complaints were individuals who have been run off the roads by large trucks.

Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn asked about the feasibility to call the Sherrif’'s Department and have the Speed Trailer Sign moved over to the road with the highest complaints. Town Administrator confirmed.

The Town Administrator noted that the Code Enforcement Officer has been notified to enforce by Selectmen Winchell.  The Planning Board could also set restrictions across the board, however, these companies are asking how others can start earlier than they can as there is no consistency. Discussion ensued on conditional use parameters for the gravel pit companies. It was also reminded that the CEO clarified that conditional use requirements stayed on the property from the day they are instituted; this grandfathers some property differently than others and makes for inconsistencies as the Planning Board also sets the hours of operations. The Code Officer now knows to start looking into these inconsistencies as the issue has snow balled.

Selectmen Winchell Jr. stated that the speed needs to be slowed down; three ways to do that is to place the speed trailer sign around; have Deputy presence and have the Code officer enforce. 

B.        IFW Letter -
The Town Administrator read aloud a letter received from Inland Fisheries regarding the West Shore Drive culvert. Points covered in the letter was that:

· A portion was owned by the people of the State; ownership is to the center of the road line

· It is a deteriorating culvert which needs to be replaced, but access to the other portion of the lake has to remain;

· Time line was listed; and concerns were communicated.

· Request for NDEP funding; the Inland Fisheries department wants to work with Acton to achieve funding for culvert development and/or replacement.

Discussion ensued regarding demands laid out with no money supporting those demands.  The Town Administrator reminded the Board that Inland Fisheries has been included in all aspects of the culvert issue this year – engineer plans, designs, grants, etc.

Will Langley, District One Road Commissioner will be provided a copy of the letter to review and discuss with the Town Administrator.

C.        Pole Permit – The Town Administrator presented a CMP pole permit for Sanborn Road.

Selectmen Ed Walsh made a motion to approve a pole permit to CMP for pole #8 located on Sanborn Road; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor. Board signed request.

D.        FOI Request -
The Town Administrator received two Freedom of Information request for which she presented to the Board:

· Jeff Donahue is requesting records of the discontinuance of Buzzel Road according to Title 23 MSRA 3024.

· Jeff Donahue – Title 23 MSRA 3026A – Copy of the public hearing and copy of the Town meeting where the discontinuance was voted upon by legislative body.

Discussion ensued. All are welcome to come into the Town and review the files. Pulling together this historical data is quite a feat. The Selectmen continued to discuss Buzzell Road the definition of discontinuance versus no longer maintaining and how the the Buzzel Road is split and was partly a Town Road.  It was Selectmen Winchell Jrs. interpretation was that there was a vote to discontinue the plowing and maintenance. The Town Administrator will keep digging.

E.         Mann Road Property – The Town Administrator reported to the Board that due to a camp destroyed by fire and the need to rebuild, Map/Lot 208/013 was seeking relief and a waive of all rebuild fees from the Board.

Selectmen Ed Walsh made a motion to waive fees and permits for Map/Lot 208/013; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor.

F.         Resignations – The Town Administrator updated the Board that there were two resignations received.

· Rollin Waterhouse – Mr. Waterhouse came in to the Town Office and clarified that his resignation was also to include the Capital Improvement Committee.

Selectmen Ed Walsh made a motion to accept Mr. Rollin Waterhouse’ resignation from the Capital Improvement Committee as written on October 28, 2021; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor.

· Cheryl Drisko – The Town Administrator read aloud Cheryl Drisko’s letter of resignation from her position as Town Administrator Assistant effective November 17, 2021.

Selectmen Ed Walsh with great regret made a motion to accept Cheryl Drisko’s resignation from her Town Administrative Assistant position as of November 17, 2021; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor.

The Board expressed Cheryl will be missed and sent out congratulations.

Selectmen Ed Walsh indicated to the Board that there needs to be a review of all wages in Town to catch them up as related to what market standards are. Discussion ensued regarding looking forward on how to retain those who are currently in the Town’s employ and stay on the cutting edge to survive.

9.         PUBLIC COMMENT – None.

10.       ANNOUNCEMENTS

            11/04/2021 -    Planning Board           6:00pm           

11/08/2021 -    Conservation/Forest    7:00pm

            11/09/2021 -    Road Committee         6:00pm

            11/09/2021 -    Warrant and Finance   6:30pm

            11/10/2021 -    Board of Selectmen    6:00pm

            11/15/2021 -    Rec Committee           5:30pm

            11/17/2021 -    Board of Selectmen    6:00pm

            11/18/2021 -    Planning Board           6:00pm

11/24/2021 -    Board of Selectmen    6:00pm 

Selectmen Winchell Jr. recognized that this was Selectmen Ed Walsh’s last Board of Selectmen’s meeting and thanked him for his service.

Selectmen Ed Walsh spoke about his leaving and thanked all for their support and understanding.  He continued on to thank the Town Administrator  for all her hard work, support and staff support. 

Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn commented that she was going to miss Mr. Walsh  and wished him good luck.  Mr. Walsh responded that the Board will see him on the other side in the audience.

The Town Administrator noted that there were four good candidates in the running and they were in need of signatures.

11.       MEMBERS PRESENT

Selectmen David Winchell Jr., Selectmen Ed Walsh, Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn and Town Administrator Jennifer Roux.

12.       ATTENDANCE

Dennis Long, Joyce Bakshi, Tom McGurty, Joe Ruma, Robin Ham, Will Langley, Adam Doliber, Katelyn Long and Cheryl Drisko.

Selectmen Ed Walsh made a motion to adjourn at 6:40 pm; seconded by Selectmen Kimberly Stacey-Horn. No discussion. All in favor.