TOWN OF ACTON SELECTMEN’S MEETING
January 12, 2022

6:00pm

1.      CALL MEETING TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2.      WARRANTS/BILLS

None.    

3.      APPROVAL OF AGENDA

A motion was made by Tom McGurty to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by David Winchell Jr.. All in favor, motion carried.

4.      MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

January 5, 2022 minutes were tabled.

5. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY UPDATE

The Transfer Station will be closed on January 17, 2022, in honor of MLK, Jr. Day.

Carl Davis would like a $500.00 line item in the budget for maintenance and cleaning of trails at Goat Hill.

The Rec Basketball program is up and running. A welcome letter was written to present at the Coaches meeting tonight. The program is being held at the school, although it is not a school function, but a town function. Accident forms were provided for the Rec.

The Planning Board is having a hearing regarding the Moratorium on Gravel Pits on January 13, 2022. Masks will be available at the building entrances.

The Special Town Meeting will be scheduled for either February 2nd or 3rd, 2022. Tom McGurty has a mandatory elected officials meeting on January 26, 2022. The Selectmen’s meeting may be changed. The Warrant and Finance meeting will be on January 24th, 2022, and must have a meeting to sign the warrant. Dennis Long, Chair of the Warrant and Finance Committee, said there would be no issue to move the meeting up a week to Thursday or Friday, January 20 or 21, 2022. There would be enough time to post the hearing date.

John Ross spoke to the Town Administrator about a ballot vs open town meeting vote.

The Animal Control Officer would like to procure some thermal cameras for night vision work. He has some funds in a miscellaneous line to get them.

Mike Corey, the Director from APAT reports that the technical work with Dan Krampetz is going well.

6.      DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES

Will Langly, Road Commissioner, reports that the guard rail has been received, and could be installed next week. The Town Administrator requested a separate bill for the insurance company including time and material.

7. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Policies to Sign

The Debit Card and Credit Card Policy was reviewed and no changes were made.

A motion was made by Tom McGurty to accept the Debit and Credit Card policy as written, and was seconded by David Winchell Jr. All in favor, motion carried.

The Pandemic Policy, Based on the State of Maine Guidelines, replaced any and all previous policies.

A motion was made to accept the Pandemic Policy by Tom McGurty, the motion was seconded by David Winchell Jr. All in favor, motion carried.

The Personnel Policy was tabled until next week. The Abuse Policy will also be presented next week.

2022-2023 Audit Bid

The Board of Selectmen would like the Audit to be sent out to bid. The Treasurer sent out an RFP. Tom McGurty made some changes to it and the Treasurer approved it. It needs to be signed by Wednesday, February 16, 2022. A list of firms provided by the State, would be contacted concerning the Audit, as well as an ad that would be placed in the Portland Press Herald.

Special Town Meeting Date

The Town Meeting would be held on February 2nd or 3rd, 2022, at 6pm. The date will be determined by the School availability.

The Special Town Meeting will address:

The Warrant article for the Sheriff Department contract for the Deputy. The contract would require a vote regarding the new contract including the cost of living rate, which could be a 3 to 5 % increase in renumeration.

The Moratorium  Warrant Article

8. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Pepin

Mr. David Pepin addressed the Board stating that he is a third generation pit owner. He offered to show anyone the pit. He stated that he would stop his permit application and he wanted to meet with the Planning Board, the Board of Selectmen, and the Road Commissioners to discuss a compromise regarding the pits. He stated that everyone needs gravel and the pits are necessary. He related that his family has donated the Three River Land Trust land and hoped that he could connect to the Goat Hill land.

B. Request for Information

Jean Theurkarf, under the auspices of the Freedom of Information Act, requested all information pertaining to all permits and applications regarding gravel pits, including Curtis, Pepin, McCoy, and Newfield Pits.

C. Road Commissioner Payrolls

David Winchell Jr. requested that the payroll sheets be changed to establish a uniform recording system, to avoid discrepancy in who is hauling and what truck is being used. This change to the bookkeeping would make the daily totals easier to comprehend.

Alarm System Update

The ADT Alarm system is over 25 years old. The Main office cannot download information into the panel remotely. A Technician must come from Portland to adjust the panel. A new curcuit board costs $1442.00, and a new monthly fee of $12.00 will be assessed. The provider stated that the program was obsolete and was no longer being supported. There are three panels and one motherboard involved.  The Town Administrator stated that she would find the annual cost and quarterly fee for the next meeting.

9.  PUBLIC COMMENT

Will Langley wanted to know if any decision had been made regarding the RSMS program. Leslie Berlan sent an email and also spoke with Tom McGurty regarding the Program, stating that she felt it was a good program. The Town Administrator stated that she spoke with the author of the program, and it is no longer being supported or updated. The recommendation from the Board of Selectmen still stands to look for another option or alternative to the RSMS program.

10.     ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday, Jan 12 Board of Selectmen 6:00pm

Thursday, Jan 13 Planning Board PB 6:00pm

Tuesday, Jan 18 Road Committee 6:00pm

Wednesday, Jan 19 Board of Selectmen 6:00pm

Thursday, Jan 20 Planning Board 6:00pm

Monday, Jan 24 Warrant and Finance 6:00pm

11.     MEMBERS PRESENT: David Winchell and Tom McGurty

12.     ATTENDANCE: Dave Pepin, Matt Pepin, Debbie Lopez, Ray Lopez, Bernard Broder, Adam Dolober, Will Langley, D. Deborer