6:00pm

1.      CALL MEETING TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

PUBLIC HEARING - ARPA FUNDS

The Town Treasurer presented a synopsis and review of the ARPA funds allocated last year in the amount of $276,819.00. The areas that the money can be used are:

Replace revenue lost to public sector revenue

Covid response

Provide premium pay to essential workers

Invest in water, sewer, and broad band infrastructure

Expenditures to avoid:

Reduction of taxes

Payment to elected officers

Legal judgments

Proposed expenditures include:

Pandemic bonuses for employees, ($72, 525.00)

Lucas Device for chest compressions for Fire Department, ($39,606.00)

Power load system for Fire Department, ($25,183.00)

Water treatment for the Town Hall, ($10, 000.00)

If residents would like to give impute on spending they can:

Attend meetings

Email Town Administrator

Write to the Select Board

Public Comment:

Dennis Long stated that he agreed to spend the ARPA funds as they are less restricted.

Ray Lopez wanted to clarify that no elected officials would receive ARPA funds.

Public Hearing was closed at 6:25 p.m.

2.      WARRANTS/BILLS: signed

3.      APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Kimberly Stacey-Horn made a motion to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Tom McGurty. All in favor, motion carried 3-0.

4.      MINUTES OF LAST MEETING: Kimberly Stacey-Horn made a motion to approve the minutes for the March 30, 2022, meeting. The motion was seconded by Tom McGurty. All in favor, motion carried 3-0.

5. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY UPDATE: Tabled

6.      DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES:

Will Langley, reported that the all roads would no longer be posted after noon on Friday, April 1, 2022.

He also reported that some beavers had blocked a culvert and Trapper Bob had relocated the beavers.

7. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Budget / Warrant Discussions:

Article #26 stated that employees who work:

Over 2000 hours would receive $2000.00 bonus

From 1999 hours to 1000 hours would receive $1000.00 bonus

25 to 999 hours would receive $500.00 bonus and

Stipend employees would receive $50.00 bonus

Article #27 stated that $10,000.00 would be allocated for a water treatment system. David Winchell Jr stated that he felt the cost would be more like $30,000.00. The warrant should be reworded to include $30,000.00 to accommodate the proposed water system.

Article #38 needed to be clarified that the operator rate would increase and not increase the workers with hand held tools rate.

- ARPA Funds would be designated:

$200,000.00 for West Shore Drive

$200,000.00 for capital improvements

$75,000.00 for public work capital improvements as a place holder and could be used for transfer station work, roads, and paving projects

- Undesignated Fund Warrant Articles:

$500,000.00 designated as a reserve for catastrophic events

Article #73 and Article #75: strike from Warrant

Article #29 Rewritten for clarification as to operational costs, wages, benefits, and mileage    

8. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Route 109 Letters of Support: The DOT informed the Town Administrator that there is an increase in public funds for Route 109 rehabilitation. The Select Board is requested to sign a petition letter to Senators Susan Collins and Angus King to support the major engineering design on Route 109.

Kimberly Stacey-Horn made a motion to support the major engineering design plan on Route 109.

The motion was seconded by Tom McGurty. All in favor, motion carried by 3-0.

B. York County EMA: The Select Board signed the disaster reimbursement letter for the Acton Fire Department.

C. Capital Improvement Presentation:

Joyce Bakshi presented the Capital Improvement Plan that was developed with Joe Roma, Kimberley Stacey-Horn, Wayne Michaud, Rollin Waterhouse.

The Committee spoke with the department heads and developed a potential list for the plan:

Development of a municipal complex and community center

Hire Bureau VERITAS as an assessment company

The scope of the plan would extend 10 years

A priority would be to pave the parking lots and the Fire Department parking lot

Hire a Rec Director

Hire a Transfer Station Superintendent

Road improvements including Rowe Bridge

School improvements including a new boiler, dish washer and freezer.

9.  PUBLIC COMMENT:

Dennis Long of the Warrant and Finance Committee stated the committee will begin voting on the Articles of the Warrant on April 11. There can be no edits after the vote, so the articles must be written in clear understandable language.

Ray Lopez wanted to inquire as to how many people will be receiving bonuses. The Town Administrator stated 60 to 70 people.

10.     ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Monday, April 11 Warrant and Finance 6:00 pm

Tuesday, April 12 Forest & Conservation Committee 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 13 Select Board 6:00 pm

Thursday, April 14 Planning Board Workshop 6:00 pm

Monday, April 18 Warrant and Finance 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 20 Select Board 6:00 pm

Thursday, April 21 Planning Board 6:00 pm

Wednesday, April 27 Select Board 6:00 pm

Thursday, April 28 Planning Board Workshop 6:00 pm

11.     MEMBERS PRESENT: David Winchell Jr, Kimberly Stacey-Horn, and Tom McGurty

12.     ATTENDANCE: Dennis Long, Ray Lopez, William Langley, Robin Ham, Deb Lopez, Joyce Bakshi, Lee and MaryAnne Robitar, Joe and Nancy Roma