TOWN OF ACTON SELECT BOARD MEETING
April 13, 2022

6:00 pm

1.      CALL MEETING TO ORDER / PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2.      WARRANTS/BILLS: Signed

3.      APPROVAL OF AGENDA: Kimberly Stacy-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 Stacy-Horn made a motion to approve the minutes of the April 6, 2022 meeting. The motion was seconded by Tom McGurty. All in favor, motion carried 3-0.

5. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR WEEKLY UPDATE:

Bourque and Clegg Attorneys informed the Town Administrator by letter that the hourly rate for their services would increase to $175.00 per hour. Tom McGurty requested that the Treasurer provide the amount of money paid to the Attorney last year and when the last increase in price was set.

Wilson Lake is conducting a survey on April 30, 2022. Any and all volunteers are invited to attend.

The Sherriff’s Department reported that during the Month of March 2022, there were 4 calls to Shapleigh and 8 calls to Acton. The new Deputy will start on April 21, 2022.

There are 3 applicants for the Rec Director position. Interviews will be scheduled for next week.

The Auditor bids will close on April 20, 2022.

There has been no response to the building siding advertisement.

6.      DEPARTMENT HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES: None

7. OLD BUSINESS:

A. Rec Director: There are 3 applicants for the Rec Director position. Interviews will be scheduled for next week.

B. Audit Bids: The Auditor bids will close on April 20, 2022.

                C. Siding Bids: There has been no response to the building siding advertisement

8. NEW BUSINESS:

A. Warrant Recommendations:

The Warrant and Finance Committee has made its recommendations on the Articles in the Warrant. The Select Board will review the Articles and approve and discuss them at the next meeting.

B. District 2 Projects: Adam Doliber reported that Goding Road was ditched and the potholes need to be filled. The estimate cost was given before the work is to be done.

Baker Road needs to have the ditches cleaned.

Lebanon Road had an ice issue this winter and the culvert needs to be replaced.

The sweeper has been purchased and the new brushes will be obtained this week and the sweeping will begin at the bridge.

C. Flat Ground Road: There is $224.00 left in the Flat Ground Road account. There is an Article for $5,000.00 for maintenance of this road. After Town Meeting gravel will be used to fill in the potholes. The question was raised if the amount should be increased to maintain the road.

D. Transfer Station: The brush needs to be chipped at the Transfer Station. The price of the chipper has quadrupled in the past year. There will be 3 more estimates procured before the chipping will be done.

E. Logging Proposal: See above

F. Liquor License Application: An application and the fee were received from Cruisin Infusions for a one day permit to be used at a wedding at Blueberry Hill Farm in Acton.

Kimberly Stacey-Horn made a motion to accept the application of a one day permit for April 30, 2022. Tom McGurty seconded the motion. All in favor, the motion carried 3-0.

G. Policies: Policies to be reviewed at the next meeting are:

Acceptance of payments

Appointments and reappointments

Access to public meetings

9.  PUBLIC COMMENT:

Bernard Broder commented that the Attorney’s rate of $175.00 is a reasonable rate as the rate is usually charged in one tenth of an hour increments which is a rate of $17.50 for ten minutes.

He also stated that rentals in the town should give a certificate of insurance that the Town holds so that in case of property transfer or damage, the Town would be notified.

Mr. Broder then addressed his recent resignations from the Warrant and Finance Committee and Planning Board due to possibility of conflict of interest. He cited the Maine Municipal Guidelines regarding conflicts. There is a differentiation between personal conflict of interest and incompatible positions that could lead to divided loyalty. He feels that these things should be considered when making appointments in the future. He felt that there was a conflict of interest of someone on the Warrant and Finance Committee also being the Chair of the Road Committee and someone on the Warrant and Finance Committee as the Chair of the Capital Improvement committee. He also felt that there was a potential of a conflict between a member that resides on a road where work is to be done. He worried that if the loyalty is incompatible there is a possibility of legitimacy being litigated. He stated that a social service agency‘s request for support was voted down because a committee member discouraged the Committee from voting for the agency based on hear-say. Also a vote that was tied 3 to 3 was directed to be voted on again until it was a unanimous vote or a majority vote was garnered. The Warrant and Finance Committee voting in this way could be perceived as a diluted or destroyed vote. He went on to say the general public relies on the Warrant and Finance and the Select Board to direct the Town Meeting voters and if the votes are not a genuine opinion of the committees, the voters may not ask more clarifying questions. That is not the objective of voting. People on multiple committees should vote for what is best for the Town and not what is best for the individual committee.

Dennis Long commented that he was a member of the Warrant and Finance Committee. He stated that public dialogue is encouraged and the Warrant and Finance Committee would settle for the Select Board recommends.

He also stated that there is no bias and no quid pro quo in the Warrant and Finance Committee. He was disappointed that someone would attack the integrity of the town officials.

William Langley reported that the survey of West Shore Drive has begun.

H. Executive Session 405 - 6 A. 1: Kimberly Stacey-Horn made a motion to go into Executive Session pursuant to 405-6A.1. Tom McGurty seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried 3-0.

Kimberly Stacey-Horn made a motion to go out of Executive Session pursuant to 405-6A.1 at 7:40 p.m. Tom McGurty seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried 3-0.

10.     ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Thursday, April 14 Planning Board Workshop 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, Tom McGurty

12.     ATTENDANCE: Dennis Long, Joyce Baski, Ray Lopez, William Langley, Robin Ham, Joe Ruma, Adam Doliber, Virginia Deboer