BOARD OF SELECTMEN MEETING MINUTES

 

TUESDAY JANUARY 18 2011

 

RE-SCHEDULED TUESDAY JANUARY 25 2011

 

 

1. CALL TO ORDER AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG: Chairman Angelo Terreri called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm and the Pledge of Allegiance was said. Those present were Mr. Lawrence House, Mr. Dennis Richardson, Mr. Richard Keene, Town Manager Eva Leavitt and resident Charles Emerson. Selectman Jeffrey Timberlake was absent.

 

2. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: Mrs. Leavitt request numerous items be added the first being the appointment of a new Registrar of Voters and the Board agreed to consider this as item 5A. Other items for consideration included possible dates for the next Tri- Town Selectmen gathering, a scheduling change for the MSAD 52 Budget Hearings, Legion Post 111 Annual Report and a vacation request for the Town Manager. The Board will discuss all items other than the Registrar of Voters with the Town Managers' Business.

 

3. FORECLOSED TAX LIEN CERTIFICATES: Mrs. Leavitt noted several tax accounts that were in lien and have now foreclosed. Those included: BURGESS will be in in January to pay their balance, COMVEST: IRS Seized the property, EDWARDS ROSE: IRS Seized the property, COOPER PACKING: in bankruptcy, JABBUSCH P & K: In bankruptcy, LAVOIE CHAD & WENDY: No contact has been made yet. NEZINSCOT RIVER PROPERTY: Continues to make payments as arranged, O'NEIL PHILIP & BRENDA: Personal issues currently taking place, Mrs. O'Neil is in touch with the Town Manager on a weekly basis.

 

Expected to be in by January 28th, STRICKLAND ANDREA: Anticipates payment once income tax refund has been received. WALKER JESSE: no contact yet. Mrs. Leavitt noted for the Board that an official letter was sent to each open account in the beginning of January informing the property owners of the foreclosure. Mr. Richardson suggested that another letter be sent to each outstanding account and inform each that the Selectmen will consider further action at their meeting scheduled for 2/7/2011. Discussion included another suggestion that an envelope without any return address be used. This was considered as a directive from the Board of Selectmen as the Treasurer has taken all the required steps for the lien process.

 

4. DISCUSSION - PAY RATE EMT - INTERMEDIATE: Mrs. Leavitt noted that she and Rescue Chief Laurel Gagne have discussed a possible pay rate for the EMT - intermediate level and are recommending a .50/hour increase. Discussion that followed included the note that a specified base hourly rate of pay for a basic EMT, an intermediate EMT and a paramedic EMT needs to be established. For the purposes of this rate advancement the .50/hour increase is to be added to the current hourly rate of pay. Mr. Terreri made a motion to approve .50/hour added to the current hourly rate for full time intermediate EMT, Mr. Keene seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

5. RECYCLING CHANGE: Mrs. Leavitt reported to the Board that she met recently with a representative from Lewiston Recycling Facility, representatives from the town of Greene and Leeds, Adam Varney of Andy Valley and one attendant from Turner to discuss the City of Lewiston's decision to go single stream recycling effective July 1, 2011. The Board was interested in the difference in the associated costs to switch to single stream from the current method and Mrs. Leavitt explained that the current facility would need to be re-designed to accommodate the change. Mr. Terreri and Mrs. Leavitt explained that single stream would mean that the recyclable materials no longer require sorting, all would be placed in the same container, solid waste would continue to be separate as would metal and demolition debris. No action to be taken at this time, Mrs. Leavitt will keep the Board updated as information becomes available.

 

5A. REGISTRAR OF VOTERS: Mrs. Leavitt noted for the Board that it is required that a registrar be appointed in odd years for a two year term and she expressed her request to appoint Rebecca Allaire as the new registrar for the next two years. Mrs. Leavitt noted that there are many items that arrive with time frames attached for the voting process and it's important to have someone who is full time to review materials as they arrive. Mr. Terreri made a motion to appoint Rebecca Allaire as the Registrar of Voters, Mr. Keene seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

6. CONSIDERATION OF ANY OLD BUSINESS: 6-1 BUDGET PROPOSAL WAGES & BENEFITS: There was some discussion regarding how the budget is presented and changes were recommended for implementation. 6-2 UPDATE AUDITOR HIRING: Mrs. Leavitt noted to the Board that her research did support Mr. Terreri's statement regarding who should sign the letter of engagement for the annual audit and, it is the Board of Selectmen. Mr. Keene then made a motion to use Smith & Associates CPA of Falmouth as the Auditors for the Town, Mr. Richardson seconded the motion and the vote was 3 in favor, Terreri, Richardson and Keene, and one opposed, House. The motion passed. 6-3 BQMC RENTAL CONTRACT: As requested the BQMC Board of Directors met, reviewed the facility rules and Mrs. Leavitt provided their suggestions to the Board. Item 6: TRASH: A key for the dumpster will be supplied and secured. Item 13: All tables and chairs may remain set up & inventoried before Building Manager returns deposit. The Board of Directors will review the current fee schedule and provide the Board of Selectmen with those recommendations in May. The additional wording as requested by the Board of Selectmen was deemed acceptable. 6-4 HIGHWAY EQUIPMENT RESERVE: Mrs. Leavitt provided any update regarding the Highway Departments' search for a new truck by initially noting there was nothing meeting the specifications as outlined available in the Turner area. The search was extended to Auburn and a 2006 Chevy ¾ ton 2 wheel drive was located at one of the Lee Dealerships. Mr. Timberlake assisted with a reasonable offer for the unit and Mrs. Leavitt requested $11,328 be released from the Public Works Equipment Reserve to purchase this truck. Mr. Keene made a motion to approve $11,328 from Public Works Equipment Reserve to purchase the 2006 Chevy Truck as described, Mr. Richardson seconded the motion, discussion revealed that the truck is an extended cab with the long bed, and the vote was unanimous.

 

7. TOWN MANAGERS' BUSINESS: 7-1 NORTRAX REPAIR PROPOSAL JD EXCAVATOR: Mr. Keene questioned the Nortrax Repair quote and questioned if some of the work could be done by Public Works, Mrs. Leavitt noted that the essential aspects of the repair will be more than $2,500 and she noted the parts will be John Deere parts and she will seek 2 other quotes as mandated by the purchasing policy. 7-2 FUEL BID: Informational only for the Board that the bids haven't been done yet and the current price is between $2.89 - $3.09. Mrs. Leavitt requested guidance for proceeding for next year and noted that other local businesses can't compete with Murray. The Board provided direction for Mrs. Leavitt to seek bids from Heutz and Dead River plus the local dealers with the number of gallons currently used. 7-3 225th ANNIVERSARY OF TURNER: Mrs. Leavitt noted to the Board that the Library has expressed some interest in pursuing a celebration of the Town's 225th Anniversary of incorporation and it may be tied into the Festival on the Green. 7-4 MISSION STATEMENT: Mrs. Leavitt inquired whether or not the current Board of Selectmen wish to make any changes to the mission statement that gets published in the Town Report, no changes were requested. 7-5 SELECTMAN TO WRITE ANNUAL REPORT: Chairman Angelo Terreri will write the annual report with assistance from Assistant Sandra Philipon. 7-6 FINANCE REPORT: Mrs. Leavitt noted there were no special concerns for this period of the budget. 7-7 TRI-TOWN SELECTMEN: Leeds is scheduled to host the next Tri-Town Workshop and have proposed March 17th or March 24th and the Board determined that March 17th is a good date to shoot for. 7-8 MSAD 52 BUDGET: Mrs. Leavitt referenced some changes in the budget hearings for the School District - no action needed. 7-9 POST 111: Received copies of their annual report. 7-10 VACATION REQUEST: Mrs. Leavitt requested 4 vacation days for February to be determined by staffing needs and the Board approved the request.

 

8. PART 1 CONSENT AGENDA - SELECTMEN: The minutes from 1/3/2011 were deemed to be in order. Mr. Keene reviewed the disbursement warrants and recommended their approval. Ms. Philipon presented 3 Veterans' Exemption Requests for David Violette, Robert Allen Jr and Raynaldo W Janelle Jr all of which are eligible by their age and not disability. Mr. House will review for 2/5/2011. Mr. Keene made a motion to approve Part 1 of the consent agenda as presented, Mr. House seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.

 

8. PART 2 - CONSENT AGENDA - ASSESSORS: No abatements or supplements to consider.

 

9. ADJOURNMENT: The Board adjourned by mutual consent at 9:10 pm

 

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

Sandra L Philipon

 

Assessing/Office Assistant