MONDAY JUNE 21, 2010
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
MEETING MINUTES
7:00 PM
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, Assistant Rescue Chief Ross Gagne and some
residents with interest.
2. ADJUSTMENTS TO THE AGENDA: Mr. Timberlake
requested an item be added to the agenda regarding a hiring freeze
and the Board agreed to add this as item 6A. Mrs. Leavitt requested
an item be added regarding the Town House and requested it be added
as item 2A, and the Board agreed.
2A. TOWN HOUSE: Mrs. Leavitt announced to the
Board that the Town received confirmation of receipt of the Davis
Family Foundation Grant applied for in the amount of $15,000. Receipt
of the grant approval provides the financial ability to complete the
roof portion of the Town House Restoration. Mrs. Leavitt noted that
she spoke with each of the Bidders who submitted a bid in April for
the roof portion of the project. Each bidder agreed to hold the price
as bid and Brown's Construction agreed to lower his bid price by 5%.
Bidders included Gladu of Lewiston, Brown's
Construction, Mainly Molding and Richwood. Mrs. Leavitt noted that
the bid received from Gladu Roofing was the
lowest at $24,500 and it was requested that the Board award the bid
at this time. Mr. Timberlake noted that with a 5% discount from
Brown's Construction, that bid is still $28,000. Mrs. Leavitt noted
she checked references provided by Gladu and all were positive, Mr. Timberlake
inquired whether or not Gladu has
experience with large/municipal projects, and Mrs. Leavitt noted yes,
they did work in
3. ORDERS PAY RATES, FLEX BENEFITS, LONGEVITY, And PRO-RATED BENEFITS: The Board reviewed the
annual orders for the mentioned items. There was some discussion
regarding a Temporary Driver wage verses a single run wage for Rescue
and Mrs. Leavitt explained the difference being a temporary driver
would receive an hourly rate to cover for sickness and/or vacation
time and a single run is a flat rate provided per run as necessary.
Mr. Timberlake noted the starting hourly rate for
the third transfer station person and noted that the starting rate
could and should be slightly lower. Mrs. Leavitt indicated she was
simply working with the figure provided during the Budget process and
noted that a temporary person gets $9.10/hour when needed. Mr.
Timberlake then made a motion to set the hourly rate of pay for the
third Transfer Station attendant at $9.10 per hour, Mr. Richardson
seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. Discussion on some of
the other pay rates included a comment on the Recording Secretary
hourly rate and Mr. Richardson noted that the person doing the
recording is the highest paid position, however, Mrs. Leavitt noted
that the person doing the recording does the transcription on their
own equipment and noted difficulty in securing a person to work
evenings required for that position. Selectman Jeff Timberlake noted
the person currently in the position has been doing the job for quite
a few years and does a good job for the town. Mr. Richardson made a
motion to accept the remaining pay rates as presented, Mr. Keene
seconded and the vote was three in favor, House, Richardson and Keene
and one opposed, Timberlake. LONGEVITY: Mrs. Leavitt noted there is
one less employee on the longevity list due to a recent resignation.
Mr. Keene made a motion to approve the longevity schedule as
presented, Mr. House seconded and the vote was 3 in favor, House,
Keene & Richardson and one opposed, Timberlake. FLEX BENEFIT: Mr.
Keene made a motion to approve the flex benefit scheduled as
presented, Mr. Timberlake seconded the motion and the vote was 3 in
favor House, Timberlake, Keene and one opposed, Richardson. PRORATED
BENEFITS PART TIME EMPLOYEES: Mrs. Leavitt noted that one employees'
vacation time rate would increase during the next fiscal year due to
length of service in October. Mr. Keene made a motion to approve the
pro-rated benefits as presented, Mr. House seconded the motion and
the vote was unanimous.
4. ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS - EXPIRING TERMS - OTHER
REQUIRED APPOINTMENTS: Mrs. Leavitt noted a vacancy on the Leavitt
Institute Board of Directors and that resident George LePage
submitted an application for that position. Mr. LePage
is relatively new to town and involved with the Legion and is
interested in serving the community. Mr. Timberlake made a motion to
approve the list of appointments as proposed and adds Mr. LePage
to the Leavitt Institute Board of Directors, Mr. Keene seconded the
motion and the vote was unanimous.
5. CONTRACT FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION SERVICES - TOWN
OF
6. MMA BALLOT - LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE: Mr.
Timberlake made a motion to vote for two as shown on the ballot, Abe Additon
& Steve Eldridge, Mr. Keene seconded the motion and the vote was
four in favor Timberlake, House, Keene, Richardson and one opposed
Terreri.
6A. HIRING FREEZE: Mr. Timberlake noted the
resignation of Dan Poland from the Public Works Department and
requested that the Board consider imposing a hiring freeze for all
full time and part time employees with the exception of Rescue
without the approval of the Board of Selectmen in order to keep
within the budget as approved. Mr. House inquired how a hiring freeze
would work during the winter and it was noted by Mr. Timberlake that
staffing issues could be addressed when necessary. Mr. Timberlake
made his suggestion into a formal motion, which Mr. Richardson
seconded. Mr. Keene noted with the Public Works Department being down
by one person extra part time help may be necessary as paving hasn't
started yet and there is other work such as culverts, ditching and
other summer maintenance aspects. Following discussion Mr. Timberlake
amended his motion to implement a hiring freeze for the Public Works
Department except for up to 2 temporary workers as deemed necessary,
not ongoing and that the freeze doesn't include the Town Office staff
or Rescue, Mr. Richardson seconded the amended motion. Additional
discussion included a note by Mr. Keene that Public Works has had a 5
member staff since 1993 and noted further that one plow route was
contracted out for a time, then a fifth position was funded through
the Town Meeting process as it was deemed to be necessary. Mr.
Timberlake noted that Public Works from mid January through March and
part of April, in his opinion, that is over staffed and inefficient,
use of part time help. Mr. Timberlake further noted that he is a
member of the Road Committee and that committee is of the opinion
that money has been spent inefficiently especially considering that
during the budget process the paving and construction line item was
cut drastically to save money. It was commented that employees have
been hired without the consent of the Board of Selectmen and Mr.
House inquired how many, however, it was noted further that every
employee hired has been brought to the attention of the Board. Mr.
Terreri called for a vote regarding the motion on a hiring freeze and
the vote was unanimous. Mrs. Leavitt requested clarification on the
hiring freeze and it was noted that when the rescue department needs
fill in drivers that is necessary, administration when necessary for
elections and the transfer station when necessary. Mr. Keene noted
that it would be good to have the Public Works Foreman attend some of
the Selectmen's meetings, as there are often questions that could be
answered during the meetings.
7. TOWN MANAGER'S BUSINESS: 7-1 Q & A MEMO:
Mr. Keene noted that the
8. CONSIDERATION OF ANY OLD BUSINESS:
The slope of the embankment appears to continue to
move and Mr. Peterlein noted that the
continued erosion would happen slowly.
Mrs. Leavitt noted that the previous inspection
provided the Town with (4) possible options to mitigate the issue and
Mr. Peterlein can provide the town with a fair
projection of the remaining stabilization needs. Mr. Timberlake made
a motion to approve $3500 to Summit GEO Engineering Services to
develop a plan for
Additionally, the Board discussed section 2 of the
Personnel Policy, which included a note from the Attorney, which
stated such an article did not pertain to Elected Officials, but
could apply to all appointed board and committee members. Mr.
Richardson made a motion to add a separate policy to include the Town
Manager and all Boards & Committee members, Mr. Timberlake
seconded the motion and the vote was 3 in favor
9. CONSENT AGENDA: The minutes from June 7th were
deemed to be in order. Mr. House reviewed the disbursement warrants
and recommended their approval. Mr. Keene will review for Tuesday
July 6, 2010. There were no Veteran's Exemptions or Abatement or
Supplements requested. Mr. Richardson made a motion to approve the
consent agenda as presented, Mr. Keene seconded the motion and the
vote was unanimous.
10. ADJOURNMENT: The Board adjourned by mutual
consent at 9:28 pm
Respectfully submitted:
Sandra L Philipon
Assessing/Office
Assistant