Minutes of NVC Meeting of December 16, 2001

The Northport Village Corporation Board of Overseers convened at 10:10 AM in the Drinkwater School with John Lightner presiding. Present were Overseers Trenholm, Doucette, Smith, Whitten, O'Malia, Treasurer Handler, and Clerk Lagner. Also present were residents Plummer, Samway, Crofoot, Merolla, and Superintendent Fancy.

The minutes of November 18 were accepted as amended.

The Treasurer's Report was approved as follows:

                   General Government

                     Checking                      $26,724.44

                     Community Hall                    289.75

                     Money Market                 42,303.57

                       Total Government         69,317.76

                   Water Department

                     Checking                          21,988.05

                   Sewer Department

                     Checking                             2,529.24

                     CD721053                        19,359.70

                     Money Market                   21,664.68

                       Total Sewer Dep.            43,553.62

Russ questioned two checks:

1. Fire Island Construction: The cost of repairing a damaged culvert - $269.

Should the NVC pay for damage caused by the contractor? Action was tabled until Russ could consult with Ken.

2. Water bills for the Collins property. A permit with the Village Water Company was not signed, and the water bill was paid directly to Belfast. Action was tabled until January. It was suggested that after the January meeting, a letter be sent to the Belfast Water District asking that they not accept any payment from Bayside's water customers who should be paying through the Village Water Company.

Russ also reported on a letter from Judy Metcalf about outstanding tax liens. Also there has been some breakdown in tax assessments between the Town and the Village, where values of improved property have been raised for town taxes, but have not been changed for Village taxes. Russ and the Town of Northport are working on updating the records now, and will issue supplemental tax bills where applicable.

Residents' Concerns

Todd Merolla reported on the meeting with the Town and a representative from the Department of Marine Resources about the mussel farm situation. A public hearing will take place before the license is renewed. Some voiced concern about the possibility of pollution.

Village Agent

No contract for snowplowing has been signed. Since the written contract is not available and the month of December is almost over, it was moved to authorize the Village Agent to arrange for plowing and sanding at up to $50.00 per hour with a 2-hour minimum. So VOTED.

The parks bid specifications will be tabled until next spring.

Old ramps for the floats will be scrapped.

Wharf Master

Plaque installation is scheduled for the spring.

Water/Wastewater

Rural Development loans of $682,000, and Rural Development grants of $418,000 will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 20, 2001. Birchcrest will contribute $64,650, to be repaid as a supplement to their water bill, for their connection to the Village water system. The Town of Northport will contribute $170,560 to rebuild Broadway, improve drainage on North Street and Sea Street. The Village Corporation will be responsible for $42,500, primarily for sewer work on Main Street and Griffin Street. Thus the Phase I-A Infrastructure project funds total $1,377,710. Rural Development funding and grant figures are set, but other figures may change. It was requested that an item be placed on the Town of Northport warrant to cover the Town's responsibility to this project.

John Fancy reported that Rural Development requires that water meters be installed. To help with the estimated cost of $150,000, the Village was given an additional $100,000 grant money.

It was moved to authorize Diane Whitten, Overseer for the Northport Village Corporation, to sign the Rural Development loan and grant papers, and to authorize Russ H. Handler as treasurer to witness and seal them. So VOTED.

Utility Committee

Beverly Crofoot reported on the December 14, 2001, meeting of the Utility Committee attended by Overseer Matt O'Malia, Superintendent John Fancy, Todd Merolla, Galen Plummer (Ad Hoc Arsenic Committee) and Beverly Crofoot, Chair of the Utility Committee.

1. The Infrastructure Project has now been separated into I-A and I-B, due to funding limitations for what was previously labeled Phase I.

2. The Committee suggests that the Board hire or seek a volunteer to identify individual property owners affected by Project I-A, to secure necessary construction easements, and tend to other aspects of the project as identified by John Fancy. Beverly has experience with this work, so was asked to prepare a job description for the next Overseers' meeting.

3. Infrastructure Project I-B could include the upgrade of the South Shore water line due to arsenic contamination. Funding is the fundamental issue to be resolved.

4. A project manager/facilitator needs to be hired for Phase I-B. John Fancy does not wish to take on this additional work. This New Hire would help identify the scope of Phase I-B and prioritize the aspects of the project. He/she would also research available funding.

5. On January 18 at 9:30 AM at the Crofoot's on the Shore Road, the two committees will meet with a Northport selectman and Dirigo Engineering to discuss a Community Development Block Grant application. The Town of Northport must apply for this type of grant. A January 18 deadline for application has been posted. It was suggested that we contact a representative from Eastern Maine Development Corporation which advertises assistance in preparing applications for community development grants, then approach the Town.

John Fancy expressed concern about considering Phase I-B before the Phase I-A package is complete. Phase I-A took three years to plan, and John suggested that the Village should use the same organized, thorough, constructive approach for Phase I-B. Dan commented that the Village should apply for money when it is available.

It was suggested that Phase I-B include Bluff Road homes which have arsenic problems. Other Shore Road properties beyond the village lines may want to be included. Phase I-B may also include Auditorium Park and Clinton Street, which originally were part of Phase I but were dropped because of limited funds. If all these were included, the new project would total approximately the same construction cost as I-A. The Board expressed concern about how this would be repaid. A CDBG is now partially a matching grant.

It was decided that the search for funding is a high priority. The actual design for the South Shore water extension would not be necessary to secure funding; only a detailed, break-down cost estimate is needed, which Dirigo has already completed. The previously voted $7500 was designated for a complete engineering design to be used for contractual bidding, and to be used in applying for economic stimulus money. The design is completed as far as Kelly's Cove. Dan moved that Galen Plummer, on behalf of the Arsenic Ad Hoc Committee, be authorized to approach the Town of Northport for a Public Infrastructure Grant, or other funds available for which the Town must apply, to extend the waterline. So VOTED, with one abstention.

Dan Doucette moved that $7500 be taken out of the General Fund in the calendar year 2002 to be added to the previously approved $7500, to complete the waterline extension design from Kelly's Cove to the Village line. Matt suggested that the scope of the project is not defined enough to begin the design. The motion was defeated 4-2.

John Lightner moved that the previously authorized $7500 be re-allocated to a Dirigo planning study and detailed cost analysis for the water main to the South Shore/Bluff Road arsenic-affected areas. So VOTED.

The Board asked Galen Plummer, assisted by John Fancy, to write a job description for the Phase I-B project administrator.

Finance

Dan Doucette presented a list of amended entries to the Audit of the Financial Report. It was moved that we accept the Audit as previously presented with the adjusted entries presented today. So VOTED.

The Annual Report of the Northport Village Corporation to the Public Utilities Commission to the State of Maine needs to be presented by April 1 of each year. Dan moved that we authorize the Treasurer with the Utilities Committee and with the assistance of the bookkeeper to prepare and submit this report annually. So VOTED.

The Board authorized Diane Whitten to spend up to $100 for flowers to be sent to Sandy Vlodek who is ill.

Legal

Judy approached the Town Selectpersons about settling the suit through mediation, but they choose to go to trial.

The Town of Northport's Comprehensive Plan was rejected by the State.

The contract with our Code Enforcement Officer expires December 31. It was moved to notify Richardson that his contract will be extended for an additional three months, through March, 2002. So VOTED.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 P.M.

Respectfully submitted,

Eleanor Lagner, Clerk