Minutes of NVC Meeting of November 24, 2002

President Ken Vlodek convened the meeting of the Northport Village Corporation Board of Overseers at 4:00 PM on November 24, 2002 , in the Drinkwater School . Attending were Overseers Doug Mayer, David Crofoot, Greg Closter, Dan Doucette, Elaine Smith, Joe Krulis, Judy Rohweder, Treasurer Handler, and Clerk Lagner.

Among other visitors attending were John Fancy, Tim Samway, Beverly Crofoot, Todd Merolla, Jane Phillips, and Agent Bill Paige.

The minutes of the October 27, 2002 , meeting were accepted as amended.

The treasurer's report was approved as follows:

                General Government

                     Checking                      $21,062.01

                     Community Hall                    462.55

                     Money Market                 42,799.99

                       Total                             $64,324.55

                Water Department

                     Checking                       $34,733.32

                     Checking                                    --   

                       Total                             $34,733.32

                Sewer Department

                     Checking                        $     991.03

                     CD721053                       19,748.46

                     Money Market                    3,870.14           

                       Total                              $24,609.63

Water/Wastewater

1. Presented was a draft of a letter to be sent to water users by Moriarty Water Works Inc. who will be installing the water meters. Doug asked that any requests for changes be sent to him as soon as possible.
2. Doug moved and Dan seconded a motion, subsequently voted, to accept the water rates approved by the PUC based on metered figures, as follows:

Year-round customers: (Billed quarterly)

Fixed charge: $95.00 (Total yearly cost: $380.00), plus water use fee @$2.75/100 cu. ft.

Seasonal customers: (Billed biannually)

Fixed charge: $190.00 (Total yearly cost: $380.00), plus water use fee @#2.75/100 cu. Ft., billed in fall.

3. Doug moved and Dan seconded a motion, subsequently voted, to accept the sewer rate increase as follows:

User charge: $350/year. (a 28.5% increase)

4. The Board thanked Todd Merolla and Galen Plummer for their work preparing the CBDG grant application, to be presented in the next 2 weeks. Also noted was the approval of the Northport (Town) Comprehensive Plan by the state.
5. Doug moved, seconded by Dan, to approve the 2003 budgets for the Water Department and Wastewater Department. After discussion, Dave Crofoot moved, seconded by Elaine, that the Board retire into executive session to discuss salary issues. Voted.

Upon re-opening the public Board meeting, the original motion to approve the budgets was voted.

6. Dan moved (seconded by Doug) that we approve the contract for Phase II with Dirigo Engineering and authorize Ken Vlodek to sign said contract. Voted.

Doug also moved (seconded by Dan) that we appoint Mr. Fancy to be the project manager, or designated representative for Phase II. Voted.

7. Doug moved (seconded by Dan) that the Board approve the expenditure of up to $5400 for four hydrant stubs. Dan then amended the motion by moving that the money be taken from the water construction contingency fund, seconded by Elaine. Voted 5 yeas, 2 abstain. After discussion, the motion as amended was voted.
8. Dan moved, seconded by Elaine, that the Board authorize Ken Vlodek to sign the previously approved contract with Woodard & Curran for two wastewater studies. Voted.
9. Dan moved, seconded by Doug, that the Board authorize the expenditure from the Wastewater account of up to $3,500 from the 2002 budget for the BOD effluent study. Voted.
10. Discussion considering the job description for the office manager followed.  (The hiring committee is Ken, John, and Doug.)

The following issues/points were made:

1. The job demands bookkeeping as well as secretarial skills. Finding a person with these skills may be difficult and extremely expensive (pointed out by Russ).
2. If a person with adequate skills cannot be found, it will be necessary to continue with the present bookkeeper, whose compensation comes from this line item, leaving less money to pay the office manager. The Committee is asked to present a "qualified applicant" at a proposed compensation. If the $10,500 budget is not adequate, the figure can be re-evaluated.

It was moved by Doug, and seconded by Dan, to approve the job description and authorize the hiring committee to advertise the position. Voted.

11. Doug presented four possible locations for the village office. After lengthy discussion, Dave moved, seconded by Dan, that the village office be set up in the basement of the Community Hall with details of its arrangement to be worked out. Voted 4 yeas, 1 nay, 1 abstention.

Dan, moved, seconded by Dave, that if the Community Hall renovations are not expected to be completed by February 15, that the Board be authorized to secure rental space (rather than a trailer) in (order of preference) Bayside, followed by Northport, then Belfast. Voted.

Village Properties

1. Long-term storage of three boats in Cradle Park is still pending settlement. One of the three owners has been contacted.

2. The Village will prepare a lease agreement between the Historical Society and the Village for the requested 30' x 50' cottage lot. The need for a survey for this land and wording for the lease is yet to be decided. Dave moved, and Dan seconded a motion to draw up a long-term lease to be presented to the Historical Society, legal costs to be paid by the Historical Society. Voted.

3. The Historical Society is launching a fund-raising drive to finance Phase I of their restoration of the cottage, estimated to cost $10,000.

4. Dave presented notes on his research into Parking Ordinances. Issues yet to be settled are what rules the Village actually wants to have included, maps and locations of allowable parking, signs to be put up, as well as enforcement policies, penalties and indemnification in case of towing incidents. Also to be considered are posting methods, education of the public, and traffic pattern changes to be made if necessary.

Wharfmaster

Assistant Wharfmaster Steve Trenholm has been appointed to the Northport Harbor Committee. Any requests for money needed for waterfront projects should be given to Steve.

Finance

A new auditor will be chosen.

Parks

Jane says New England Tree Service will be asked to remove hazardous tree branches extending over the parking area in Cradle Park .

Information

Greg is working on a complete, correct mailing list, and asked that any undelivered newsletters be returned to him for address corrections.

Recreation

Joe reported that the annual Christmas Tree lighting will take place on Dec. 14.

Safety

Judy reported that insurance for a police car would be $600 per year.

Legal

Judy Metcalf is in contact with the trust officers for the Pingree Trust. Settlement still pending. Also, the Northport suit settlement is still pending.

Zoning

No CEO has been found yet.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:15 PM .

Respectfully submitted,