Minutes of NVC Meeting of February 17, 2002

President Ken Vlodek convened the meeting of the Northport Village Corporation Board of Overseers at 10:10 AM in the Drinkwater School with Overseers Whitten, Lightner, O'Malia, Trenholm, Rohweder, and Clerk Lagner present. Also attending were Superintendent John Fancy, Todd Merolla, Tim Samway, Leon Lord, Polly Hyde, Galen Plummer, Beverly Crofoot, and several other residents.

The minutes of the January 20, 2002, meeting were approved.

The Treasurer's report was presented by Ken for Treasurer Handler:

The Treasurer's Report was approved as follows:

                   General Government

                     Checking                      $42,155.63

                     Community Hall                    290.27

                     Money Market                 42,414.40

                       Total Government         84,860.30

                   Water Department

                     Checking                          17,828.55

                   Sewer Department

                     Checking                             7,338.27

                     CD721053                        19,359.70

                     Money Market                   21,712.29

                       Total Sewer Dep.            48,410.26

Madeline will now pay the bills as they come in, and then will send Russell a weekly check register of completed transactions.

The Treasurer's report was accepted.

Village Resident Concerns

Pingree Trust: It was moved that the Board authorize Judy Metcalf, attorney, to contact Pingree Trust with the goal of facilitating the land transfer. VOTED.

Mussel Farm: Todd Merolla reported on a State Legislature meeting on February 7 which was a preliminary discussion with Fisk of the Department of Marine Resources regarding a moratorium on all new fish farm leases west of Stonington. Many violations to the existing rules have taken place. For more information about the fish farm situation in Maine, log on to www.penbay.orglaqlegis2242k2.htm.

Wedding: Susan Kenney requests permission to use lower Bayview Park for a wedding and reception on August 25 from 1 to 5 PM. Approved.

Northport Comprehensive Plan: Doug Mayer reported on a project by the Northport Comprehensive Plan Committee to update their comprehensive plan by January 1, 2003. This includes working with the Land Use Ordinance Committee, who is mailing a survey concerning future development of town lands. Doug requests that we use the Bayside website to encourage everyone to fill out the survey. Survey results will be published on the website, and in the newsletter.

VonBergen: Judy reports that Lee Woodward, who drafted the deeds, has returned with requested corrections. Judy says that the proposed corrections would involve changes which would result in the conveying of more land to VonBergen than agreed, and therefore she has denied the requested changes. Some concern was expressed that this issue has gone on long enough and should be settled.

Polly Hyde: A car was parked on lower Main Street down towards the wharf for several days. It was reported to the police, and subsequently was removed. A question was raised as to what extended parking regulations exist. During the winter the published parking ban (for snow removal) should suffice, with Bill Paige the contact person, and the summer police officer takes care of unwanted parking violations. Ken will investigate the Village's status regarding a specific ordinance controlling extended parking.

Liens:

Payment of Water/Wastewater Bills: Several requests were received to allow for payment of bills on a quarterly basis as in previous years. John and Madeline agreed this would not be a problem, as long as the number is limited. If payment is a problem, a user should send a letter to the Village address. The 2003 bills will go out quarterly anyway, so this is an issue only this year.

Liens for unpaid water bills total $9,642.00, and for unpaid wastewater bills, $7,596.26, with many repeat offenders. Madeline will send out letters to water lien recipients, stating that on May 1 their water will not be turned on unless their bills are paid in full.

Ken said that delinquent property taxes total about $9,000.

Village Agent

Plowing: Northport has sub-contracted the Village snowplowing, but the plows are late coming through, usually not until 1/2 hour after the school bus has gone through.

Frozen Hydrant: The fire hydrant on George and Sea Streets was found frozen. Apparently the hydrant was used without pumping it out afterward. After each use, the fire department should pump out the hydrant, and also notify the Village. Bill will then check to see that the hydrant is clear. John Fancy will send a letter concerning this problem to the fire departments involved.

Recycling: Neither Belfast nor Camden will receive recycled products any more. Residents need not sticker recycled products if bagged separately, but the recyclables now are collected with the general trash.

Wharfmaster

Assistant Wharfmaster: It was moved to appoint Steve Trenholm as assistant wharfmaster and give him the authority to draw on other assistants as needed. VOTED. For the records, it was asked that Steve tell Ellie if he appoints any other assistant.

Water/Wastewater

Dirigo is finishing up the plans for the Phase I-A Infrastructure Project, and bids will go out by the end of this month. In the specifications, the South Shore sewer line will be given high priority due to the infiltration problem. It is hoped that this would be taken care of by the middle of May when tests are taken.

Letters from Eaton-Peabody giving the estimated legal expenses for Phase I-A are pending, following correction of figures.

A letter from Glowa, Maine D.E.P., was distributed. John Fancy is working with them to satisfy the requests. Measuring the wastewater flow, while a good approximation, cannot be precise. Dirigo is studying the betterment of the treatment plant.

Sub-Committee: Some 30 wells, both inside and outside the village lines, are affected by the arsenic infiltration. Application for a Community Block Planning Grant (due by March 8) is being considered. This planning grant is a 70-30 percent split (grant-70% and community-30%). Ken has asked Denise if the town would commit to that 30%. The committee is exploring the situation to clean up the variables, with a presentation to the voters for action at some later time.

The Committee also feels that there is a need for a facilitator. Bryce Matthews cannot do this job, since his work is primarily with funding through community block grants.

John Fancy pointed out that there is a time constraint on realizing the repayment of planning money. It is not possible to receive planning fund grants for research expenses incurred long before the grant application, but grants will repay planning expenses once the grants are accepted. Now, for Phase II, we should be doing the planning (Stage 1): scope, cost, funding, and effects on users' bills. He does not believe we should approach the voters this August requesting two raises in users' fees; this would not receive voter support.

John Fancy will help with the planning in conjunction with the Town of Northport and hopes to make the March 8 block grant application date. A public hearing must be held concerning this application; one of the Selectmen's open weekly meetings would suffice if properly publicized.

John reminded the Board that the DEP is not happy with the waste water figures, so the next phase should include work in that area as well as the South Shore water line.

It was moved to allocate $7,500 to allow the sub-committee of the Water/Wastewater Committee to move forward with the next phase of the infrastructure project. So VOTED.

Finance

Madeline has all the materials for the 2001 audit, and Malcolm will pick them up soon. We must submit a report to the PUC in April. While Malcolm says he can have the figures for that report, he cannot promise to have the complete audit ready before the end of May, or the Annual Meeting. It was suggested that for next year a different auditor be found who can complete the audit more quickly.

Parks

Matt pointed out that the merry-go-round needs repair.

He also mentioned that the shoreline has accumulated a lot of trash. Saturday, June 29, was selected as community-effort clean-up day, to be coordinated with the Yacht Club.

Safety

Lifeguard: The committee will look into finding a second lifeguard to fill in when the regular lifeguard is off duty, especially on Mondays.

Legal

Suit: Mr. Kelley has requested that all the tapes be made available. Only two tapes could be located from past years, plus the current tapes. These tapes will be stored in the Village Office on Bluff Road.

Ken read e-mails between Kevin Hall, Northport Town Selectman, and Ken, who expressed his concern as a Village resident at the unexpected magnitude of the suit.

Zoning

Three applications for building permits have been received in the last ten days, as passed on to Blaine Richardson from Frank Therio. However, our CEO has not received a completed building permit from Fielden.

The meeting was adjourned at 12:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

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