Annual Meeting Report
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Clerk’s Report of the Annual Meeting

of the Northport Village Corporation

 

Annual Meeting

August 8, 2006

 

The Annual Meeting of the Northport Village Corporation was held on Tuesday, August 8, 2006, at 6:30 PM in the Bayside Community Hall with approximately 90 voters present. The Clerk opened the meeting by reading the Call and Return on the Warrant. The meeting had been posted on five locations within the Village, and in the newspapers. The Warrant and Clerk’s Report of the Annual Meeting, 2005, had been included in the Annual Report which was published more than two weeks before the meeting.

 

 Treasurer’s Report

 December 11, 2005

 

           General Government

                  Checking                      $50,603.22

                  Community Hall                    878.61

                  Petty Cash                         32.88

                                  Total         $51,514.71

 

           Water Department

                  Checking                      $33,490.94

                  Petty Cash                         30.72

                  Savings                           416.70

                                  Total         $33,938.36

 

           Sewer Department

                  Checking                      $ 9,583.55

                  Petty Cash                         36.37

                                  Total         $ 9,619.92

 

 

Treasurer’s Report

June 30, 2006

 

           General Government

                  Checking                      $67,430.77

                  Savings                           880.64

                  Petty Cash                         33.34

                  Dump Stickers for resale         230.00

                                 Total           $68,574.75

 

           Water Department

                  Checking                      $80,380.94

                  Sinking fund                    6,535.85

                  Petty Cash                         33.33

                                 Total          $86,950.12

 

           Sewer Department

                  Checking                      $37,454.77

                  Sinking fund                    2,001.32

                  New facilities checking            81.77

                  Petty Cash                         33.33

                                  Total          $39,571.19

 

The meeting opened with a pledge of allegiance to the flag.

 

Article 1: J. Timothy Samway was elected Moderator of the meeting. In his opening remarks, Samway introduced the officers of the Village Corporation, members of the Board of Overseers, Secretary Karen Hoedtke, and Police Chief Sal DeMeo, who then introduced his wife Joan DeMeo, also a police officer in the Village. Stephen Wright spoke for the Junior Yacht Club, asking for donations of food for the Town of Northport food pantry.

 

Article 2: No action taken, as the clerk is the designated recording secretary for the Annual Meeting.

 

Article 3: President’s Report.

 

President Josiah Huntoon thanked retiring Overseers Peter Spollett and David Crofoot, and Clerk Eleanor Lagner for their service to NVC. He also pointed out that this is the 90th annual meeting of the Northport Village Corporation.

 

The big item in this year’s budget is the surface run-off problems (see Article 5) which must be faced, as the money budgeted for next year is to cover money spent this year on repairs to roads and drains.

 

Huntoon then added that the Junior Yacht Club survived an over-night to Warren Island . On a more serious note, he remembered Mabel Wadsworth for her years as an Overseer and member of the Zoning Board of Appeals in the Village, as well as her unceasing efforts to further women’s causes in Bangor and at the state level.

 

Article 4: Treasurer’s Report.

 

Julian Sheffield distributed her report and copies of the NVC Audit. Purdy-Powers prepared the entire audit, thus reducing auditing costs. The day-to-day accounting is now being efficiently done in-house by Secretary Karen Hoedtke, and is reviewed periodically by the treasurer. A systematic approach is now in place to handle foreseeable and unforeseeable expenses.

 

Article 5: Surface Water run-off Report.

 

Overseer Bill Cressey explained that the Village has major surface run-off problems. Some have been addressed, with mixed success. The removal of some old drainage pipes during the sewer repairs caused more problems. The Overseers have added $30,000 to the budget, the amount already spent on road run-off repairs. Several citizens raised issues: Mrs. VanBibber has had a window broken three times by stones thrown by cars; Mrs. Duggan asked if there was a master plan for dealing with surface drainage, and Sid Block responded that he knows the whereabouts of such a plan. Jackie Facey expressed concern that the Main Street erosion is not solved, that the hump in the middle is not working to drain the water properly. Cressey explained the work scheduled to go out for bid on August 18, which includes some Main Street construction.

 

Article 6: To see what sums of money the Northport Village Corporation will raise and appropriate for the following accounts for the fiscal year 2007:

 

Overseers’ Proposed Budget

 

Total Income                                    $184,350

Expenses

      General Government                        $62,650

      Roads & Storm Drains                  44,700

      Protection & Safety                   22,200

      Community                             20,500

      Debt Service & Reserve               34,300

Total Expenses                            $184,350

 

This money will be raised as follows: $25,000 to be requested from the Town of Northport on the warrant of its Annual Town Meeting, and the balance to be raised from the Village Tax. If the warrant is not approved by the Town of Northport , the budget will be raised entirely from the Village Tax.

 

Article 6 was moved by Bill Cressey, seconded by Judy Metcalf.

 

During discussion, Cressey said the mill rate would see an increase of $.32/thousand, almost all of which was due to road run-off issues.

 

Dan Webster suggested that we ask the Town of Northport for more than $25,000, which has been the amount received for several years, in spite of rising expenses. Huntoon explained that Town voters and selectpersons have no control over 75% of the Town’s money; in addition, they face a major financial burden  funding the school budget this year. Members of the Board of Overseers continue to work with the Town Selectpersons to further communication and cooperation.

 

At the close of discussion, Article 6 was passed unanimously.

 

Article 7: To approve borrowings by the Northport Village Corporation in an amount not to exceed $50,000 for working capital purposes. Funds are to be borrowed in anticipation of the 2007 taxes.

 

Moved by Metcalf, seconded by Cressey, and Voted.

 

Article 8: To approve borrowings by the Northport Village Corporation in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Funds are to be used towards replacement of the Community Hall and Wharf as needed, emergency repairs to utilities operated by the Village Corporation, for reconstruction of shoreline damage to property owned by the Northport Village Corporation as a result of a storm, or repair of roads owned by the Corporation.

 

Moved by Cressey, seconded by Metcalf, and Voted.

 

Article 9: To fix a rate of interest on taxes delinquent after November 30, 2006, equal to that charged by the Town of Northport .

 

Moved by Metcalf, seconded by Cressey. Metcalf noted that the present rate of interest levied by the Town of Northport is 6.5%.  Voted.

 

Article 10: To approve the revised Northport Village Corporation Utility Ordinance.

 

Moved by Metcalf, seconded by Crofoot. Crofoot outlined the proposed changes in the Ordinance, which had been presented at an earlier public hearing. Some citizen concern was expressed over the addition of new sewer users. Cressey stated that only those who cannot construct their own sewage treatment facilities on their property will even be considered, and at present no new users will be added as the Board has declared a moratorium until Sept. 30, 2006.

 

Members of the Utility Department were recognized: Spollett, Crofoot, Coughlin, Strauss, and Metcalf. (This committee is made up of three Overseers and two “at-large” members.)

 

A majority of voters approved the question by a show of hands, and the Moderator declared that Article 10 passed.

 

Article 11: To elect the Officers by written ballot.

 

The Moderator asked Nominating Committee chairman Peter Spollett to present the slate of officers. For President, Josiah Huntoon was nominated. As there were no nominations from the floor, Huntoon was elected president of the Village Corporation for the coming year.

 

Spollett then nominated Julian Sheffield for Treasurer, who was elected unopposed.

 

For Clerk, Spollett nominated Betty Wilson who also was elected unopposed.

 

Article 12: To elect Overseers by written ballot.

 

Spollett presented the Nominating Committee’s slate for the office of Overseer as follows:

 

Peter Allen, Margaret Brockway, Bill Cressey, Linda Houghton, Rick Melone, Judy Metcalf, and Judy Rohweder.

 

There were no nominations from the floor, so the slate was voted.

 

Article 13: Resolution providing for participating in the Maine Municipal Employees health Trust.

 

      Be it resolved by the Board of overseers of the Northport Village Corporation as follows:

     

      That the Northport Village Corporation join with other participating municipal and quasi-municipal employers in a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement for provision of employee health benefits, as authorized by 24-A M.R.S.A.  6601 et seq., said Arrangement to be known as the “Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust” (Health Trust); and for that purpose and in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements among the participating employers, to authorize the President to enter into a Participation Agreement on behalf of the Northport Village Corporation and take whatever other actions may be necessary. The authority granted herein shall remain until revoked.

 

Moved by Brockway, seconded by Metcalf. After discussion, Article 13 was voted.

 

Article 14: Reports of Committees.

 

Peter Allen for the Safety Committee, stressed the importance of having house numbers displayed clearly.

 

Jane Phillips (tree warden) announced the arborist will be the Village on August 15 if any citizens have concerns to register with him.

 

David Crofoot (Utilities) thanked Dick McElhaney for his excellent management of the Utilities, and Dick Brockway for his consultation and volunteer labors.

 

Pam and Ed Williams were thanked for serving as registrars.

 

Rob Sherman spoke for the Historical Society, welcoming visitors and donations to the museum on Pleasant Street , which is open Sundays 1-3 or by arrangement.

 

Huntoon recognized Marge Brockway, Facilities Overseer and “unsung hero”, for her hard work.

 

George Metcalf, seconded by Fleta Metcalf, moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 PM.

 

 

Eleanor Lagner, Clerk

Northport Village Corporation