|
|
|
SELECTMEN’S MEETING 3/7/2005 PRESENT: Denise Lindahl; Ed Moran; Paul Rooney; Bill Kelly, Kelly & Associates; Kristen Collins, Kelly & Associates; Frank Therio, CEO; Barbara O’Leary Executive Session at 8:15am. Executive Session ended at 9:05am. A legal matter facing the Town will continue with three additional legal motions added to the original motion as discussed. MOTION: To add three additional items to the current legal matter concerning an 80K Action. APPROVED unanimously by the Select Board. The meeting is now open to the public. Doug Mayer of the Landfill Committee gave the final report of the Committee. A letter addressing curbside pick up was distributed. The final recommendation of the Committee is to pursue more curbside pick up in town. Belfast
Water District: Members of the District were present to ask the Board to rescind its previous decision to tax the Belfast Water District for land in Northport. A brief history of the District in Northport was given pointing out it has never been taxed in the past. It was explained the widest point of land from the water is 135’, not large enough to build on. The land surrounding the reservoir is only to hold back the water. The Water District is treated as a Municipal organization in Title 36 and not subject land tax. This is also addressed in their charter where they have eminent domain and can take the land surrounding the reservoir. Ed Moran suggested reserving the Town’s right to restrict this in the future. He would agree to allow the Water district a non-tax status, but should they decide to take adjacent land through “eminent domain” this should be looked at carefully and revisited. Denise Lindahl expressed concern for the future of this land in Northport. It is the duty of the Board to protect the Northport side of the reservoir. Should the Water District no longer exist, the land should return to Northport, not be able to be sold or built upon. The Water District maintained the land only exists to maintain the viability of the reservoir. They also stated there is not enough land to be built upon. Denise Lindahl made the following motion: MOTION:
To give abatement to the Unanimously AGREED by the Board. Liquor
License Application: The application for a Lounge Liquor License for Mike Vallero for the Twin Maples Hotel was deferred until the next meeting. The ad in the paper listed the wrong time for the hearing so it will be put in the paper again and the hearing will be at the next Selectmen’s Meeting March 21, 2005. Several concerned residents of Northport were present to discuss this application. They did not like to read in the paper another liquor license had been applied for in a half mile area of business with liquor licenses. Denise Lindahl stated the hearing would not take place today since the ad had the time incorrect and Mike Vellaro was not present First
Responders: Hank presented a budget for the First Responders. (See attached) They are looking for a payment system for its members for each call they respond to and training. He would like to see a minimum of one-hour increments. The members have been putting in many hours on their own for training and responding to calls. Hank estimated if they had been paid minimum wage for the calls they went on in 2004, the expense would have been $2279.65. MSAD #34 Larry Doucette reported he was waiting to hear if the School Withdrawal committee had been formed before he went before the School Board. Ed reminded him the committee had already met and he should have told the Board we had formed the Committee. Denise stated it was important for Larry to keep Northport in their minds and up front, since they have put us on hold regarding school funding. Ed
stated at the upcoming Town Meeting he will present an overview of what the
Committee hopes to accomplish. Denise
reminded Larry the School Board had not done anything about looking at the
funding formula since last August when they told the Select Board it would be
looked into. Larry will let the
School Board know we have a Committee up and running and we are moving forward
with it. Gathering more information
for withdrawal from the District requires more involved people on the Committee.
At the Town Meeting Ed will ask for more members and may take a straw
vote on whether we should withdraw or stay in the Larry pointed out if we did decide to withdraw, Northport would still be responsible for its share of the District’s bonded indebtedness. Ed mentioned the Town has 9% of the students and pays 20% of the school budget. The next School Board meeting is Tuesday, March 8, 2005 and Larry will bring up the concerns of the Town. He also mentioned the school budget meetings will be held soon. If it should fail at the June vote, the School Board will meet the following day where the budget is usually passed. He asked if it should fail in June, to try and get more people to attend the budget meeting the following day and force the vote to go to ballot. Liquor License At this time Mike Vallero came in regards to his application for a lounge liquor license. He was informed it had to be deferred to the next meeting on March 21, 2005 due to the wrong time posted in the newspaper. Road
Commissioner: A DOT representative stopped and saw Bill Magruder on Friday. He had finished measuring all the roads in town. He stopped by the Town Office and gave a copy of the report to Barbara. Bill mentioned to him the terrible condition of Rt 52. He has been getting many complaints about its condition. The road is a State road and there isn’t much the Town can do. It was suggested to have people who call and complain write letters to the DOT to get them to fix the road. Bill invited the Board to go with him and see the poor condition of some of the roads in Town. Ed Moran asked Bill to put together a list of these roads and roads that will need work in the coming year. The budget meeting will be at the next Board meeting and this will help in the budget process for roads and bridges. Bill mentioned he has had questions from residents in subdivisions wanting to know how to go about the Town taking over their roads. He thought it might be brought up at Town meeting. Denise stated in order for subdivision roads to be taken over by the Town they must be brought up to State standards before being presented to the Town to take over. Bill
asked the Select Board to address the problem of collateral damage to roads
caused by contractors. The work in
the Village through the CDBG work grant has substantial damage to Barbara
mentioned the Village has been calling asking where the final check is for work
on MCRP: MCRP sent out a questionnaire for cooperative buying. Ed felt it was a good venture for the Town. The questionnaire of joint services Northport is interested in was filled out and will be mailed back. Wyman
Needy: A family in town with medical needs has requested assistance from the Town. The Select Board AGREED to give the family $250 and ask that receipts be kept. If the family needs further assistance, they can discuss this with the Board. Barbara will talk with Vicki to see if there is enough money in the Wyman Needy account to take the money from there. It is an interest only account and it appears there is money there that can be used. GASBY: Denise is still working on the numbers for GASBY and asked for help from Ed and Paul. A discussion on depreciation and capital purchases followed. Denise will continue working on this. A request came to allow for maple trees in the cemetery to be tapped. The Board DENIED this request. Denise reminded everyone the next meeting will be busy and at its conclusion a budget meeting for the new year will take place. Vicki will be asked to attend. The next meeting will be 3/21/2005 at 8am. ADJ |