SELECTMEN’S MEETING

APRIL 4, 2005

PRESENT:  Denise Lindahl; Paul Rooney; Ed Moran; Bill Magruder; Barbara O’Leary

The meeting began with Denise Lindahl informing the group the renewal liquor license for Helen’s Kitchen, submitted by Mike Vellaro has been pulled.  The town office received a fax on Friday from Mr. Vellaro’s attorney, Clifford Goodall, stating the license application had been withdrawn.  The present license has a renewal date of 6/28/2005.  It was noted the CEO, Frank Therio, has received a letter from the State informing him the septic system at this business was not in compliance.  Mr. Vellaro has until the end of May to rectify this situation or the restaurant will be closed down. 

The public hearing on the Helen’s Kitchen liquor license renewal was put off until a new application is submitted.

Special Amusement Ordinance:

There will be a hearing on 4-11-2005 at 7:00pm at the Drinkwater School to discuss this ordinance and the Administrative ordinance.  Denise noted there are a couple of typos:  3.1 – Penalty, it should be the town of Northport , not Bridgeton .

Ed Moran felt Section 2.1 Permit Required was unclear on the types of devices mentioned.  He felt it should be all non-amplified instruments.  Although he expressed concern over some of the wording in the ordinance, he agreed it should go before the town for a vote. 

Denise noted she will be out of Town for the hearings and unable to attend.

Administrative Ordinance:

There is a typographical error here as well:  pg 15 lists the wrong fiscal year and needs to be corrected to February 2, 2005 to February 1, 2006.

It was moved by Denise Lindahl to approve the Special Amusement Ordinance and the Administrative Ordinance with corrections and bring before the Town Meeting for vote and to present at a town hearing.  Unanimously approved.

Road Commissioner:

Bill Magruder gave an update on the condition of roads in Town.  Following the severe rain over the weekend many roads are in terrible shape.

            Nealey Road – needs 1-1/2’ rock spread, it is just mud now

            Hart Road , Bluff Road and Pound Hill are also in bad shape

Spring emergency work will begin.  Bill will use a digital camera to record the condition of the roads being worked on and track materials used on each project.

Shore Road/Temple Heights:

This road is in major disrepair and the town does not have the funds to correct this properly.  Suydam and Sons can sell materials at a fair price to help shim up this road and use fabric also.  This may get the town through another year with this road.  It was recommended to ask George Hall & Sons for a price on this also.  Bill asked if grant money is available to fix some of these roads.  Ed and Paul said they would take a look.  It may be necessary to work with the CEO, the DEP and Army Corp of Engineers when working on this road.  Bill stated it is not an Army Corp issue, just the Town and DEP.  Paul stated the DEP might be a good place to ask about grants.

Cliff Road – the culvert is gone and will be fixed.  Bill had many calls of rain washing out culverts and driveways.  The Vlodek’s driveway was washed out and with the homes built on the hill further compromises the area and causes surface water run off which is deteriorating the road.  He has been tracking his work on the roads on a spreadsheet but the information needs to get into RSMS.  Ed asked for a list of roads to be worked on the work needed.  He also said he’ll look at RSMS and see what needs to be updated.

Bill Magruder received a letter from Bob Smith in Bayside regarding the state of roads in Bayside, specifically Bluff and Shore Roads.   He felt the town should maintain the roads and fix them.  He then asked Bill to submit a bid to fix the section near his home.  Bill felt he was unclear what Mr. Smith was looking for.  The village maintains the roads in question.   If he felt the Town should fix the roads there is no reason for him to submit a bid.  He will call and refer him to the Overseers in Bayside.

High Street -

Needs culverts and ditching after the heavy rains

Shore Road –

This should be a priority.  Needs ditching, culverts, gravel and grading

Flanders Road –

Needs to be graded and gravel put down

Birch crest – Saturday Cove Road –

Gravel and drainage work needed

Pitcher Road –

Gravel and compacting needed

Knights Pond Road –

Ditching and drainage work

Leeman Drive –

6-8” of processed gravel

Bluff Road –

There will be construction on this road this year and a shim coat will be necessary.  The clear cutting continues and the trucks were told be go in early while the frost was still in the ground.  If this gets bad, the trucks will be stopped.

Bog Road –

Subdivision going in and traffic from construction hurting the road.  It needs a good shim coat to protect the road with either a 1-1/2” or 2” shim.

Cross Street –

Hasn’t been done in two years and needs a shim coat and overlay.

Shore Road –

Major work needed and the Town doesn’t have the money necessary to fix this right. 

Pound Hill –

Needs an overlay where the gravel is gone.

Beech Hill Road –

Drainage issues on parts of the road.

Bill Magruder reported the catch basins in Bayside all need to be cleared.  He recommended contacting an outside contractor to get an estimate.  The Selectmen approved this.  He suggested rounding up the aprons to help move the water into the ditches and culverts for now.

Shoulder work – suggests looking at each road individually and do work as needed.

Brushwork needs to be done and cleaning up along the roads.  Rocky Road is full of trash strewn along the road.  Denise recommends if any mail – letters are found to let her know and she will write the owner.

The Road Commissioner asked permission to proceed with what needs to be done now for spring work.  The Selectmen agreed.  Ed asked Bill for a copy of his list of roads and their issues.

Bill stated he would submit his payroll for the winter and loader time.  He also asked if it would be possible to move the salt and sand shed to the dump.  He would need electricity and there is none at the dump.  This will be discussed at a later time.

Bookkeeper –

Vicki Eugley reported she had talked with the auditors on the final report regarding the undesignated fund.  They recommended leaving this fund as is since it is used to run the Town until tax money starts to come in the fall.  They recommend keeping this 20% of the budget or 3 months worth of expenditures.  Since the Town operates the first quarter of the year without approval, the Town needs the money in this account.  Vicki stated this could be corrected by changing the fiscal.  It would be easier bookkeeping if the Town were on the same fiscal year as the school and county.  Denise stated this would be brought up at Town Meeting to change the fiscal year.

Town Report –

The Town Clerk reported the Town Report would be going to the printer in another week.  The audit needed to be completed.  The cover of the report was discussed.  It was decided by the Selectmen to put a picture of the Landfill Attendants on the cover.

Other Business –

Denise reported she heard from Kathy Fuller of the DOT.  She had not contacted Lincolnville and Camden to see if Northport could be moved into that group.  Dense explained to her no decision will be made until the Board knows which group Northport will be with.   

Ed stated he is against signing the Memorandum of Understanding and joining the project.

Verizon requested a pole permit for Bog Road , approved by the Selectmen.

DEP will be having training on mercury disposal and it was agreed to have Tim Patten attend.

WCCSA has requested money for next year.  The request came after the budget had been set.  They are also looking for members.

CEO –

Frank Therio has requested another week’s vacation.  She gave some background stating Frank had been with the Town for 5years and currently works 2 days a week and gets 2weeks vacation, totaling 4days.  Denise expressed her concern that he is only here 2 days and asked for comments from the Board.  Paul Rooney agreed, saying he is highly paid for 2 days and what amounts to 2 weeks vacation.  Denise also mentioned he goes to workshops and training on the days he works in Northport, but is not sure he does this when working in Stockton Springs.  He also gets $1000 a year in expenses.

Ed asked what his contract stated.  Denise explained there is no contract.  Frank came when the Town did not have a CEO or plumbing inspector and we were getting in trouble with the State.  He is appointed yearly, like the Harbor Master.  Ed also felt he was paid well and did not need another vacation week.

It was unanimously agreed to deny the request for an additional vacation week.

Warrant for Town Meeting –

The Warrants for the upcoming Town Meeting were discussed with the following notations:

            Art 1 the same

            Art 2 add One Selectman; One Road Commissioner; One School Board Director

            Art 3 Selectmen’s pay the same; Town Clerk increase to $19,800

            Art 4 – 8 the same

            Art 9 – 11 the same

            Art 12 keep the same

            Art 13 make this the Special Amusement Ordinance

            Art 14 make this the Administrative Ordinance

            Renumber remaining articles

Denise stated she would bring up the fiscal year change in the Selectmen’s Report.  She will talk with the assessors about two tax bills if the change goes through and the year overlaps.

Ed Moran will discuss the Withdrawal Committee from MSAD 34. 

The Planning Board has tabled presenting the Land Use Ordinance at the Town Meeting.  They are still working on this and it won’t be ready this year.

Barbara presented a fax from Rick Ferris from FEMA.  He is asking for damages from the recent storm.  Denise will get the fax to Bill Magruder to fill out and apply for money.

Stocks – the Auditors recommended the Town sell its stocks.  The Selectmen unanimously agreed to sell the stock and put the money into the Cemetery Fund.

ADJ