SELECT BOARD MINUTES July 14, 2014 - 6:00 P.M.

Present: Town Manager Shiloh LaFreniere, Chair Steve McCourt, Vice Chair Justin Merrill, Tom Goding, Tim DeMillo and Pearl Cook.

Also Present: Lisa Bryant (Treasurer), Donna Perry (Sun Journal), Ben Hanstein (Daily Bulldog), Al Landry, Mark Holt (Superintendent WWTP), Paul Binette, Mike O’Donnell (O’Donnell & Associates), Richard Caton (PD), Philip and Joan Nichols, Darren Roundy and Rick Howatt.

Pledge of Allegiance: 6:00 P.M.

Public Hearing: Special Entertainment Permit for AMVETS: Steve McCourt opened the Public Hearing at 6:01 P.M. for the purpose of Special Entertainment permit for the AMVETS. After no discussion, Steve McCourt closed the Public Hearing at 6:05 P.M. M/M/S-Tim /Tom to sign the Special Entertainment Permit 5-0-0 vote.

Public Hearing: Amendments to the General Assistance Ordinance: Steve McCourt opened the Public Hearing at 6:05 for the purpose of Amendments to the General Assistance Ordinance. After no discussion, Steve McCourt closed the Public Hearing at 6:10 M/M/S- Tim/Tom to approve the amendments as written 5-0-0 vote.

Minutes: M/M/S-Tim/Tom to accept the June 23, 2014 minutes as written 5-0-0 vote.

Old Business: Al Landry informed the Board that there are people parking trailers, boats etc. on Horan Street. He stated that this is a problem when the Church is having service as many of the people park on that street. Al questioned whether anything could be done about this. Richard Caton stated that if they are registered vehicles we can’t do anything about it. Richard will go look into this to see if anything can be done.

Pearl Cook questioned the status of the Town’s property at the corner of Hyde and Rt. 133. Shiloh LaFreniere stated that she has talked with Kachnovich Surveying and he will be laying out the lot lines so that the Town can determine what they want to retain or put deed restrictions on, if sold, so that sight distances are maintained.

Sewer Abatement: Mark informed the Board that the former owner (In Like F) and the current owner (Philip and Joan Nichols) of 39 Church are requesting an abatement of $1,082.00 for the 13/14 sewer fees. They also want to have the lot removed from future sewer billings. Mark explained that the building on the lot burned down on March 16, 2013 and was torn down in the summer of 2013. The 13/14 sewer fees were from the water used during the winter quarter of 12/13. Although the building was torn down and the foundation was filled in, the sewer line was not properly capped and inspected by the Sewer Dept. as required by the Sewer Ordinance.

Mark recommended charging the minimum sewer fee of $250 for the 13/14 year and granting an abatement of $832. He also suggested having the line capped before July 31, 2014 if they want to have the lot removed from the 14/15 year sewer billing. Otherwise $250 would be charged again this coming year. The Nichols expressed concern that this was not their responsibility but that of the previous owners. Shiloh and Mark agreed with them but stated that it should have been taken care of when they closed on the property and that it was really a civil matter between the owners.

Mark also stated that he would put together draft language for Board consideration to be included in the Sewer Ordinance to address similar circumstances in the future.

M/M/S-Justin/Tom to grant an abatement of $832 to the Nichols, also the Select Board agreed with the stipulation that the line be capped by July 31, 2014 and they will not receive a bill for the fiscal year 2014/2015 5-0-0 vote.

O’Donnell & Associates Valuation Update: Paul Binette (Tax Assessor) updated the Board on the valuations. He stated that O’Donnell’s has finished the field work and have the proposed new valuations. Paul explained that the equalization was done because the last revaluation was completed in 2006 when the market was a lot healthier. The new values are based on market data from the past 2 to 3 years. He provided the Board with a draft letter that explains to the owners their new value and also gave the Board a complete listing of the property values. (See Attachment*) He stated that the Verso Mill was not included in the listing because it is being re-evaluated by another company. Paul stated that, if residents want to discuss their property, the contact information for O’Donnell’s is included in the letter and they can set up appointments for July 28 and 29th. The Board thanked O’Donnell’s for their work and the information.

Disposition of Asset Forfeiture Money to Asset Forfeiture Reserve Account and Approval of Expenditure for Taser Replacement: Richard Caton explained that the Board has approved accepting criminal forfeiture money in the past. Now that several of these cases have gone through the court system the PD has $6,853. Richard stated that they need to keep $1,000 of this as “petty cash” in the PD for use in operations and drug investigations, including drug buys. The request is that the remaining $5,853 be placed in a reserve account that can be used to upgrade outdated equipment or for other approved PD uses.

Richard explained to the Board that he had received a quote to replace their old Tasers through a five year lease to own program. They would pay for two Tasers up front and get the third for free. The first payment will be $2,538.80 and over the next four years the payments will be $370 each year. At the end of the program in 2018 the company will give the PD two new Tasers.

M/M/S-Tim /Tom to grant moving the $5,853 to an Asset Forfeiture Reserve Account and to allow the PD to purchase/lease the Tasers as described.

Designation of Sewer Funds-Highland Paving and LF WWTF O & M Charges: Shiloh LaFreniere explained that she and Lisa Bryant had spoken with MMA Legal and the Town’s auditors regarding this issue. They were advised that, if money was raised in the 13/14 budget for a project that was not completed, that money could be “designated” by the Board and carried forward to the next year for the same purpose. Mark Holt stated that at the end of the 13/14 year there was a difference in what Livermore Falls Waste Water Treatment Facility billed Jay and what Jay had paid - $5,540.75. The two Towns are currently working together on the issue and believe that there will be a resolution that is good with both Boards. Mark requested that the Board designate $5,540.75 to pay LF if it is determined that Jay owes the full amount. Mark also requested that the Board designate $9,500 for Highland Road paving that will be done in the fall. (*See Attachments)

M/M/S-Justin/Tom to carry forward $5,540.75 from the fiscal year 2013/2014 budget for the money that may be owed to Livermore Falls WWTF 5-0-0 vote.

M/M/S-Pearl/Tom to carry forward $9,500 from the Sewer Department’s fiscal year 2013/2014 budget for the Highland paving 5-0-0 vote.

E911 Road Name Assignment-Jake’s Lane: Shiloh LaFreniere stated that there was recently a 911 call to a home located on a driveway/road off from the Warren Hill Road. Police/ambulance had trouble locating the home because it is the 2 nd house on what looks like a driveway to one home. The E911 Ordinance requires the Town to name a road if there are 2 homes on it. John Johnson spoke with the property owners and they would like the road to be named “Jake’s Lane”. M/M/S-Justin/Tom to accept the E911 road name of Jake’s Lane for the road off the Warren Hill Road 5-0-0 vote.

Street Light Committee Final List Approval: See Attachment* Shiloh LaFreniere provided the Board with a master inventory list that the Street Light Committee had been working with to determine what lights would be removed. Justin Merrill stated that around 133 lights are up for removal on the list, some of these are being taken over by individuals who will pay for them. Tim DeMillo thanked the Street Light Committee for doing a great job on this. M/M/S-Tim/Tom to accept the Street Light removal as listed by the Committee with the exception that there may be changes based on CMP information 5-0-0 vote.

Ballot for Election of MMA’s Legislative Policy Committee, Vice President and Executive Committees Members: M/M/S-Justin/Tom to nominate Richard Davis (Manager of Town of Farmington) and Gregory Gill (Manager of Town of Belgrade) to MMA Legislative Policy Committee for a 3 year term 5-0-0 vote. M/MS-Justin/Tom to nominate Stephen Bunker for MMA Vice President 1 year term and nominate Cynthia Mehnert, Laurie Smith and Patricia Sutherland for MMA Executive Committee Members 3 year terms 5-0-0 vote.

Other Business: No Discussion

Executive Session: M/M/S-Justin/Tom to go into Executive Session at 6:45 P.M. under MRSA Title 1 Chapter 13 Section 405, Subsection 6 for the purpose of discussing PD Union Negotiations. Declared out of Executed Session at 7:22 P.M. No action taken. M/M/S-Justin/Tom to adjourn the meeting at 7:23 P.M. 5-0-0 vote.

Respectfully submitted by

Lori Simpson/Deputy Town Clerk