Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
December 19, 2013

 

Members Present: Rob Browne, Lauchlin Titus, and Phil Haines

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, Dick Phippen, Gene Field, Dale Doughty, Kevin Reed, Ben Gidney, George Hamar, Rick Denico, Matt Masse, Mike Vashon, Don Breton, Eric Rowe, and Alan Dorval.

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Titus at 7:04 p.m.

2. Minutes – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the 12/5/13 meeting as written.

3. Ben Gidney requested to be placed on the agenda to seek the Board’s support of a waiver of MDOT’s rules to allow for the installation of a guardrail on his property (located at the intersection of the Bog Road and Route #32 in East Vassalboro) within 33 feet of the centerline of any state highway. Mr. Gidney distributed a handout containing an explanation of his request for the letter of support for a waiver, and he shared pictures of the proposed guardrail. Selectman Phil Haines expressed concern about giving permission after-the-fact now that the 8”x8” bases for the guardrail have already been installed too close to the center line; he also expressed concern that the location of the guardrail may interfere with the approved sidewalk grant project that is proposed for the same area, should money become available to install them. When asked by P. Haines for his opinion on the guardrail, Road Commissioner Gene Field stated that the present location of the guardrail posts does not impede the town’s snowplowing effort. MDOT worker and Vassalboro resident Dale Doughty offered that MDOT will likely impose conditions on the installation of the guardrails, if indeed a waiver is granted. After discussion and on a motion made by R. Browne, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to sign the letter prepared by Ben Gidney to apply for the waiver and to send the issue back to MDOT for review.

4. Report of the Capital Expenses Committee – Committee Members Rick Denico, Jr., Matt Masse, Alan Dorval, and Dale Doughty all gave segments of the presentation of the results of the committee’s study on funding for capital expenditures. During the hour-long report, the Committee members gave a power point presentation to support their finding that if the town raised regular substantial funds (approximately equal to $200K - $300K annually) for capital expenses each year at town meeting, the end result will be a stable mil rate and a reserve fund large enough to purchase equipment as needed. Dale Doughty led a winter road de-icing discussion, encouraging the Selectmen to support a salt priority program instead of purchasing sand. He stated that tax dollar savings could be found if the town spread salt instead of sand, and it would eliminate the spring cleanup and ditching that is needed to remove the deposited sand.

5. Funding for fire department equipment and new recruits – Chairman Titus stated that he had requested this item be placed on the agenda to brainstorm with the fire department members about creating an equipment and training reserve for new fire department recruits in the event that new volunteers offer to join the department. Fire Chief Eric Rowe, and Officers Mike Vashon and Don Breton told of recent experiences where the department had welcomed new recruits and offered to buy equipment and send them to training, but the recruits did not stay with the department for any length of time. General discussion was given, but no formal action was taken.

6. Treasurer’s disbursement policy – Without discussion and on a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to renew the policy on Treasurer’s Disbursement Warrants for Education Purposes. This policy authorizes the local AOS #92 district staff to disburse town funds for education purposes from the school checking account when a disbursement warrant has been signed by the AOS #92 School Superintendent and approved by a majority of the school board or by a finance committee appointed or duly elected by the school board.

7. Reports –a. Road Report - On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. b. Financial Report - On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented.

8. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #32 and #33.

9. Other – 1. Sabins explained that Transfer Station Manager George Hamar has located a used compactor for sale for $2,000 that could be used for the zero sort program. On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve the purchase of the compactor. 2. Due to lack of agenda items, the Board agreed by consensus to cancel the January 2nd Selectmen’s meeting. 3. Chairman Titus provided an update to the Board members on the Municipal Review Committee (MRC) meeting that he and Sabins attended in Bangor recently. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a post 2018 PERC agreement for solid waste disposal.

10. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 1/16/14 with the following amendments: None.