Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
February 11, 2009
Members Present: Libby Mitchell, Lauchlin Titus, and Rob Browne
Others Present: Mary Sabins, George Gould, Chuck O’Neal, David Jenney, Mary Grow, Holly Weidner, David Jenney, Don Breton, Sarah Luce, Ian McKenna, Marc & Sally Ann Cote, Dave Barden, and several other members of the public not identified.
1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Mitchell at 7:00 p.m.
2. Minutes – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the 1/14/09 meeting as written.
3. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #48 and #49.
4. Reports – a.) Status Report – Sabins reviewed each item on the Status Report. Chairman Mitchell requested that the subject of the Adult Entertainment Ordinance be added to the report for an update at the next meeting. b.) Road Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Road Report. The Board requested that Director Gene Field be asked to attend the next meeting to discuss the paving work to be done this season. c.) Financial Report – After explanation of the report by Sabins and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. d.) Police Report – Selectman Titus questioned the wellbeing of the man living in a tent on Riverside Drive that the Police Chief has been checking on. Sabins will inquire and report back. On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as written.
5.New Business – a.) Conservation Commission Member Holly Weidner presented a mapped plan to create a walking trail on the Town Forest land next to the recreation fields. The trail will be roughly one half to one mile long and eight feet wide, with work to begin in April by volunteer labor and with the use of donated materials. After brief discussion, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed plan. Chairman Mitchell thanked Holly and her fellow Conservation Commission Members for the work they have done to develop the plan. b.) Liquor License renewal for Natanis Golf Course was discussed. Sabins reported that she had called the Department of Public Safety and spoken with Craig McCabe who stated there was no problem renewing Natanis’ license for another year. The applicant requested that the public hearing be waived because Natanis has had a liquor license for more than five years and that is allowable under Title 28-A, section 653-1. On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the license was approved on a vote of two in favor (Titus, Mitchell) and one abstention (Browne) who is the owner of Natanis Golf Course. c.) Automobile Hobbyist permits were signed for the following three applicants that were approved at the last meeting: Dan Toto, Eldred Getchell, and Richard Cain. d.) Coyote Ridge Road update – Sabins provided an update on the Town Attorney’s attempt to foster an agreement with the Financier of the subdivision project to resolve the road issues in the subdivision. The Selectmen rejected the proposal and after discussion with the road residents present at the meeting, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, voted unanimously to instruct Sabins to work with the Town Attorney to force the subdivision owner into compliance with the Town’s Ordinances on the Coyote Ridge Road.
6.Other – 1. Foreclosure property – Sabins distributed a list of unpaid 2006 real estate taxes that will foreclose on March 7, 2009 if they remain unpaid. 2. Union #52 Interlocal Agreement dissolution – Sabins provided an update of the potential agreement being discussed to determine a value of the Superintendent’s Office building and contents, as it will no longer be needed after July 1, 2009 when the new AOS will become effective, so that Winslow can buy out Vassalboro and China’s interest in the joint-owned building located on Winslow-owned land. The School’s Attorney is of the opinion that the School Committee Members of each member town have the authority to finalize the dissolution of the former agreement created by the Selectmen of each member town. Former Selectman Don Breton, one of the signers of the original agreement, read the Town Meeting Warrant article from a 2001 Town Report which gave the Selectmen the authority to enter into the agreement. After discussion, the Selectmen instructed Sabins to write a letter to the Vassalboro School Committee Members stating that the Interlocal Agreement should be dissolved by the Selectmen in the member towns, and that a fair appraisal on the Superintendent’s office building should be conducted to determine the value to be divided among the Union #52 members. 3. L. Titus inquired if it was time to think about arranging for an alewife harvester for the upcoming season. Sabins reported that her predecessor had signed a three-year contract with the harvester from last year prior to leaving office. 4. L. Titus noted that the Fire Department held a successful fishing derby last weekend. 5. L. Mitchell reminded other Board Members to think about possible nominees for the Spirit of America Award this year.
7. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m.
/mss
These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 2/25/09 with the following amendments: None.