Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
January 5, 2012

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

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, Mike Farrell, and Chuck O’Neal.

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Haines 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 12/22/11 meeting as written.

3. Disbursement policy – With no discussion, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to renew the Policy on Treasurer’s Disbursement Warrants for Education Related Expenses. This annual policy allows the Superintendent and the School Finance Committee to approve school expense warrants without Selectmen’s approval.

4. Unpaid 2009 tax liens – The Board reviewed the list of unpaid 2009 property taxes that will soon be eligible for the tax lien foreclosure process, which is initiated by the sending of the 30-45 day automatic foreclosure notices. The Board reviews the list of properties annually to determine if there are properties on the list that the town does not want to obtain through the foreclosure process. After review, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to instruct to the Town Treasurer not to commence the foreclosure process on account #1437 the Carl’s Quick Stop property located at 951 Main Street. Without formal vote action, the Board also instructed the Treasurer not to send the foreclosure notice on the Tree Free Fiber property located on Quarry Lane off Rt. #201, which has been tradition for a number of years. Coyote Ridge residents Mike Farrell and Chuck O’Neal were present at the meeting with an interest in hearing the discussion on the possible foreclosure process on the nine lots owned by JKP Properties in the Coyote Ridge Subdivision off Rt. #201. Mike Farrell proposed to the Selectmen that if they foreclose on the property, Mike and Chuck would like to buy the nine lots from the Town for a dollar each, which they would join with their existing lots and agree to keep wooded. They would agree to form a road committee and maintain the road themselves as a private road without town assistance, and never ask the Town to accept the road as a town road. Mike and Chuck also requested that the town provide to them a waiver or consent agreement to allow the substandard subdivision road to remain in its present location, and to allow the present subdivision landowners who have not yet built to build, thereby generating future tax revenue for the Town. They also requested an abatement of all unpaid back taxes, interest, and costs on the nine lots. Mike and Chuck stated if the Selectmen were to give preliminary approval to this arrangement, they would go to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) tomorrow morning to seek relief from them for any pending violations. After discussion and consideration, the Board agreed that Mike and Chuck’s proposal would provide an end to the long history of problems on this substandard subdivision road that has been the subject of a court battle with the now insolvent subdivision developer. The Selectmen advised the Treasurer to hold off a few days on sending the foreclosure notices on these nine lots to give Mike and Chuck time to visit with the DEP, and for Sabins to contact the town attorney for his opinion on this proposal. This item may be discussed again on the next Board meeting agenda. The Selectmen then gave approval to send the foreclosure notices on all other unpaid 2009 tax accounts on the list.

5. Reports – a. Status Report – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. b. Road Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. c. Police Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented.

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

7. Other – 1. Sabins provided an update to the Board about an enforcement inspection from the Bureau of Labor (BOL) that occurred during her vacation after Christmas. A report with any noted operating deficiencies will be forthcoming from the BOL and we will need to make provisions to provide remedies to any deficiencies found. 2. Receipt of the MMA Risk Pool Property & Casualty Annual Financial Report was noted. No action taken. 3. The Board agreed to set time on their January 19th agenda to hear employees’ concerns and requests for increased wages in the next fiscal year budget.

8. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on January 19, 2012 with the following amendments: None.