Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
June 3, 2009
Members Present: Libby Mitchell and Lauchlin Titus
Members Absent: Rob Browne
Others Present: Mary Sabins, approximately six or eight Erskine Academy students, David Jenney (attended briefly but left the meeting before it began), Phil Haines, Mary Grow, and a news reporter named Will.
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 L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the 5/20/09 meeting as written.
3. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #70 and #71.
4. Reports - a. Status report – Sabins reviewed the items on the report to update the Board on the developments of ongoing issues. b. Road report – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to accept the road report as presented. c. Police report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to accept the police report as presented.
5. New Business:
a. Paul Mitnik to discuss conditions of Francis Joseph’s auto graveyard permit – This item was passed over as there was no need for discussion at this time.
b. Sign Quitclaim deed for Reliance Enterprises, Inc. – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to sign the quitclaim deed.
c. Discuss General Fund Certificate of Deposit (CD) investment proposal – Sabins explained she needed the Board’s approval to reinvest the town’s surplus funds into a CD to maximize the interest income for the town. The current CD will mature at the end of July. The new interest rates will not be as high as the current CD, but better than the current rates on the checking account which is where the funds would go if not invested in a CD. Sabins stated that she would also like permission to invest the surplus funds from the checking account to get more interest income. The funds can still be accessed without penalty if they are needed and they will be insured. After discussion and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to authorize Treasurer Mary Sabins to investigate the best rates for a CD and to invest the surplus funds; and also to reduce the excess funds in the Town’s checking account and invest the funds into a certificate of deposit.
d. Discuss July and August Selectmen’s meeting dates – The Board set July 15th and August 12th as the two summer meeting dates.
6. Other – a. L. Mitchell expressed concern that Olin Charrette’s fence around his auto junkyard has fallen down and needs to be erected again. She requested that CEO Paul Mitnik be asked to come to the next Board meeting to discuss the matter. b. L. Titus stated that a woman in the community had recently placed flowers near the tent in the field off Rt. #201 where she thought a man had passed away during the winter. The man actually received shelter assistance from an agency in Waterville. c. The news reporter in the audience questioned if the owner of the topless coffee shop business on Route #3 that burned last night has now lost his grandfather status rights if the proposed Adult-only Businesses Ordinance passes at town meeting next week. L. Mitchell stated she didn’t know the answer to the question.
7. Executive session – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the board voted unanimously at 7:40 p.m. to enter into an executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA, Section 405, subsection 6(A) discuss a personnel matter (Town Manager’s evaluation). The Board returned to open session at 8:24 p.m. On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to renew the Town Manager’s contract for two years. All parties agreed that the details of the new contract can be worked out and signed at a future meeting.
8. Other (revisited) – After discussion concerning the retirement plan benefits currently offered to the town employees, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by L. Mitchell, the Board voted unanimously to amend our Defined Contribution 401(a) Plan effective July 1, 2009 to reduce the employer rate to 0% for employees who participate in the MainePERS defined benefit (DB) plan, and to contribute 2.8% for those who do not participate in the DB plan.
9. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.
/mss
These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 6/18/09 with the following amendments: None.