Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
June 6, 2013

Members Present: Lauchlin Titus and Phil Haines
Members Absent: Rob Browne
Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, new Morning Sentinel reporter Jesse Scardina, Darrell Gagnon, Teague Adams, Earl Vannah, and George Hamar with daughter Sierra.

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Selectman Haines at 7:03 p.m. in the planned absence of Chairman Rob Browne.

2. Minutes – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the 5/22/13 meeting as written.

3. Earl Vannah stated that he wanted to know what is being done about the lack of mowing in the cemeteries. He stated they were not done for Memorial Day or Mother’s Day and grass was a foot tall at the last mowing on Hannaford Hill. Transfer Station Manager George Hamar stated that the Transfer Station has only been mowed once this year. The grass is really tall now, and he has not seen the lawn look worse in the seven years he has worked at the transfer station. Mowing Contractor Teague Adams stated that the rainy weather has slowed his crew down and he is hesitant to mow wet fields for fear they might damage them with heavy mowing equipment. Teague is also concerned about mowing at the transfer station when it is open to the public for fear of injuring someone with flying rocks from the mower. When Sabins asked if he had seen the condition of the transfer station, Teague stated he had not been to the site. Sabins encouraged him to go to view the problem. Earl suggested that the Selectmen consider reducing the contract payment amounts if not all required mowings are received. The Selectmen stated that the manager would deal with the problems of the mowing contractor as she has done in the past.

4. Propane bid – After review of a spreadsheet containing a summary of the five propane bids received, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to award the propane bid to the lowest fixed price bidder Augusta Fuel Company for $1.68 per gallon.

5. Grave digger permit applications – After brief discussion and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Glendon Stevens and David Ackers of Cemetery Street in Vassalboro as permitted grave diggers for the Town of Vassalboro. Chairman Browne will sign the permit application forms as required at the next meeting or sooner when he is available.

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

7. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #77 and #78.

8. Other – 1. L. Titus stated that after review of the adopted Procurement Policy now on the file, he would like to see the Fire Department Truck Committee write a set of bid specifications and conduct a formal sealed bid process for the new tanker truck if the article is approved at town meeting, rather than an informal bid process via telephone as has been conducted recently by some fire department members. P. Haines concurred. Sabins will notify the fire department officers.

9. Executive session – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously at 7:50 p.m. to enter into an executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA, Section 405, Subsection 6(A) to discuss a personnel matter. The Board returned to open session at 8:30 p.m.

10. Town Manager’s contract – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to renew Town Manager Mary Sabins’ contract for an additional two years with minor changes to reflect vacation accrual rates and days, and salary rate changes as reflected in the contract.

11. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 6/20/13 with the following amendments: None.