Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
March 3, 2011

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

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, David Jenney, and Erskine Student Patrick Meunier.

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Titus at 7:00 p.m.

2. Minutes – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the 2/17/11 meeting as written.

3. New Business – a. Energy bids – David Jenney was the only Energy Committee Member present at the meeting and he did not have the recommendations of the other Committee Members for the award of the energy bids. In light of that fact, and on a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Selectmen voted unanimously to postpone any action on this item until the next meeting. Brief discussion was given about the need to pay the contractors up front and wait for grant reimbursement. b. Budget recommendations – The Board reviewed the Town Manager’s proposed budget and made their own recommendations that will also appear on the budget spreadsheet that will be distributed to the Budget Committee Members for discussion the following week. c. Investment Policy – The Board recapped the discussion from the last meeting concerning this item for Selectman Browne, who was absent from the last meeting. After that recap, the Board reviewed two drafts of the proposed policy. One policy draft included the use of an investment committee and an investment firm; the other draft gave authority for the Selectmen and the town treasurer with the advice of an investment firm to make investment decisions. After discussion, the Board members felt the policy without the use of an investment committee would be less cumbersome. Selectman Browne requested that action on this item not be taken this evening as he needed to review the policy with one of his constituents that had raised questions about the matter. The other Board members agreed to plan to take up the matter again at the next meeting. d. Mowing bid specifications – R. Browne requested changes to the specifications concerning the mowing of the recreation playing fields. He requested that language be inserted that the grass on the playing fields should be no longer than 2 1/2” and that mowing on all fields should be completed on Monday and Thursday by 2:30 p.m. A motion was then made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne to accept the mowing bid specifications as amended by R. Browne, which was voted unanimously. e. CMP pole permits – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to sign the pole permits as requested by CMP. f. Animal Control Ordinance – Sabins stated that she had provided a draft copy of this ordinance to the Animal Control Officer and he would like the draft amended to include cats as well as dogs. In light of the late hour, and the depth of discussion that this item may require, the Board voted unanimously on a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, to postpone action on this item until the next meeting.

4. Reports – a. Status report – Sabins provided additional information from the town attorney concerning the Leo Barnett pending litigation case, which will require an executive session at the end of the meeting. On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the status report pending the decision at the end of the meeting. b. Road report – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the road report as written. c. Police report - On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the police report as written.

5. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #49 and #50.

6. Other – a. A notice from Kennebec County was read concerning the March 15th caucus that will be held at the Windsor Town Office to elect a District One County Budget Committee Member. b. Sabins provided an update on the China Lake Dam repair project. The Town of China has provided a contribution of $1,500 toward the dam gate repair project, plus the promise to provide assistance with the labor to complete the project. The Kennebec Water District (KWD) will spearhead the operation with labor, engineering services, and a monetary contribution; and the Town of Vassalboro will provide manual labor and funds toward the project. The materials will be ordered by KWD soon and the repairs will begin as soon as possible after the materials arrive. The Vassalboro Business Association has also offered to put on a public supper fundraiser to help support the project and will match the supper proceeds up to $1,000.

7. Executive session – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously at 9:15 p.m. to enter into an executive session to discuss a legal matter. The Board returned to open session at 9:33 p.m. A motion was made by P. Haines, seconded by R. Browne, and voted unanimously by the Board to agree with the recommendations of the town attorney, and to have the town prevail on item #8, and to accept the payment terms as provided in the proposed schedule.

8. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 3/17/11 with the following amendments: None.