Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
November 8, 2012

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

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, and John & Philip Wentzell

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Browne at 6:58 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 10/25/12 meeting as written.

3. Tax Acquired Property (taken out of agenda order) – Sabins explained that she had sent a letter to the abutters of the land locked tax-acquired property seeking to determine the abutters’ level of interest in obtaining the land. Of the four notices sent, Sabins had received communication from two abutters that they were interested in obtaining the property from the town. After discussion, P. Haines made a motion to conduct a bid process between the two interested abutters, with a minimum bid of $500. This motion was seconded by L. Titus, but upon further discussion about attorney fees already incurred and taxes already written off on this parcel, the Board questioned if a $500 minimum bid was enough to cover our costs. Mr. Wentzell asked if a sealed bid process was necessary and if an auction process could be used instead. The Board briefly discussed this idea, but decided to continue with the sealed bid process. P. Haines then amended his original motion to a minimum bid of $800 and added that the bid must contain a deposit equal to 10% of the bid price, and the bid is due by Wednesday, December 5th at 4:00 p.m. The motion was seconded by L. Titus, and voted unanimously by the Board.

4. Mailbox policy – With little discussion, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines the Board voted unanimously to adopt the policy entitled “Mailbox Policy for Vassalboro Roads and State-Aid Highways Maintained by Vassalboro Public Works”. The adoption of this policy was requested by Public Works Director Gene Field to assist residents in the proper location for their mailbox to avoid damage to the plow trucks and the mailbox during the winter maintenance season.

5. Treasurer’s disbursement policy for employee wages – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to renew the annual Policy on Treasurer’s Disbursement Warrants for Employee Wages and Benefits. This policy allows one Selectman’s signature rather than a majority of the Selectmen’s signatures to approve the payroll warrant. This policy is necessary to meet deadlines for direct deposit transfers.

6. Appeals Board appointment – P. Haines reported that he had asked Don Breton if he would be willing to serve on the Appeals Board; Don said no. R. Browne reported that he had asked Bill Browne if he would be willing to serve; Bill state he would only if no one else would accept the appointment. L. Titus reported that he had asked Gary Coull to serve and Gary agreed to accept the appointment. On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted to appoint Gary Coull to the Appeals Board. The expiration of this appointment is June 30, 2014.

7. Municipal Review Committee ballot – After brief discussion about the candidates running for office and their qualifications, and on a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to cast a ballot for Neil Farrington of China.

8. Town Office Maintenance – After discussion, and on a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to approve the proposal of Advance 1 Cleaning Services to strip the tile floors in the town office and apply three coats of wax for $599.40. The Board also approved the purchase of new absorbent floor mats and the pumping of the septic tank.

9. Budget timeline – Sabins distributed the proposed meeting schedule for the upcoming 2013-14 budget season. On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board set Monday, June 10, 2013 as the annual Town Meeting date, and Tuesday, June 11, 2013 for the municipal election. Nomination papers will be available on Monday, March 18, 2013, and the filing deadline for nomination papers will be Friday, April 26th, 2013.

10. 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 P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented.

11. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #34 and #35.

12. Other – 1. Sabins brought to the Board’s attention that there are five acres of land beside the old town landfill for sale. She wondered if the Board had any interest in pursuing purchase of the land at next year’s town meeting for future transfer station expansion and to create a landfill area for glass. The Board expressed an interest in exploring it further and asked that Gene Field and George Hamar explore the property with the owner’s permission to identify a site for a glass landfill. 2. On a motion made by P. Haines, seconded by L. Titus, the Board voted unanimously to sign an uncollectible 2009 personal property abatement for Ink Blot Printing which has gone out of business. 3. At the request of the Recreation Director Nikki Wasilewski, the Board discussed possibly removing the two CMP lights at the recreation fields area. The Board members expressed concern about safety and vandalism if the lights are removed. Sabins stated that Nikki was concerned about the $100+ cost per month to run the lights year round. L. Titus suggested that the light on the road could be charged to the town streetlight account, and the snack shack light could continue to be charged to the recreation department. 4. Sabins informed the Board that at our next meeting, a representative from Time Warner Cable will come to talk with the Board about franchise renewal. 5. L. Titus commented that the Conservation Commission has expressed an interest in reviewing the list of tax acquired properties each year prior to the Board making a decision on disposal of the property. Brief discussion was also given about the Tree Free Fiber property that has been abandoned on Quarry Lane.

13. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:12 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 11/21/12 with the following amendments: None.