Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
November 10, 2011

Members Present: Lauchlin Titus and Phil Haines

Members absent: Robert Browne

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, Russell Ibbitson, George Hamar and children, and Gene Field (8:20).

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 P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the 10/27/11 meeting as written.

3. Carpet bid – Sabins distributed a summary of the five bids received, and laid out the accompanying carpet sample books for each type of carpet that was bid and met the bid specifications. After discussion, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to accept the recommendation of the staff to award the bid to Maroon Flooring in the amount of $8,960 for the Shaw Perfect Solutions 28 product.

4. Employee handbook review – The Selectmen reviewed the attorney’s comments on the proposed handbook page-by-page. Most of the attorney’s proposed changes to the policy were accepted as appropriate. After review, it was agreed that Sabins will bring back the final corrected handbook, ready for adoption, at the November 22nd meeting.

5. Recycle week update – While Transfer Station Manager George Hamar was in attendance at the meeting, the group took the opportunity to hear from George about the plans he had made to observe Recycle Week with an open house at the new Recycling Building on November 12th. An update was also provided to the Board about the progress on the construction of the new Recycling Building and drilled well installation.

6. Tax acquired property – After brief discussion, the Board authorized Sabins to call a known used mobile home vendor in Benton to see if he is interested in obtaining the tax acquired mobile home on Cushnoc Road that is in poor condition. Once the trailer is gone, the Board would likely attempt a tax sale on the land.

7. Renewal of Treasurer’s Disbursement Policy – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to renew the annual Policy on Treasurer’s Disbursement Warrants for Employee Wages and Benefits that allows one Selectman to authorize a payroll warrant.

8. Budget timeline – A draft of the meeting schedule and budget timeline for the 2012-13 budget preparation was reviewed and briefly discussed.

9. Municipal Review Committee ballot – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to cast the Town’s ballot for Fairfield Town Manager Josh Reny.

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

11. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #21 and #22.

12. Other – 1. Sabins informed the Board that the office had experienced some computer issues during the workday today. Hopefully, the TRIO software vendor will provide a cure to the problem on Monday morning after the holiday. 2. Chairman Haines exclaimed that the Vassalboro Fire Department and Delta Ambulance service provided phenomenal response and rescue time, and care for him, after a recent fall accident in the woods. 3. Public Works Director Gene Field asked the Board to consider providing full health insurance benefits for him and his family. Formerly, Gene and his family received insurance benefits through his wife’s employment, but that option is no longer available. For a number of years Gene has been receiving an insurance buy-out from the town at 100% of the employee (not family) premium rate. Gene stated that until the new personnel handbook is adopted, we are presumably operating under the old personnel policy, and he asked the Board to honor that old policy. The old policy with a most recent revision date of 1992 states that the town will provide a group health insurance plan for employees and his/her family to those employees hired prior to July 1, 1990. Chairman Haines stated that the town has not paid family coverage for any employee for a long time, and that the town has a right to make changes in policy. Selectman Titus stated that the policy was right at the time when it was written in 1992 when insurance premiums were less expensive, but it is not right at this time. Gene countered that many years ago, former Town Manager Gary Brown promised Gene he could obtain family health insurance coverage when and if needed, if he chose to take the insurance buy-out option offered back then and receive coverage under his wife’s employer’s insurance policy. Instead of making a decision about this tonight, the Selectmen agreed to add this item to the next meeting agenda on November 22nd when Selectman Rob Browne would be present for a full Board discussion.

13. Taxes owed on Quick Stop Property – The Board returned to agenda item number 4 that was passed over while awaiting Ray Breton’s arrival. Mr. Breton did not attend the meeting. It was presumed he was tied up on a construction job site. Briefly, Selectman Titus stated that he would support an abatement of all outstanding real estate taxes on this account except the current year, and would support asking Mr. Breton to pay the legal expenses the town had incurred on this matter, if Mr. Breton is successful in obtaining ownership of the Quick Stop property. Selectman Haines agreed with this comment, but no formal action was taken by the Board. The matter will be discussed again at a future meeting.

14. 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 11/22/11 with the following amendments: None.