Members Present: Lauchlin Titus, Phil Haines, and Rob Browne (7:35 p.m.)
Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, Al Roy, Dick Phippen, Ray Breton, Chuck Applebee, Richard Green, Gene Field, Randy McKeil, and David Allen (7:45 p.m.)
1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Haines at 7:01 p.m.
2. Minutes – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by P. Haines, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the 8/13/15 meeting as written.
3. Public Hearing on TIF Program Fund issuance – Chairman Haines declared the public hearing open at 7:02 p.m. The Vassalboro Sanitary District (VSD) has submitted an application for $60,000 in funding from the TIF Program Fund. VSD Operator Chuck Applebee gave an explanation for the need for the grant money and he provided an update on the progress the VSD Trustees are making toward their plan to install a sewer main along Rt. #32 (Main Street), which will connect and combine with the Town of Winslow’s sewer district, which will then be pumped to the Kennebec Sanitary Treatment District in Waterville. This VSD sewer main project is projected to cost $5.5 million dollars, and this grant money will be combined with other funding sources to complete the project in 2017 (projected). VSD Chairman Ray Breton confirmed that a separate bank account has been established at the bank to deposit project grant funds, so the money does not get combined and confused with their operating funds. After discussion, the public hearing was declared closed at 7:15 p.m. by Chairman Haines. A motion was then made by L. Titus to approve the request for $60,000 in funding for the Sanitary District sewer main project from the TIF project fund. Chairman Haines seconded the motion, and it was voted unanimously by the Board.
4. Shoreland Zone revisions (revisited) – The Board reviewed and discussed the solicited written comments made by the Code Officer Dick Dolby concerning increasing the expansion allowance from 15% to 30%. Resident and Building Contractor Ray Breton was again present for this discussion as he brought this issue to the Selectmen’s attention at the last Board meeting and requested a change in the ordinance. Ray indicated that since the last meeting, he took one of our Planning Board members to one of his shoreland zone job sites in the Town of China to view the expansion work being done there with a 30% expansion rule (excluding the foundation). After discussion and by consensus, the Select Board agreed to have Sabins draft a letter to the Planning Board members to ask them to look at changes to the Shoreland Zone ordinance to allow a 30% increase, excluding foundations. The letter should be available for the Select Board to sign at their September 24th Board meeting.
5. Paving funds – Road Commissioner Gene Field requested permission to use the proposed sidewalk paving funds toward other roads (i.e.: Maple Street, Lang Street, South Court, and the horseshoe) that need paving as far as the money will go. The MDOT plans to replace the North Village sidewalks in a 2017 road reconstruction project. After discussion, Selectman Titus moved approval of Gene’s proposal to spend the planned sidewalk paving funds on his proposed paving projects. The motion was seconded by P. Haines, and voted unanimously by the Board.
Selectman Rob Browne arrived at this time (7:35 p.m.)
6. Recognition Event (taken out of agenda order) – Sabins provided an update to the Board on the plans she has made for the volunteer/employee recognition event that is scheduled for Sunday, September 13th at noon at the school.
7. Speed limits – Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) Traffic Engineer David Allen explained to the Board how road speed studies are done, and how limits are determined and set by MDOT. MDOT is responsible for setting all road speed limits, whether town roads or state roads. Driver’s speeds as measured by radar on the roads are a determining factor for the speed limit for that road, as well as accident data, among other factors. David indicated that speed limits that are too low can also contribute to accidents. He stated he has received complaints from several drivers about speed limits that appear too low on several roads in town. A written request from the Select Board to MDOT is required before a speed study can be undertaken by MDOT. After lengthy discussion, the Selectmen decided to put this item on their next meeting agenda and to have Road Commissioner Gene Field and Officer Dick Phippen make a list of recommended roads for the speed study.
8. MMA Voting Delegate – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to appoint Mary Sabins as their voting delegate at the Maine Municipal Association (MMA) Annual Business Meeting at the MMA Convention on October 6, 2015.
9. Other – 1. Resident Al Roy asked why tires are leaving the town transfer station in a private vehicle. Sabins stated she will look into it.
10. Reports – a. Road Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. b. First Responders’ Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented. c. Police Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented.
11. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #14, #15, and #16.
12. Other (revisited) – 1. The Board acknowledge receipt of a thank you note from Hospice Volunteers. 2. L. Titus expressed concern for public safety and traffic concerns during the upcoming Vassalboro Days evening concert and asked Sabins to call the State Police to alert them of the weekend activities and plans.
13. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
/mss
These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 9/24/15 with the following amendments: None.