Vassalboro Select Board
Minutes of the Meeting
September 25, 2014

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

Others Present: Mary Sabins, Mary Grow, State Senator Roger Katz

1. Call to order – The meeting was called to order by Chairman Haines at 7:03 p.m.

2. Minutes – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the 9/11/14 meeting as written.

3. Discussion with Senator Roger Katz – Senator Katz asked the Board if there are any concerns or issues the Board would like him to take back to Augusta, if he is reelected in November. Chairman Haines stated that lack of state funding to the municipalities is an issue. Phil stated the tax cut should not have been funded with municipal revenue sharing funds. Senator Katz responded that an increase in the homestead allowance is a possibility to increase funding back to towns. Other topics of general discussion included the laws on the medical marijuana program, fireworks and tannerite ordinances, and children leaving Maine after graduating from college. The Board thanked Senator Katz for coming to talk with them, and no formal action was taken by the Board on this agenda item.

4. TIF funding application forms – At the start of the discussion, Sabins distributed a further revised version of the draft forms. The latest version contained revisions suggested by the Town TIF Attorney Shana Mueller. Discussion was given as to whether a limit on the amount of funding that could be applied for should be specified, and the frequency of when the applications could be filed by any one business. During this discussion, L. Titus suggested a maximum lifetime total grant award limit of $150,000, with a three-year wait period between applications for businesses who may apply. The other Board members supported this suggestion, but no formal vote action was taken. Sabins will add these amounts to the language in the draft, and will add a paragraph stating that there will be no limits on the China Lake Cleanup project and sewer project applications. The Board will review the further revised draft of the application form at the next meeting.

5. 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. Financial Report - On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to accept the report as presented.

6. Treasurer’s Warrants – On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to approve warrants #20 and #21.

7. Other – 1. Correspondence from District Attorney Candidate Kevin Sullivan was noted. 2. The Board agreed with advice from First Advisors Investors not to pursue the class action lawsuit against JP Morgan. The projected revenue to be gained from the lawsuit does not outweigh the time investment needed by staff to obtain the stock purchasing information to file a claim. 3. On a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to sign a revised quitclaim deed for Philip and Mary Wentzel for tax acquired property they purchased from the town in 2012 through a bid process. The original deed issued contained last name spelling errors and lacked the words “joint tenancy”. 4. At the request of Ray Breton, and on a motion made by L. Titus, seconded by R. Browne, the Board voted unanimously to waive the transfer station disposal fee for up to 40 tires. This action was taken to assist Mr. Breton with a streamside cleanup project behind the old woolen mill he is undertaking in preparation for the alewife fish passageway project that is scheduled in the near future. 5. L. Titus stated that he had heard on the news today that the Maine DEP plans to issue a denial of the MRC’s application for a landfill permit.

8. Adjourn – There being no further business to discuss, the meeting was adjourned at 8:37 p.m.

/mss

These minutes were read and accepted by the Select Board on 10/9/14 with the following amendments: None.