TOWN OF STETSON

SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES

12/06/04 @ 6:00PM

 

 I. OPEN MEETING

 

            A. OPEN SESSION

            B. ROLL CALL Present: Mr. Carroll, Mr. Hipsky, Mr. White and Mrs. Ham

Guests:     None

C. MINUTES OF THE MEETING 11/16/04 were viewed and approved by                   the Board.

            D. BOARD OF ASSESSORS

1.    At a special town meeting, 11/22/04, it was voted to transfer $10,000 from the undesignated fund to the assessing account for the purpose of a revaluation.  Mr. Carroll stated that this money needs to be spent this fiscal year because it’s not a carry over account.

2.  Ms. Terry Moore has volunteered to help with the revaluation process, the Board acknowledged.  Mr. Carroll stated that anyone can volunteer as long as there with an assessor or the assessing agent.

3.  Ms. Thompson didn’t work Monday, 12/6/04, Mr. Carroll told the board that nothing was pressing and they would bank the hours, the Board acknowledged.

            E. QUIT CLAIM DEEDS

            F. EXPENDITURES WARRANT invoices were viewed and approved by the Board.  The Board had one question regarding a check to Cove Brook; Mr. Carroll wants to hold the check until he questions the Fire Department.

 

II. OLD BUSINESS

 

A.     There has been some activity on the 911 House Numbering Project that Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department is doing, the Board acknowledged.

B.     All of the Board members have read the notice from the State of Maine regarding the election compliance.  The Board agreed they are currently working on these issues.  The door knobs have been replaced and handicap toilets are being installed.

C.    Minutes from the special town meeting, 11/2/04, where acknowledged by the Board.

D.    A thank you letter was sent to Penobscot County Jail for the roadside clean-up, the Board acknowledged.

E.     Mr. Carroll gave an update to the Board regarding the property that belonged to the Heirs of Mary Craig.  The attorney representing the Heirs of Mary Craig sent several checks in the amount of $6,000 to the town requesting to purchase the property back.  Mr. Carroll took the checks to Mr. Russell and he forwarded the checks back with a letter stating that the Board had declined the offer to sell the property back.

F.     The Board discussed again the town office getting an answering machine that states the hours the office is open.  Mr. Carroll wasn’t in favor of this idea; but Mr. Hipsky and Mr. White agreed it was good business practice to have an answering machine.  Mr. Hipsky and Mr. White also thought it would be nice to have the answering machine set up before the holidays stating the days the office would be closed.

G.    The office will be closed Friday, 12/17/04, for Motor Vehicle Training in Augusta, the Board acknowledged.

 

III. NEW BUSINESS

 

A.      The 2004FY Audit and a letter suggesting the duties at the town office be more segregated.  Mr. Carroll stated that Mrs. Biggar and Mrs. Ham have made arrangements to separate duties more at the office, the Board acknowledged.

B.     Mr. Briggs, Local Sealer of Weights and Measures, gave an update on the 4 pumps that were tested in Stetson, the Board acknowledged.

C.    US Trust Statement was acknowledged by the Board.

D.    Mr. Carroll will fill out a municipal survey for the participation in the Penobscot County Hazard Mitigation Plan, the Board acknowledged.

E.     State of Maine is offering a grant program to support communities in developing joint ventures to deliver services.  Mr. Carroll stated that the purposed meeting in February with all the surrounding towns would be a start to this program.

F.     Mr. Hipsky suggested forming a committee for the new town office building.  Mr. Carroll thought it was too premature, he was thinking about waiting until the annual town meeting to appropriate money for an engineer.  Mr. Hipsky agreed with Mr. Carroll and explained he wanted to form the committee and meet a couple of times before the town meeting.  The Board agreed to table this issue until the first of January.

G.    PC Solutions came to repair the main computer on Wednesday, 12/1/04, they also came Monday, 12/6/04, for a different problem.  The computers are currently all running fine, the Board acknowledged.

H.     General Assistance State Amendment Ordinance for Housing should be available for the next meeting, the Board acknowledged.

I.         The inmates at Penobscot County Jail are scheduled to work for the town May 9, - 12, 2005 and October 11, - 14, 2005.  Mr. Carroll stated that the first week they will be at the cemeteries.  Mr. Hipsky suggested clearing brush along the roads during the second week and hiring someone to chip the brush.  The Board will gather more information about different options that could be considered for this project that needs to be done.

 

J.      Mr. Carroll reported that all accounts look good for the month of November, the Board acknowledged.

K.     A resident asked if the Board would agree to allow them to receive cable from the adjoining town.  Mr. Carroll had this question before and told the resident no, the town could not make exceptions.  The cable company needed to do the whole town or none at all, Mr. Hipsky disagreed.  Mr. White agreed with Mr. Carroll.  Mr. Carroll will check with local cable companies and see if they would come to our town, the Board acknowledged.

 

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

            A. ANIMAL CONTROL

1. Rabies Clinic Saturday, 12/11/04 from 10AM – 11AM, the Board acknowledged.

2.  The Board acknowledged the ongoing complaint with the dogs at Mr. Fickett’s.  The Board also agreed that if a resident skips a year licensing their dog(s), the town can charge them for that year.

            B. APPEALS BOARD

            C. CEMETERY

D. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

1.  Mr. Hipsky followed up with Mr. Mullis regarding the list of possible junkyards that the Board became aware of during assessing.  Mr. Mullis told Mr. Hipsky that he did inspect all the properties and sent letters to the residents that he felt where out of compliance.

E. EDUCATION

1.  November 22, 2004 agenda and minutes where acknowledged by the Board.

F. FIRE DEPARTMENT

G. HISTORICAL SOCIETY

1.  Mr. Hipsky suggested having the Historical Society take over / move into the Meetinghouse.  Mr. White thought it would be an ideal location.  Mr. Carroll stated that the town still used the building for meeting and elections; Mr. Hipsky thought they could us the upstairs and part of the first floor.  Mr. Hipsky will ask Mr. Leighton if this is anything the Historical Society would like to have as a place for their belongings they are acquiring.

            H. MEETINGHOUSE

1.  The plumber hasn’t installed/repaired the fixtures at the Meetinghouse.

2.  Mrs. Biggar and Mrs. Ham have a key to the back door, the Board acknowledged.

            I. PARK & RECREATION

 

 

            J. PLANNING BOARD

1.  Mr. Hipsky reported that the Planning Board and two members of the Appeals Board attended the workshop that was offered with Mr. Dean Bennett on Thursday, 12,2,04.  Mr. Hipsky reported that the workshop was very productive; the members had a lot of questions that were answered.  Mr. Bennett did suggest leaving the sub division regulations as is.

2.  Mr. Buchstaber gave his resignation, the Board acknowledged.

3.  Mr. Carroll stated that the first of the year the Board needs to work on getting the Land Use passed, the Board acknowledged.

            K. PLUMBING INSPECTOR

            L. RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE COLLECTION

1.  Mr. Carroll reported that the solid waste/recycling summary sent by the State indicated that the town has increased it’s recycling to 33.5%, the Board acknowledged.

2.  Solid Waste / Recycling meeting Wednesday, 12/8/04 at the Library Conference room.

            M. ROAD COMMISSIONER

                        1.  2005 MDOT Community Gateways Grant Competition was acknowledged by the Board.

                        2.  The Board discussed in the length the problems that are being brought to the Selectmen’s attention about the culverts and the quality of the roads.  The Board agreed that Mr. Merrill needs to fix/repair the culverts extending them and adding rip rap to hold the shoulder pack.  Mr. Hipsky is going to talk with Mr. Merrill and ask that the culverts be repaired or the Board will need to hire someone else to do the work. 

                        3.  Mr. Webber stated that the turn around, for the plow truck, on the Merrill Road has been blocked off with trees.  Mr. Carroll is going to speak with Mr. Leslie Merrill and ask that the trees be moved back so the plow truck can continue to turn around there.

            N. TREASURER

            O. WELFARE DIRECTOR

            P. STATE LEGISLATIVE CORRESPONDENCE

 

V. CORRESPONDENCE was acknowledged by the Board.

VI. TRAINING

 

Minutes are not verbatim but summarized and recorded by: Dennell K. Ham

Approved by:            

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Dated: _____________________