TOWN OF STETSON

SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES

03/16/04 @ 3:30PM

 

 I. OPEN MEETING

 

            A. OPEN SESSION

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

Guests:  Mr. and Mrs. Brian Pelkey, Mr. Dave Buchstaber, Mr. Webber, Mr. Kim Tracy and Mr. Dwane Leighton

C. MINUTES OF THE MEETING 02/29/04 were viewed and approved by the Board.

            D. BOARD OF ASSESSORS

1. Ms. Thompson has scheduled the April assessing for April 5, 12, and 26, 2004, the Board acknowledged.  The Board agreed to put a notice in the next Newsletter stating that the Selectmen will be out assessing the first of April.

2. Mr. Carroll and Mr. Brown were out updating measurements and diagrams; they have completed Maps 1 and 2.  Mr. Carroll and Mr. Brown are planning to go back out and do more next week if the weather permits.

            E. QUIT CLAIM DEEDS

1. The Board issued a Municipal Quitclaim Deed without Covenants to Mr. Steve Crosby for paying his outstanding taxes in full to receive the property back.  The property is located at Map 7 Lot 19.11.

            F. EXPENDITURES WARRANT

1. Mr. Hipsky requested holding onto the check for $40.00 made out to MMA for the grant writing training session.  Mr. Hipsky is not sure if he’ll be able to attend because of the date change.

 

II. OLD BUSINESS

 

A.     The municipal lawn care and cemetery bids where acknowledged by the Board.  There where a total of 9 municipal bids and 7 cemetery bids received.  The Selectman reviewed all the contracts and decided not to make a final decision until the next meeting.  The board wants to invite Mr. Ken Crump  (Mountain Man Design) to the next meeting and ask him a few questions and get references before awarding the bid.  The bid forms may have been confusing to read for some bidders, but the bidder should have asked questions first Mr. Carroll stated.

B.     Two cleaning bids where received one for $4,080/yr from Mrs. Billie Jo Pelkey and the other one from Ms. Sherry Cogswell in the amount of $8,400/yr.  The board awarded the bid to Mrs. Pelkey with the stipulation that the town office must have a copy of her insurance policy.  Mrs. Pelkey was present and thanked the Board.  Mrs. Pelkey will begin this service July 1, 2004.  Mr. Brown suggested that Mrs. Pelkey follow Mrs. Ham for a couple of times while she cleaned and see what is expected.

C.    Mr. Carroll received more information from Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department regarding the inmate sign project; towns may order one or two signs at a time as needed.  The board was all in favor of trying this service.

D.    The picture on the cover of the 2004 town report will be the oxen, the Board was all in favor.

E.     The town currently has two foreclosed properties; which are the Tasker property and the Shatto property.  Mr. Shatto sent a check for the 2002 taxes, Mrs. Biggar sent the payment back with an explanation of what needs to be done to receive the property back from the town.

F.     A small concern of enlarging the town office and having the food cupboard store more items upstairs is that the town will need to have a designated area upstairs for all the town office information.   The Board didn’t have a problem with this at all.  We currently have food cupboard items and various committee items stored and don’t have a problem.

G.    Mr. Hipsky reported that the clamp is missing from the post of the Welches Lane sign.  Mr. Carroll will order more clamps from  Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department.

H.     Mrs. Annett stated that the flag pole up to the Fire Station/Library complex needs to be lit up so the American Flag can be up at all times.  Mr. Carroll stated that the library gets a budget of $3,000 and if they want this item they will need to buy it out of their budget.

 

III. NEW BUSINESS

 

A.     Mr. Hipsky had a couple of questions about the 2005FY budget.  The first item was the driveway at the Fire Station/Library Complex needs to be sealed before it gets any worse.  Mr. Brown will ask Exeter Town Office who they used to do their work.  Mr. Carroll stated that this expensive would come out of the maintenance budget.  Mr. Hipsky also wanted to know why the Meeting House was being cut by $4,000.  Mr. Carroll stated that this account will have $4,000 left at the end of the year and it’s a carry over account.

B.     A pole permit for the Wolfboro Road from CMP was acknowledged by the Board.

C.    A Concealed Firearm Permit was acknowledged by the Board.

D.    The Newsletter deadline is Friday, 3/19/04; Mr. Carroll wrote an article regarding the cemeteries and the updates that will be taking place.  Mr. Hipsky is going to call Mrs. Tufts and ask if he can get his article regarding sex offenders added to this issue.  Mrs. Webber submitted an article for the Newsletter regarding her son, Henry Fortin, coming home from Iraq; the board wasn’t in favor of adding this article because they did not want to establish a precedent with personal items.

E.     Mrs. Theresa Gudroe sent a note of appreciation for the flowers the town sent for her mom’s funeral service.

F.     Mr. Hipsky reported that after looking at several grant applications, he doesn’t feel it’s feasible for the town to apply for a grant to repair the stained glass windows at the Meetinghouse.

 

IV. COMMITTEE REPORTS

 

            A. ANIMAL CONTROL

1. Mrs. Stalter sent her new ACO contract along with misc. forms to review.  The board will review the contract and sign it at the next selectmen’s meeting 04/06/04.

            B. APPEALS BOARD

C. CEMETERY

1. Mr. Jim Lawler wishes to purchase lot 106 in Coboro Cemetery.  The board was all in favor of having Mr. Lawler wait to purchase the lot, if not an emergency, until the first of May when the cemetery records will be corrected and updated.

            D. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER

1. Mr. Mullis is qualified as a Local Plumbing Inspector by any municipality in the State of Maine, the Board acknowledged.

2. The State of Maine sent a form that needs to be filled out regarding municipal notice of code enforcement officer appointment.  Mr. Carroll will fill this form out and send it back to the State.

E. EDUCATION

F. FIRE DEPARTMENT

1. Mr. Leighton and Mr. Tracy where present and wanted to ask the Selectmen if they would consider activating the position of the 2nd Assistant Chief.  This would be a salary position receiving $400.00.  Mr. Carroll suggested having a captain/lieutenant.  The Selectmen didn’t agree that the fire department needed a 2nd Assistant Chief, but left the final decision up to Mr. Leighton and Mr. Tracy.  They stated they are looking towards the future and want to be prepared if and when either one of them decide to get done with the fire department.

2. Mr. Hipsky brought up the clearing of the lot for training purposes.   Mr. Leighton told the Board that he plans to hide this training area with a row of trees so it’s not visible from the road.

            G. HISTORICAL SOCIETY

1. The Maine Historic Preservation Commission sent out a capital needs survey for Maine Historic Properties.  Mr. Carroll will fill this survey out and mail it back.

            H. MEETINGHOUSE

1. Mr. Carroll asked the Selectman if they know what is going on at the Meetinghouse on Wednesday nights.  Mr. Carroll was present when several youths came into the Church at 5:00pm and Mr. Brown also has been seeing a lot of cars there on Wednesday evenings.  Mr. Hipsky volunteered to go up the next Wednesday evening and see what is going on.

2. Information was received from Ecclesiastical Glass regarding the stained glass windows at the Meetinghouse.

            I. PARK & RECREATION

1. Mr. Buchstaber requested permission to change the lot that lies between the fire station/library and the meetinghouse; into a usable manageable area for the townspeople.  Mr. Buchstaber proposed funding the project from the meetinghouse maintenance and fire station/library maintenance account.  The Board was not in favor of this proposal; the area is too wet and we don’t need another park.  Mr. Hipsky suggested clearing the brush and dead trees, but the town would not spend any money on this project.  Mr. Hipsky asked Mr. Buchstaber to call him if and when he decides to start this

project so he could be present.

            J. PLANNING BOARD

1. March 11, 2004 Planning Board minutes where acknowledged by the Board.

            K. PLUMBING INSPECTOR

            L. RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE COLLECTION

1. Spring Big Trash Pick-up is scheduled for Saturday, May 29, 2004; the Board acknowledged.

2. The 2003 Municipal Solid Waste Annual Report was received and our adjusted recycling rate is over 35%, the Board acknowledged.

            M. ROAD COMMISSIONER

1. The new contract had not been reviewed by Mr. Webber and the Board.  Mr. Webber and the Board will review the contract and sign it at the next Selectmen’s meeting 4/6/04.

2. A complaint on the culvert at Loon Cove was acknowledged by the Board.

3. The 35 speed limit sign is missing in the middle of town, the State has been contacted.

            N. TREASURER

O. WELFARE DIRECTOR

            P. STATE LEGISLATIVE CORPSE.

 

 

V. CORRESPONDENCE was acknowledged by the Board.

VI. TRAINING

A. Mrs. Biggar will be attending the tax lien procedures workshop that will be held on Thursday, March 25, 2004 at the Four Point Sheraton in Bangor, the Board acknowledged.

 

 

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

Approved by:            

 

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Dated: _____________________