TOWN OF STETSON
SELECTMEN’S
MINUTES
Date: May 25, 2011
I. OPEN MEETING
The meeting was opened
by Don Carroll leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
A. ROLL CALL
Donald Carroll, Brenda
Clark, Lois Hawes, George Hockstadter, and Terry White.
B. MINUTES OF THE MEETING
1.
Approve Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes of May 11,
2011
Upon motion by George
Hockstadter, seconded by Don Carroll, it was voted 4 to 0 to approve the May
22, 2011. (Terry White did not vote
because he was not present at the May 11, 2011 Meeting.)
C. QUIT CLAIM
DEEDS
None.
D.
WARRANT
Payroll Warrant
– Approve warrant # 62
Upon motion by Lois Hawes, seconded by Brenda
Clark, it was unanimously voted to approve Warrant #62.
Expenditures – Approve warrant # 63
Discussion
took place on amount of work and Town Funds that should be spent on Loon Cove
and if Loon Cove was labeled as a Private Road.
It
was determined that the residents of Loon Cove previously signed a deed giving
the town a right-of-way allowing the Town to plow. The State also requires that the Town
maintain Loon Cove to be “Safe and Passable”
Lois
Hawes felt that at the previous Selectmen’s Meeting (May 11, 2011) the
consensus of the Board was to only maintenance or improvement road work that
was needed on an Emergency basis, and felt the amount of work and town funds
that have been spent on Loon Cove recently is in no way an emergency.
Brenda
Clark stated that we (the Board) should all be on the same page as what the
definition of “safe and passable” means.
Brenda also stated whether or not Loon Cove is a private road or not,
the Board should be united on the work that is to be done. Brenda stated that $10,000 was spent on Loon
Cove in the beginning and should have pre-approval from the Board before work
is done.
Don
Carroll stated that these complaints and concerns from the Board should be
addressed with the Road Commissioner, not the Chairman of Selectmen. Don being the contact in dealing with the
roads felt that the Road Commissioner (John Biggar) had stated that Loon Cove
needed ditching (Lois Hawes stated that only one side has been ditched). Don Carroll also stated that the plowing may
be damaging the road. Don Carroll also
explained to the Board that the State gives the towns money every year towards
roads, and Loon Cove is on that list.
Terry
White clarified that it was John Biggar who decided to do the present work to
make Loon Cove “safe and passable”???
The Board can choose to pay or not pay the bill from Mr. Webber or get
sued???? Terry questioned if the payment
of the bill is delayed for further clarification of the road status????????
George
Hockstadter stated the Loon Cove had been previously accepted as a Town road at
an earlier Town Meeting and that Loon Cove is not a “Private Road”, it is a
“Town Road”.
Upon
motion by Lois Hawes, seconded by Brenda Clark it was voted 2 to 3 to approve
Warrant #63 with the exception of the expenses dealing with Loon Cove. (NOTED 2
voting YES, and 3 voting NO; therefore the entire Warrant was approved by
majority vote)
E.
BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Don Carroll reported
that they are still working and the Assessing should be completed in another
full day of work.
II. OLD BUSINESS
1.
Tax
Acquired – Mullen Road Property – Refund Request
Upon motion by George
Hockstadter, seconded by Terry White, it was unanimously voted NOT to refund
the $200.00 dollars deposit.
III. NEW BUSINESS
The Board signed a
Thank-you Letter thanking the inmates for their work in the Town of Stetson.
(see attached)
Pole Permit was signed
for Wayne Small.
Transco Contract was
signed by the Board.
MMA Vote was cast for
Laurie Smith of Wiscasset for Executive Committee Member.
Don Carroll also
requested permission to seek prices for siding the front of the Town Office
Building and to get rid of the light on the front of the building. (Consensus
of the Board was to seek the prices and bring that information back to the
Board for further discussion.)
IV. COMMITTEE REPORT
A. ANIMAL CONTROL Nothing.
B. APPEALS BOARD Nothing.
C.
CEMETERY Don
Carroll reported that the inmates had raked for 4 days and did not complete the
work at the cemeteries or the cleanup of the dirt at the town office. Therefore Chris Baker was hired to complete these
projects before the Memorial Weekend.
Lois Hawes questioned
why someone was hired to finish the clean-up.
She felt the clean-up was part of the Mowing contracts. Don stated he will read the contracts.
D.
CODE
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER The Board accepted the resignation letter presented by Danielle Smith
(see attached). There will be an ad in
the Rolling Thunder and Danielle will stay on Board until a new CEO is in
place.
E. E911 Nothing.
F. EDUCATION
The closer referendum was noted for
June 7th, and also noted the budget vote that will take place on
June 30. As of this moment the Stetson
share of the RSU budget will be $687,270 is the Elementary School is to close,
and $792,683 is the Elementary School is to remain open.
G.
EMERGENCY PREPARENESS COMMITTEE Nothing.
H.
EMT/RESCUE Nothing.
I.
FIRE DEPARTMENT Nothing.
J.
MEETINGHOUSE Connie Merrill of the meeting house
trustees was present and reported that
the flower bed is being worked on.
K PARKS & RECREATION Nothing.
L. PLANNING BOARD Nothing.
M.
PLUMBING INSPECTOR Nothing,
N. RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE COLLECTION Nothing.
O.
ROAD COMMISSIONER Not Present.
P. STATE
LEGISLATIVE CORRESP Don Carroll reported that Congressman Mike
Michaud had returned his call and informed him that there is nothing that can
be done at this time to deal with the truck detours in the town of Stetson and
that the DOT does not want to discuss the possible reimbursement to Towns in
dealing with damage to town roads. On
June 16th, there will be a vote dealing with the weight limit on
Interstate 95 to again increase the limit from 80,000 to 100,000.
Q.
TREASURER Diane
Lacadie reported that MMA is researching Stetson’s request to increase the
value of the stained glass windows at the Meetinghouse.
R.
WELFARE
DIRECTOR Don
Carroll reported that the Audit has been completed by Augusta for the General
Assistance program and it stated that the Town of Stetson is in compliance with
all state and federal regulations. The
Board thanked Diane Lacadie for her work in complying with that Audit.
S.
MEMORIAL
COMMITTEE Marlene Webber informed the board that the
Memorial arrangements will be placed by Saturday morning.
T.
OTHER
Discussion took place on
the trailer on Rte 222 that the Town has deemed uninhabitable. Numerous reports have come into the office
stating that occupants are presently living there. The CEO went to the trailer on Wednesday (May
25, 2011) and it is her opinion that the occupants are living there. The CEO (Danielle Smith) informed the
occupants that under no uncertain terms can they be staying there or using any
sources of plumbing for water to do anything (laundry, shower, dishes,
etc.) Because of the unsafe conditions,
and the fact of 4 very young children in question, the Board has requested that
the Town attorney be called to inquiring about getting a court order to remove
the family.
V.
TRAINING
None.
VI.
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
Joyce Doher questioned
why the flags on the poles were not up yet in the Town of Stetson. Brenda Clark informed Miss Doher that they
are up. Miss Doher apologized and
thanked Brenda for her time and efforts in dealing with the flags in town.
VII.
SELECTMEN
COMMENTS
Lois Hawes: Informed the Board that she had received a
complaint from Mr. Booth stating that Mr. Richard Webber had told Mr. Booth
that the logging truck were not allowed on Loon Cove and in fact also stated
that the Selectmen were behind this decision.
George Hockstadter: Questioned if the minutes could be verbatim
verbal record. Consensus of the Board
was that is not possible, and if that is the way George would like it, the meetings
can be tape recorded for that record.
VIII.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION
Lois Hawes Requested Personnel Matters - 1
M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(A)
Discussion of Confidential Records - 1
M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(F)
Upon motion by Lois
Hawes, seconded by Brenda Clark, it was unanimously voted to go into Executive
Session to discuss Personnel Matters (1 M. R.S. A sec 405(6)(A) and
Confidential Records (1 M.R.S.A. sec 405 (6)(F). Time 7:35 p.m.
Upon motion by Terry
White, seconded by George Hockstadter, it was unanimously voted to come out of
Executive Session and to take No Action at this time as the result of Executive
Session. Time 8:15 p.m.
IX.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion by Terry
White, seconded by George Hockstadter, it was unanimously voted to adjourn the
meeting at 8:15 p.m.
_______________________________Donald
Carroll
_______________________________Brenda
Clark
_______________________________Lois
Hawes
_______________________________George
Hockstadter
_______________________________Terry
White
Minutes
recorded by;
Diane
Lacadie