TOWN OF STETSON
SELECTMEN’S
MINUTES
Date: November 28,
2007
I. OPEN MEETING
Chairman, George Hockstadter called
the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
A. ROLL CALL:
George Hockstadter, Gerald Button,
Gary Bellefluer, Brenda Clark, Donald Carroll, and a long list of quest, see
attached list.
B. MINUTES OF THE MEETING
November 14, 2007
Upon motion by George Hockstadter, seconded by Gary Bellefluer, it was
unanimously voted to approve and sign the November 14, 2007 Selectmen Minutes
with the correction of the Adjournment to be changed to (3 –Yes, and 2 – No, Don
Carroll and Gary Bellefluer.
November 19, 2007
Upon motion by George Hockstadter, seconded by Brenda Clark, it was
unanimously voted to approve and sign the November 19, 2007 Special Selectmen
Minutes.
C. QUIT CLAIM DEEDS
None.
D. WARRANT
1.
Payroll
Upon motion by Gary Belllefluer,
seconded by George Hockstadter, it was unanimously voted to approve and sign the
Payroll Warrants.
2.
Expenditures
Upon motion by Gerald Button,
seconded by George Hockstadter, it was unanimously voted to approve and sign the
Expenditures Warrant.
It was also noted that a check be cut and prepared for David Trask when
funds are available. Upon motion by
Don Carroll, seconded by Brenda Clark, it was unanimously voted to prepare the
check for when funds were transferred and available.
E. BOARD OF ASSESSORS
Nothing.
II. OLD BUSINESS
Food Cupboard:
Bill Rush addressed the residents with a spreadsheet of cost to the
Stetson Tax payer of the Food Cupboard as compared to the State Mandated General
Assistance Program. These figures
were calculated (see attached sheet) using the same number of residents in need,
and what difference in cost there would be to the Town of Stetson using one
program or the other. After
explaining the handed out document, Mr. Rush expressed that he would accept no
questions and exited the meeting to allow him to attend another
meeting.
Comments
from the public:
Melodie
Bellefluer: Wanted to know the cost
of the electricity for the freezers in the food and who approved the funds to
pay for the electricity.
It was explained, that the town has always paid for the freezers and
donated $850.00 annually.
Mr.
Rooney: Feels the books from the
food cupboard should be made available to the public so the public can see the
monies in, and the monies out.
It was explained that the Town only donates to the food cupboard; it has
no rights to their books.
Margarite
Bigger: Questioned the criteria
that is required to be a recipient of the Food
Cupboard?
A resident of Stetson only.
Terry
Moore: Expressed a lot of people in
town donate to charities and that the new building should pay their own electric
bills.
III. NEW BUSINESS
1.
Sullivan’s Waste will be
picking up trash the Saturday before Christmas and the Saturday before New Years
Day.
Announced.
2.
Lower prices on telephone
services for Town office, Fire dept., Library and Internet access. $99.00 for Internet and $24.90 a month
for 400 minutes anything after will be .10 cents a minute. Library and Fire station will be lower
but the fees will vary due to usage.
Announced,
and will look into high speed for the fire department.
3.
Called Central Maine Power
3 times to disconnect power pole at park due to rot and falling down. Pole has since been taken down and will
now need to be replaced.
Melodie
Bellefluer expressed concerns of the pole and how the park is extremely run
down. She feels the
park should either be maintained or taken down altogether. It was decided that the pole would be
replaced (Wayne Allard will look into one cheap), the playground equipment would
be removed and the park would be for a picnic area
only.
Upon
motion by George, seconded by Gerald, it was unanimously voted to table this
item until the price of the pole and installation was
researched.
George
Hockstadter informed the board that he had received a bid from
Upon
motion by Gerald Button, seconded by George Hockstadter, it was unanimously
voted to table this item until the change in price could be determined.
III. COMMITTEE REPORTS
A. ANIMAL CONTROL
- None.
B. APPEALS BOARD - None.
C. CEMETERY
- None.
D. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER -None.
E. E911
None.
F. EDUCATION
1.
School Consolidation update
Brian
Boggs was at the School Board meeting on Monday, and informed the residents that
the Town of Stetson is now looking at an alternate plan. He stated that there is no one to
consolidate with at this time.
There are funding issues and geographical
issues.
Don
Carroll noted that Dexter was a good fit for Stetson, but opted to go with
Guilford.
Betty
Bridges suggested that all the Selectmen attend the Consolidation meetings so
they would know; when, where, and what will have to be voted on. The process will start in
March.
G. EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE -None.
H. EMT/RESCUE -None.
I. FIRE DEPARTMENT - Terry Moore would like to see the
Selectmen consider for the next budget year the cost of high speed for the fire
department to include the Visual Protective Network. George will look into the cost.
J. HISTORICAL SOCIETY -None.
K. MEETINGHOUSE
- None.
L. PARKS & RECREATION
Parks and Recreation Director,
Christy Hewitt needs lots of help and many volunteers for Stetson
Days.
M. PLANNING BOARD - Workshops
needed.
N. PLUMBING INSPECTOR -None.
O. RECYCLING & SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
- None.
P. ROAD COMMISSIONER
Projects are being
completed.
Q. STATE LEGISLATIVE CORRESP -None.
R. TREASURER/TAX COLLECTOR -None.
S. WELFARE DIRECTOR
-None.
T. OTHER
IV.
TRAINING
-None.
V.
PUBLIC
COMMENTS
A.
Melodie Bellefleur – park safety across from town office, how public
addressed and answered and who pays electric bills for freezer at meeting
house. See items – OLD BUSINESS – Food Cupboard,
and item NEW BUSINESS - #3 above.
Also see more public comments
below under Selectmen
Comments.
VI.
SELECTMEN
COMMENTS
Gary
Bellefluer:
Addressed some questions that should have been addressed at the last
meeting that have not made it on the agenda. He referred to a letter dated October 30
from Terry Moore concerning overdrafts and ratifications. Expenses verses budget, negative and
positive balances, the end budgeted dollar amount was $20,333.00 to the
positive.
Don
Carroll explained that the accountant informed the Selectmen that as long as the
total budget has not been over drafted, that there are no ratifications needed.
He also stated that the Town
of Stetson has never done ratifications.
Judy
Bigger also confirmed that unless the total budget was over drafted by a certain
percent, there is no need to ratify.
She also suggested that these concerns and changes be addressed in an
article at the next Town Meeting to be voted on.
Terry
Moore again expressed the Legislative Process and when the public speaks.
David
Buchstaber also stated, what happens if the town says no, what difference does
it make, the money is already spent.
Mrs.
Rooney questioned why the residents even bother to vote on individual budget
items, if only the total matters.
She also stated that the Selectmen could be responsible for the
overdrafts.
Gary will
call MMA.
Wayne
Allard stated that Selectmen should be allowed to do their
job.
Donald
Carroll stated he is glad to see the amount of people at the
meetings and interested in the Town.
He felt that a lot of things have been lacks over the years, and that
$20,000.00 to the positive
is great for the
ending year budget.
Brenda Clark: Stated that she was elected in March and
feels that she is
left out most of the
time. She feels that the Town is
totally divided, and
that when she was elected,
she had a dream that all could work together.
She noted that she may not
know everyone’s name, but she knows their
face. Brenda informed the residents that
although she is not very verbal,
she is still on top of
things that are her responsibilities as a Selectmen
and there she is here for
every single resident of the Town.
Marty Hipsky: Read aloud a letter voicing concerns of
the conduct of certain selectmen.
This letter was addressed to Stetson Board of Selectmen, George
Hockstadter, Chairman, and from Martin & Gail Hipsky. This letter in its full content is
attached to the minutes as a part of the written record. (Letter dated November
28, 2007.)
This
letter created a lot of emotional comments both respectful and
disrespectful. It is my opinion as
the Town Clerk and recording secretary of these meetings that these comments are
not an important or necessary part of these meeting minutes. Therefore, if anyone is interested in
these comments, they may listen to the tape recorded part of this meeting during
our regular office hours at the Town Office.
Mrs.
Rooney; Suggested that we all move
forward, and for the Board of Selectmen to use the Human Resource tool bar for
policies and procedures and to educate themselves.
VII.
EXECUTIVE
SESSION
NONE.
VIII.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon
motion by Gerald Button, seconded by George Hockstadter, it was unanimously
voted to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m.
_____________________________George
Hockstadter
_____________________________Gerald
Button
_____________________________Gary
Bellefluer
_____________________________Brenda
Clark
_____________________________Donald
Carroll
Minutes recorded
by;
Diane
Lacadie
Meetings are also tape recorded and
are available at the Town Office