Town Council Meeting

04/29/2008

 

COUNCIL PRESENT: Sally Strout, Audrey Wilcox, Lillian Coulter Oscar Emerson and Fred Gifford

 

STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Melissa Doane, Virginia Oakes as note taker and Eric Gifford

 

PUBLIC PRESENT: Mark Gifford

 

OPEN MEETING: Council Chairperson Strout opened the Town Council meeting at 6:30 p.m.

 

REVIEW OF MINUTES:

Councilor Gifford motioned to accept the 4/15/08 minutes as presented. Councilor Coulter seconded the motion. Vote 4-0. Motion carried.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST: Mark Gifford requested on behalf of the Parade Committee the replacement of 20 flags, which would be $20 a piece. These flags are flown on poles along Main Street. 15 of the existing flags are in poor condition and in keeping with the etiquette of care for an American flag, these flags should no longer be flown. Chairperson Strout motioned to purchase 20 flags, 15 to hang now and have 5 as spares. Councilor Gifford seconded the motion. In discussion it was decided that the money for the flags would come out of Council’s Unappropriated Surplus. Vote 5-0. Motion carried. Councilor Emerson motioned to contribute an additional $105.00 to purchase 3 more flags with hardware. Councilor Wilcox seconded the motion. This will also be taken out of Council Unappropriated Surplus. Vote 5-0. Motion carried.

Mark Gifford mentioned that on Sunday he and his Scout Troop were sweeping the sidewalks. He noticed that the grass from abutting properties is coming into the sidewalks. Councilor Wilcox suggested renting an edger. Manager Doane stated that Bernie Dill does work on the sidewalks. She will look into it.

 

MANAGERS REPORT:

  1. Manager Doane reported that last week the Post Office called saying that the floor drain backed up in the ladies room. Manager Doane first spoke with Brian Wilcox who was the general contractor for the building. His initial thought was that the drain was plugged from years of sweeping ect. He suggested calling RotoRooter to have them look at the drain. They used a camera to look into the pipes and determined that the septic tank was full. Manager Doane then had Pine Valley come and pump out the system. Once they pumped it out they discovered that the pump was not working. Manager Doane notified the company T&J Construction who originally installed the pump. He rewired the pump and now it appears to be working. He will come back in a few weeks to examine the pump and make sure everything is running properly. Manager Doane also had the municipal building tank pumped as it has been almost 8 years. She also will be looking into different ground covers for the septic tanks, to provide better access to the tanks in the future.
  2. Manager Doane explained the school budget validation process to Council. Part of the new law regarding the school consolidation is that the budget has to be passed differently than in the past. There has to be an open Town Meeting. Then the Town has its regular referendum. On June 3rd will be the open Town Meeting at 6:00 at the Viola Rand School. There will be a moderator and the Town Council will be present.  June 10th referendum article will ask shall the School Board adopt the budget that was approved on at the June 3rd open meeting.
  3. April 22nd Manager Doane met with Charles Norburg, Peter Currier, Charlie Wilcox, Oscar Emerson and Maine DEP regarding the Shoreland zoning map changes. Manager Doane supplied Council with a copy of those results. She believes they came to a compromise with the land owners. A public hearing is set for May 13th at 6:15 to change the ordinance to have the maps reflect these changes. The public hearing will also include the articles on the municipal referendum.
  4. Mark Gibson contacted Manager Doane with news that the Bangor hydro line recently put in is valued at $14,000,000 adding $11,000,000 valuation to the Town because of the 80% base. Manager Doane anticipates that the mill rate will drop to 11 or 12.
  5. Manager Doane spoke with Maine DEP and Army Corp of Engineers and they will be contacting her in the next week to do a site visit parcel of land for the proposed fire department.
  6. May 1st Manager Doane will be out of office for training.
  7. On April 21st Manager Doane had a meeting with Levant, Hermon, Milford, and Eddington regarding the possibility of having a regional Animal Control Officer. Having a regional ACO will allow the Towns more accessibility. There will be an ad place in the Bangor Daily News and the Towns will split the cost.
  8. There is a School Board meeting on May 6th. Nomination papers are also due that same day.

 

NEW BUSINESS: Councilor Wilcox motioned to accept the Emergency Operations Plan as prepared. Motion was seconded by Councilor Gifford. Vote 5-0. Motion carried.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None

 

MUNICIPAL WARRANTS:

Councilor Coulter motioned to accept the municipal warrant # 83 for $36,631.45, #84 for $ 3,726.11 and warrant # 85 for $10.00. Motion was seconded by Chairperson Strout. Vote 5-0. Motion carried.

 

NEXT MEETING: May 13th 6:15 P.M.

 

ADJOURN: Councilor Gifford motioned to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Councilor Coulter. Vote 5-0. Motion carried.