Town Council Meeting

11/28/07

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sally Strout, Fred Gifford, and Oscar Emerson. Councilor Coulter and Councilor Wilcox were excused.

STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager, Melissa Doane, Note taker, Virginia Oakes and Eric Gifford.

CITIZENS PRESENT: None

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

REVIEW OF MINUTES: Councilor Gifford made a motion to accept the 11/13/07 minutes as presented. Chairperson Strout seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.

CITIZENS REQUEST: None

MANAGERS REPORT:

  1. Brown Street is done. Manager Doane has looked at it and is satisfied with work done. The road is about 6 or 7 inches higher than the previous road therefore the shoulders are a little bit high. Manager Doane stated the possibility of into putting some gravel on sides in the spring. Dave Bartlett, who lives at the end of Brown Street, has contacted Manager Doane concerned with the amount of water on his property. Manager Doane has visited the property a few different times and has come to the conclusion that the water is from his property not the road. Manager Doane informed Mr. Bartlett that she would continue monitoring the situation and consider a culvert if she feels it’s necessary but right now she does not feel it’s necessary. Manager Doane also directed Council to go over and examine the area and give their opinion.
  2. The Boynton Street culvert work was started on November 26th. Manager Doane visited the site and reported that everything looks good so far.
  3. December 6th at 6:30 the Planning Board will hold a workshop for Subdivision Ordinance. The Planning Board plans to finish with the Subdivision Ordinance at the December 13th meeting. It will then be ready for Council.
  4. On December 5th there will be a meeting regarding Penobscot River Restoration Trust removal of the dam. This meeting is to give and update and get public input regarding the proposal and the project. There are three different meeting times. Manager Doane will be attending from 1-4 PM.
  5. Manager Doane received a draft budget from the County. A mil rate hasn’t been set yet, however a letter from Bill Collins, County Administrator indicates that there may be a reduction in the mil rate.
  6. The 2005 foreclosures will be automatically foreclosed on January 21, 2008. Manager Doane will be sending out 45-day notices on December 6th. Gifford motioned that Manager Doane pay for mailing without first getting approval from Council. Chairperson Strout seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.
  7. The draft for the audit is in. The way that they audit financial information has changed. Manager Doane started reviewing the audit on Monday and is getting a list of questions together for Roy Associates. She will also be asking Mr. Roy to come and address Town Council. The Town of Bradley is receiving a Management Letter this year. This is because Roy and Associates have prepared the financial statements in the past. This is now considered an internal weakness because of new accounting requirements. Manager Doane reminded the Council of the letter they received on reporting stating that there were going to be stricter requirements.
  8. There is a speed limit sign down at Milford/Bradley town line. Manager Doane has contacted Maine DOT and they will be coming to fix that sometime next week.
  9. Manager Doane spoke to Senator Rosen regarding a meeting to discuss Red Shield emissions. He can do any Thursday night. DEP reports they will most likely come if given proper notice. Council set the date for the public hearing for January 24 @ 7p.m.
  10. A draft copy of the Bradley Broadcast was given to each council member to review and give any suggestions. The public hearing for January 24th will be added to the Broadcast.
  11. Manager Doane spoke with Neil Bonneville regarding 686 Main Street. He would like to wait until spring to do the work as right now renting a pulp truck would be costly. Manager Doane is fine with that.
  12. Manager Doane met with Chris Shum and Allyson Barker of Eastern Maine Development Corporation. They have started writing the grant application to the Maine Emergency Management and FEMA regarding the fire department. The November 30th deadline was pushed to end of January. Manager Doane believes that although the process is being rushed it will be good to get the Town of Bradley’s name out there, to get the process started and to see what may have missing from the application. They are writing the grant for free. This is part of the Town’s PVCOG dues.
  13. December 3rd there will be a Cemetery Committee meeting at 10 am.

NEW BUSINESS: None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Manager Doane gave an update on the Dog Ordinance. She received an email from Mr. Barrier only a few changes. The ordinance is ready to go to a public hearing. A date for the hearing will be set for sometime in January.

Manager Doane asked Councilor Gifford to give an update regarding the school consolidation. Councilor Gifford has attended many of the meetings. He reported that it looks like Union 90 may consolidate with Old Town. The next school consolidation meeting will be December 11th.

Manager Doane presented a letter from Audrey Wilcox asking Council to review the decision to place a streetlight at the end of Pine Street. When the streetlight request was first brought before Council, it was thought that the streetlight was needed at the far end of Pine Street. It was discovered that the streetlight request is at the beginning of Pine Street on the Main Street end. There is question to whether it is actually needed. Councilor Emerson wishes to abstain from this issue as he lives near the area in question. This will be revisited next meeting when there are more Council members present.

MUNICIPAL WARRANTS:

Councilor Emerson made a motion to accept municipal warrant #43 in the amount of $3,946.82 and warrant #44 in the amount of $10,596.73. Councilor Gifford seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.

NEXT MEETING: Next meeting set for December 12th at 6:30 p.m.

ADJOURN: Councilor Gifford motioned to adjourn. Councilor Emerson seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.