PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Town Administrator Lloyd Coombs led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country.

PREVIOUS MEETING'S MINUTES: Motion by Dale, seconded by Rita, to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of February 26, 2007 as printed. The motion passed unanimously.

SELECTMEN'S COMMENTS: Motion by Rita, seconded by Dale, to select Sandra Blake as the next Town Administrator/Clerk of Woolwich. The motion passed unanimously. Todd reported that he attended a Jail Authority meeting. The good news was that the County's budgeted cost for the jail was down 13% from last year. Todd said that he also attended a Working Waterfront Access meeting. David reported that he had been working with DEP on removal of discarded tires from land owned by Jack Shaw.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: Clark Granger, Chairman of the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, requested the Selectmen to include an article in the May 2007 Budget Town Meeting warrant to raise and appropriate $10,000.00 in support of the Comprehensive Plan Update. By consensus, the Selectmen agreed to include the requested article in the warrant.

ROAD COMMISSIONER'S REPORT: Jack reported that, due to the conditions, the roads have been posted because they are vulnerable at this time of the year.

CEO/FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT: Lloyd reported that Ken Desmond was at the Blaine House Conference at Bangor for March 12 & 13, 2007. The conference this year covered firefighter safety, emergency response to the possible Pandemic Flu, building inspection and residential sprinklers.

OLD BUSINESS:

a. Littering Ordinance Discussion: The Selectmen decided to have the Solid Waste & Recycling Committee take the lead in drafting a Littering Ordinance for the Town of Woolwich. They requested that the draft be available for a possible Special Town Meeting in June 2007.

b. Return of the Crown Vic: Lloyd reported that he had received the title to the 1994 Ford Crown Victoria that Sheriff Westrum had returned to the Town. By consensus, the Selectmen decided to store the vehicle at Shad & Son as a source of parts for the Fire Chief's car.

c. Fire Truck Purchase: David advised that he, the Fire Chief and a Firefighter had viewed several potential fire trucks for consideration at the May 2007 Budget Town Meeting.

NEW BUSINESS:

a. Renewal of the Ambulance Contract: Motion by Todd, seconded by Dan, for a three year renewal of the Ambulance Contract with North East Mobile Health Services at an annual price of $2,500.00. The motion passed unanimously.

b. Veterans/Widows Exemption Applications: Motion by Dan, seconded by Rita, to approve Veterans/Widows Exemptions for Robert Bowman, Kenneth Chamberland, Dale Puckett, Dawn Cousins, Corris Otis, Barbara Richards, and Christine Wing. The motion passed unanimously.

c. Consideration of Abatement Application: Motion by Dan, seconded by Rita, to approve the abatement application of Michael Moody for the property located at Map R09, Lot 028C. The motion failed on a 0-5 vote.

d. Tree Growth Recertification: Motion by Rita, seconded by Dale, to approve the recertification tree growth application of Karen Weidner for the property located at Map R12, Lot 29. The motion passed unanimously.

e. Sick Leave Documentation: By consensus, the Selectmen decided that only an employee written statement was necessary to support the use of sick leave for an immediate family affected illness.

f. Joint Purchasing Program: By consensus, the Selectmen agreed to advise Mid Coast Business Development & Planning that the Town was interested in pursuing RFPs for Fuel, Sand/Salt and Copier Paper.

g. 2007-2008 Budget Revisited: By consensus, the Selectmen agreed to use in the warrant the state approved maximum rate of 12% for unpaid 2007-2008 property taxes and 8% for abated and overpaid taxes. The Selectmen also agreed to include the donation requests from the Jesse Albert Clinic, the Tedford Shelter and the Patten Free Library in the warrant.

h. Woolwich's 250th Birthday Celebration: Collette Coombs, representing the Recreation Committee and the Historical Society, spoke on the advance planning for Woolwich's 250th Birthday Celebration in 2009. She asked the Selectmen to include a warrant article requesting $5,000.00 this year and $5,000.00 next year as seed money for the Celebration. Motion by Todd, seconded by Dale, to include the requested article in the warrant. The motion passed unanimously.

i. Health Benefits Stipend: Motion by Rita, seconded by David, to include an article in the Budget Town Meeting warrant authorizing the Selectmen to pay a monthly stipend of $100.00 to each employee who is eligible for health benefits but who chooses to not receive them. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote.

j. Air Boat Ownership: Lloyd advised that Roger Brawn said that ownership of the Air Boat by the Town was conditioned on an agreement to return it to the Association whenever the Town no longer wanted it. Motion by Dan, seconded by David, to accept ownership of the air boat. The motion failed on a 2-2-1 vote and was tabled until the next Selectmen's meeting.

k. Reappointment of the Licensed Plumbing Inspector: Motion by Todd, seconded by Rita, to reappoint Richard Lang as the Licensed Plumbing Inspector. The motion passed on a 4-1 vote.

Lloyd Coombs

Approved: /s/ David A. King, Sr.

cc: Selectmen/Staff

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