SELECTMEN'S MEETING MINUTES-September 10, 2007

ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT: No problems reported. Jack was asked by the Selectboard if he had found the source of the sand in the pedestrian underpass. He said that Chief Ken Desmond was going to flush and dye the grate. Chief was not in attendance so it is not known whether that was done or not.
Jack was notified that winter maintenance on the Barley Neck Rd would need to be extended. The new turnaround will be at Ed Rice’s. Jason said that he will measure the footage of the extension to see what the cost would be.
CEO/FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT: Ken was not in attendance but left a note with the Administrator. He had issued 5 building permits and there had been 5 fire calls since the last Selectboard meeting

a. Roadside Vendor Ordinance: Dave said he liked the Wiscasset Ordinance best. He recommended a few changes that he wanted to see made to the ordinance. Dave was asked if it had been compared to the Comprehensive Plan. Dave asked the administrator to type up the ordinance with the changes and circulate it to the Planning Board and the Comprehensive Plan Committee for their perusal. He would like to see this ordinance on the May 2008 Town Meeting warrant.
b. Public Meeting LD910: The public meeting to explain LD 910 (School Consolidation) will be held at the Woolwich School on September 19th at 7:00 PM.c. Dike Boat Launch: The Selectboard received a letter from John Devin, MDOT Engineer for Region 2, concerning the issue of responsibility for the mitigation of flooding of US Route 1 during astronomical high tides. Mr. Devin expressed that it is the MDOT’s opinion that the flooding is directly attributed to the construction of the boat access site off the George Wright Rd (Dike Boat Launch). Mr. Devin further states that the Town of Woolwich has control and supervision over this site. The Selectboard does not acknowledge that the town controls or supervises the boat launch area. The property belongs to MDOT and the Town only has a ten year lease for the boat launch. Mr. Devin also states that because it is a town constructed and managed boat access site, it is the responsibility of the town to remedy the flooding situation. The Selectboard disagrees. The MDOT offers the town three options that they believe are potential solutions. John Devin called before the Selectboard meeting and said that he had spoken with his supervisor, Rhonda Fletcher. Rhonda said that MDOT will pick up the entire cost of option one. Option one consists of installing heavy rip rap and gravel in the ramp area and would eliminate the possibility of boat trailers using the ramp. Dave doesn’t agree with this option as it will prohibit the duck hunters from being able to use the launch from October 1st to December 31st each year. Options two and three are considerably more expensive than Option one and most of the cost would be bourn by the town. The Selectboard would like to have a meeting with MDOT, Dept of Conservation, Parks and Land, Jack Shaw and Steve Dewick from Pine Tree Engineering. They would like to have the administrator write a rebuttal letter to Mr. Devin as well.

a.    Gasification Plant: The Administrator had received a call from a concerned citizen regarding the Gasification Plant. He had heard that the plant may be drawing several million gallons of water from Nequasset Lake. The Administrator contacted Trevor Hunt at the Bath Water District. Trevor said that BWD had not been contacted by the planners of the project. Lynette also spoke with Poe Cilley, who is a contact person for the Gasification Plant. She said, “Mis-information abounds!!.” There will be public hearings and she gave a website to look at. www.twinriverenergy.com .
b.    Paint Pedestrian underpass: Bob Meade filled out an application that will be submitted to the Sagadahoc County Sheriff’s office for the purpose of having inmates paint the Pedestrian Underpass. Bob questioned whether it should be done now or in the spring. The Selectboard said to submit the application now but note that we would like to have it painted in the spring.
c.    Other:

(1.) Lloyd Coombs presented the Selectboard with a legal article in the most recent Maine Townsmen magazine about excise tax refunds. Effective September 20, 2007 “If the credit historically available exceeds the amount transferred to another vehicle, a municipality may choose but is not required to refund the excess amount.” However, if a town decides to refund excess credit, it must do so in all cases where there is an excess. Dave King wanted to know if the Selectboard was interested in putting an article on the May town meeting warrant with this regard. The Administrator feels that this refund process would be a bookkeeper’s nightmare trying to keep track of the refunds. There is also the fact that the Town of Woolwich uses at least 75% of the excise tax revenue to reduce the tax commitment. The majority of the Selectboard was not interested in having this be an article on the next town meeting warrant.
(2.) Another new law that will be effective July 1, 2008, requires elected officials, including elected municipal officials who exercise executive or legislative powers, to complete a training course in Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) or “Right to Know” law.
(3.) Dave King directed the administrator to call John Gordon and ask him to remove his boat from the pedestrian underpass parking lot.
(4.) Dianne Longley asked about forming a Senior Citizen calling tree. This request comes as a result of a Woolwich resident passing away in their home and not being found for several days. The Selectboard said that Sagadahoc Sheriff and/or the Bath Police Dept should be contacted for possible suggestions. Diane Longley volunteered to do the needed research.
(5.) Tim Mellen, Resident and member of the Solid Waste Committee, looked into purchasing and installing a new surveillance camera in the recycling area. The quote from Northeast Security was $2700.00 with each additional camera installed costing $560.00. The Selectboard said this would be nice to have but is it the solution (to ongoing vandalism). The Selectboard agreed not to go this route at this time.
(6.) The administrator was asked if a written thank you note had been sent to Richard Alexander for the donation of two picnic tables at the swimming area. The administrator had thanked Mr. Alexander in person but had not written a note. She will do so.

Adjournment 7:15 PM.

                                        Lynette R. Eastman

Approved:_____________________

cc: Selectmen/Staff


Up coming meetings: LD 910 informational meeting: September 19 @7:00 PM @ Woolwich Central School
Regular Selectboard meeting: September 24, 2007 @ 6:00 PM