SELECTMEN'S MEETING MINUTES
Town Office
September 24 2007


3:30 PM - MEETING WITH AUDITOR/SET 07/08 TAX MIL RATE:
Present at the meeting were:  Selectboard members -David King, Rita Sturtevant, Dale Chadbourne, Todd McPhee, Dan Skillin, Lynette Eastman, Administrator and Fred Brewer, Auditor. 
The Auditor and Selectboard examined the A-4 portion of the most recent fiscal year end (June 30, 2007) for possible carry forwards and possible lapses to surplus.  The Town appropriation initially was $1,296,588.01.  This figure was reduced by using $442,961.00 from the undesignated fund balance (surplus) leaving a total of $853,627.01 for commitment.  The Sagadahoc County appropriation is $553,324.00, the Woolwich School appropriation is $2,632,123.87 and the Overlay (not to exceed 5% of net to be raised) is $34,205.23.  Total appropriations are $4,073,280.11.  This amount was further reduced by $195,700.00 for State Municipal Revenue Sharing, $62,341.88 for homestead exemption reimbursement provided by the State of Maine, and other miscellaneous revenue of $1,600.00 from the Town.  This leaves a net to be raised by local property tax of $3,813,638.23.  The minimum tax rate was 11.944 per thousand and the maximum tax rate allowed was 12.54 per thousand.  The Selectboard voted unanimously to accept a mil rate of 12.05.
                  
At 5:30 PM the Selectboard broke from the meeting with the Auditor to have a private meeting with a Woolwich Resident.  Per Richard Flewelling, a Maine Municipal Association lawyer, this meeting did not have to be considered an executive session and did not have to be on the public agenda.  This meeting was adjourned at 6:00 and the Selectboard continued the meeting with the Auditor.
This meeting ended approximately at 6:30 PM and the regular Selectboard meeting then began.

ATTENDANCE:  Dale Chadbourne, David King, Daniel Skillin, Rita Sturtevant and Todd McPhee

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:  Prior to the beginning of the regular Selectboard Meeting, the Town Administrator, Lynette Eastman, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country.

PREVIOUS MEETING’S MINUTES:  It was moved, seconded and unanimously approved to accept the minutes of the September 10th, 2007 meeting as written.

SELECTMEN’S COMMENTS:  Todd McPhee reported that there had not been very many people in attendance at the September 19th meeting to discuss LD 910 School Consolidation.  Dave and Dan moved the “Bottle Building” so that it is now up against the outside wall of the fire station.  That way people cannot hide illegally dropped trash behind the building.  At the time that the building was moved there was a toilet seat, bed frame and a shallow well pump that had been dropped off.  The town, unfortunately, has to pay extra money to dispose of these items as they are not recyclables. 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  Diane Longley reported that she had been in touch with the Bath Police Dept. and had spoken with Betsy Cantrell about their “Good Morning Program”.  This is a program that has senior citizens call in daily to report that they are okay.  Diane said that Betsy will check out to see if Woolwich residents can utilize this program.

ROAD COMMISSIONER’S REPORT:  Jack reported that the tree that needed to be taken down on the Middle Rd had been taken care of.  Culverts on Nequasset Rd and Barley Neck Rd were going to be changed out on the 27th and 28th of September.  There was not going to be a problem with the school buses as there was no school in session on those days.  The extra length on the Barley neck road amounts to 700 feet with regards to winter maintenance extension.

CEO/FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT:  Ken Desmond reported that there had been one fire call since the last meeting and six new building permits issued.  Two of the new permits are for homes.  He said that there had been permits issued for a total of 24 new homes and 2 mobile homes for a dollar total of approximately $5.3 million.  Ken said he would be attending the Planning Board meeting later that evening.  He was asked if the Steve Wood issue was on the agenda and he assured the Board that it was as well as Phase II Pine Meadow Subdivision.  Ed’s Stuff is also on the PB agenda.  Ken reported that two firefighters, Keith Landry and Dean Stanton, had passed both written and practical testing.  They will be receiving  certificates on the 13th of October.

OLD BUSINESS:

a.    No Old business came before the Board.  

     
NEW BUSINESS:

a.    Automobile Graveyard Permit:  The Selectboard waived the public hearing and voted unanimously to issue an Automobile Graveyard Permit to Herbert Geroux.
e.Fields For Our Future Letter:  Chairman, David King was in receipt of a letter from the Fields For Our Future committee.  They have a campaign underway to raise $700,000.00 over the next two years to dramatically improve the playing surfaces of three fields which mostly serve the areas youths.  The fields to be worked on are McMann Field and the two Tainter Fields. 
Dave’s first comment was that no money had been budgeted this year for such a donation.  He then stated that the money might be taken from the Selectboard’s contingency fund.  Todd said that every Woolwich kid who plays a sport is charged a user fee.  It is believed that all “out of town” kids are assessed a “pay to play” fee for sports but City of Bath kids are not charged.  This started approximately in 1987 or 1988.  Dave asked Todd to find out about the fees and this item would be put aside until the next Selectboard meeting on October 9th.
b,c,d.  Abatements, Supplements, and various exemption forms:  Discussion on the Oak Island Easement was put aside until Todd could look over the multi-page easement report.  He expressed a concern about public access to the island as it is not easily accessed by boat and feels that the public isn’t allowed to use the same causeway used by the owners.
Moved by Dan, Second by Rita to approve 5 Tree Growth Exemption recertification applications for Paul Dumdey.
These are:  Map R07 Lot 048 = 35 acres
            Map R07 Lot 011 = 55 acres
            Map R07 Lot 006 = 37 acres
            Map R07 Lot 005 = 41 acres
            Map R07 Lot 049 = 16 acres
Todd expressed some concern about the possibility of land becoming landlocked in the instance of a house lot being sold from the property.  Selectboard voted unanimously to approve the applications.  It was moved, seconded to approve a Tree Growth recertification application from Sarah and Christopher Hall.  The Board voted unanimously to approve this application for Map R13 Lot 033 which is for 42 acres.  A Tree Growth application submitted by L Rhys Gardiner was set aside until the next Selectboard meeting as there is a question about whether she actually owns the property or not.  There is not a deed on file showing that it belongs to her.  An application to classify land as Farm Land, submitted by Christine Lockyer was set aside until owner provides a map for farmland area. It was moved, seconded and unanimously decided to approve the following qualifying veterans’ exemptions.  James F Day – Map R11 Lot 019, John E Doyle, Jr – Map R09 Lot 031-004, Juanita J Ponziani – Map R02 Lot 008-B04, Gerald C Boguhn, Jr – Map R13 Lot 034, David E McLeod – Map R05 Lot 007-A-1.  Two veteran’s submitted applications for exemption, neither of which qualify at this time.  One was denied due to the fact that the veteran had not attained the age of 62 before April 1, 2007.  No action was taken on the other applicant as his housing completion is delayed and the application will be held on file until April 1, 2008 when it is anticipated that the house will be finished and occupied.  It was moved and seconded to approve a supplemental tax bill for the 06/07 tax year to correct an omission of 22.7 acres on Map R05 Lot 047, Charles Cromwell/C2SB, LLC.  The Selecboard unanimously approved the supplement.  An abatement and corrective Supplemental bill came before the board with regards to a building that was incorrectly assessed to Richard Burgess on Map U04 Lot 002-02.  The warehouse building should have been assessed to Paul Properties, LLC on map u04 Lot 002-A. Unanimously approved. There had been inaccurate location identification on the building permit.  It was brought to the attention of the Assessing Agent that the Codes Officer does not have computer access to the TRIO assessing information in his office.  A request was put in for Ken to receive a copy of the current commitment book when the new one is printed.  It was moved and seconded to approve tree growth recertification applications for Map R04 Lot 040 equaling 88 acres.  The Selectboard unanimously approved the applications submitted by Jonathan C Burnett (50%), Charlotte C Burnett (25%) and Rebecca B Heenie (25%) who are tenants in common for that parcel of land.
f. Other:  A Woolwich resident approached the Administrator with a question to be presented to the Selectboard.  He was wondering if the Selectboard had any plans of ever building a skate park in the Town of Woolwich.  The board unanimously said no.  

Adjournment 7:45 PM.

                                        Lynette R. Eastman


Approved:_____________________

cc: Selectmen/Staff



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