EXECUTIVE SESSION: Motion by Phillip, seconded by Rita, at 5:00 p.m. to go into Executive Session with the Fire Chief to discuss a personnel matter. Only one other member of the Fire Department was to be present at same time in the Executive Session. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote. Motion by Dale, seconded by Phillip, at 5:35 p.m. to come out of Executive Session.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Prior to the beginning of the regular meeting at 6:00 p.m., David had Lloyd lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country.

 TAX EQUALIZATION APPRAISAL PROGRAM BID: Lloyd reported that Requests for Proposals had been mailed to eight appraisal companies but no bids had been received for the Tax Equalization Appraisal Program. The Selectmen requested Lloyd to seek proposals from other appraisal companies.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS MINUTES: Motion by Dale, seconded by Todd, to accept the minutes of the meeting of March 1, 2004 as printed. The motion passed unanimously.

 ROAD COMMISSIONER'S REPORT: Commissioner Jack Shaw reported that the icy spot on the Meadow Road was bare at present. The Selectmen requested Jack to continue a planned correction dialog with Pine Tree Engineering (PTE) and schedule a meeting in the Spring with the Road Commissioner, a PTE representative and the Selectmen.

FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT: Chief Ken Desmond reported that there had been five calls since the last Selectmen's Meeting.  

Three bids were received for the new fire truck. They were as follows:

New England Fire Equipment and Apparatus - $218,927.00 

Metalfab - $199,378.00 

McDermott & Co. - $228,562.00

208,409.00 (Option)

171,390.00 (Option)

 The bids will be analyzed by the Fire Truck Replacement Committee who will make a recommendation to the Selectmen at their March 29, 2004 meeting. Motion by Rita, seconded by Dale, to seek funding bids from local banking institutions on a $228,562.00/five year basis. The motion passed unanimously. Motion by Todd, seconded by Dale, to give the voters the choice of raising and appropriating the full amount at the May 6, 2004 Special Town Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

Roger Brawn referred to a comment made at an earlier Selectmen's Meeting concerning "a Deputy Fire Chief". He said that the comment caused people to think that he was involved in the allegation. The Selectmen assured Roger that he was not the person named in the allegation.

 OLD BUSINESS:

 a. Maintenance Issues: Randy Kaplan, a service technician with M. W. Sewall & Co. said that a derogatory comment had been made about him by Dan Skillin. Randy said that the Fire Chief advised him that Dan Skillin "didn't want Randy in the building again". Dan Skillin said that he did not make that statement but offered Randy his apology. The Board of Selectmen affirmed that Randy and M. W. Sewall & Co. representatives were most welcome in the Municipal Building.

 b. Shellfish Ordinance Changes: Steve Goodenow, Chairman of the Shellfish Committee, discussed the February 26, 2004 letter of the Department of Marine Resources concerning their refusal to back the Town in the banning of "handpicking". The Selectmen requested Lloyd to contact MMA Legal Services to get their opinion on the matter. It will be discussed again at the March 29, 2004 Selectmen's meeting.

 c. Spaulding Property Cleanup: Bill Longley said that the 180 day cleanup period expires on March 19, 2004 for the building ruins and the illegal junkyard at the Spaulding property, 276 Walker Road. Motion by Todd, seconded by Phillip, that if the property is not cleaned up by March 19, 2004 the Town Attorney is to be authorized to commence a civil suit for the full fine. The motion passed unanimously.

 d. Citizen Issue: Joan Kaplan said that her family had been persecuted for three years by Dan Skillin and she wanted it to stop. David said that the firefighters did not report directly to the Selectmen but that steps were being taken to control them.

e. Kathleen & Thomas Reed Abatement Application: Two weeks ago the Abatement Application of Kathleen & Thomas Reed for revalued marsh land failed on a 2-2 vote. Phillip said that he had been reviewing his negative vote on that application and wanted to revisit it. Motion by Phillip, seconded by Todd, to grant an abatement to Kathleen & Thomas Reed for a $14,600.00 reduction in valuation. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote.

f. Legal Fees Reimbursement Request: Heather Adams, 11 Pumping Station Road, requested reimbursement of $2,313.00 in legal and appraisal fees incurred by her in response to the Town seeking to purchase her land in connection with the proposed renovation of the Woolwich Central School. David suggested that she take the matter up with the Woolwich School Committee to get their reaction.

NEW BUSINESS:

a. MidCoast Council for Business Development and Planning Informational Briefing: Jeff Sneddon, MidCoast Council, presented a briefing on the services of his organization based on the attached handout. Jeff advised that the annual fee for Woolwich to become a member of the Council would be $4,215.00. The Selectmen decided to study the matter and consider it at their March 29, 2004 meeting.

b. Abatement Application of John & Kathrine Burne: The Assessors decided to postpone consideration of the Abatement Application of John & Kathrine Burne until their March 29, 2004 meeting. The postponement was at the request of John & Kathrine Burne.

 c. Chewonki Foundation Update: John Grill reported that the Chewonki Foundation was at the forefront of ecological improvements. He specifically mentioned the use of bio-diesel and fuel cells. John said that those efforts need to be more widely publicized locally. David suggested that the Chewonki Foundation have an informational table at the Woolwich Town Meeting. John will advise them of the offer. 

d. Town Meeting Warrant Update: Lloyd advised that the deadline for getting the Town Meeting Warrant to the publisher for inclusion in the Town Report is April 8, 2004. The deadline for the warrant to be posted is April 28, 2004. That would allow approved changes to be made to the warrant at the Selectmen's Meeting on April 26, 2004. Updates on any changes would be provided as handouts at the Town Meeting.

e. Reappointment of Primary and Alternate/Deputy Codes Enforcement Officers (CEO) and Reappointment of Primary and Alternate/Deputy Licensed Plumbing Inspectors (LPI): Motion by Todd, seconded by Phillip, to reappoint William C. Longley, Jr. as Primary CEO and LPI and to reappoint Scott Davis as Alternate/Deputy CEO and LPI. The motion passed unanimously.

f. Abatement Application/Supplemental Tax Warrant: Assessing Agent Juanita Hennessey advised the Assessors that an error in an April 1, 2003 commitment transposed tax accounts between Tracy M. Stanton and Eugene H. & Yvonne M. Stanton. Motion by Rita, seconded by Dale, to abate the amount of $34,800.00 for Tracy M. Stanton and to issue a Supplemental Tax Warrant in the amount of $2,644.33 to Eugene H. & Yvonne M. Stanton. The motion passed unanimously.

CODES ENFORCEMENT OFFICER'S REPORT: Bill Longley, Codes Enforcement Officer, advised that there had been a significant increase in the number of building permits this year. As a result of a general discussion concerning the amount of time being taken to resolve the Colfer septic issue, State Representative Carol Grose agreed to investigate the possibility of introducing emergency legislation to allow municipalities to declare a property uninhabitable when the owner refuses to correct a malfunctioning septic system.

ADJOURNMENT: 8:32 p.m. Lloyd Coombs 

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

cc: Selectmen/Staff

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