SELECTMEN'S MEETING MINUTES
Woolwich Town Office

July 17, 2006


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

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Prior to the beginning of the Selectmen's Meeting, Boy Scouts Ben Malcolm and Isaac Bush, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of our country.

MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD PRESENTATIONS: David presented Town of Woolwich Meritorious Service Awards to Boy Scouts Ben Malcolm and Isaac Bush in recognition of their Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project in the Fire Station.

BID OPENING FOR ATV TYPE FIRE VEHICLE: Bids were opened for an ATV Type Fire Vehicle as follows:

Union Farm Equipment:

Land Pride Treker 4410ST

$9,395.00

Kubota RTV900

$10,132.00

Hammond Tractor Company:

Kawasaki Mule

$11,340.00

Kubota RTV900

$10,949.00

BID REVIEW & AWARD OF ATV TYPE FIRE VEHICLE: Motion by Todd, seconded by Phillip, to accept the bid of Union Farm Equipment in the amount of $10,132.00 for the Kubota RTV900. The motion passed unanimously. Lloyd advised that the recent Special Town Meeting had authorized funding up to $9,600.00 from the Fire Truck Reserve Account for the vehicle. Ken said that the remainder would be funded from the Woolwich Fire Association monies.

PREVIOUS MEETING'S MINUTES: Motion by Dale, seconded by Rita, to approve the minutes of the Selectmen's Meeting of June 19, 2006 as printed. The motion passed unanimously.

SELECTMEN'S COMMENTS: Todd reported that Lincoln/Sagadahoc Jail Authority had a balance of $180,000.00 left at the end of the last fiscal year. Todd said that an effort was made to utilize $10,000.00 of that balance to offset additional municipal funding but without success. Phillip said that he is working on a bird flu awareness meeting that is planned for August 24, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. David advised that he is planning to be at Woolwich Day on August 5, 2006 to allow informal discussions with the public on matters of concern.

PUBLIC COMMENTS: None

ROAD COMMISSIONER'S REPORT: Road Commissioner Jack Shaw said that several citizens had called him regarding brush being left along side the roads for a considerable period of time. Jack said that the brush was left by a contractor employed by Central Maine Power Company. He advised that he has contacted the contractor and the brush is now being picked up on a more timely basis.

CEO/FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT: CEO/Fire Chief Ken Desmond reported that he had issued nine building permits since the last Selectmen's Meeting one home and eight renovations. Ken also advised that there had been eight fire calls during that same period. He also said that the Fire Department would be supporting the Road Race on Woolwich Day. There was considerable discussion concerning a ripe smell on the Mountain Road near the Woolwich Grange. Ken and Rick Lang will check it out. Todd asked whether the sign ordinance was in the process of modification. In this respect, David said that the current sign dimensions were too restrictive. Jason Shaw said that the Planning Board was reviewing the sign ordinance.

HEALTH OFFICER REPORT: Local Health Officer Jack Albis reported that he had inspected all of the food handling businesses in town and found them all to be highly satisfactory. He said that he had posted a property in Woolwich as a result of rodents but was having difficulty getting the property owner to take care of the problem. He reported on a meeting at the state with Ken and Lloyd where the state representative recommended following the Dangerous Building process to resolve the problem.

OLD BUSINESS: None.

NEW BUSINESS:

a. Resignation of WEMA Director: Motion by Dale, seconded by Rita, to accept the resignation with regret of Dan Skillin as WEMA Director. Todd said that the resignation should not be accepted until Dan had turned in his assigned equipment and the disaster emergency plan. The motion was approved on a 4-1 vote. David suggested that Ken Desmond be appointed as Interim Director with a Deputy. Motion by Phillip, seconded by Rita, to give a one year appointment to Ken Desmond as WEMA Director with Dickey Brigance as Deputy Director and to revisit the position in July of 2007. Todd said that Ken had not accomplished all of his assignments during the past year. The motion passed on a 3-2 vote.

b. Resignation of Deputy Codes Enforcement Officer/LPI: Motion by Rita, seconded by Todd, to accept the resignation of Scott Davis with regrets. The motion passed unanimously. Ken will contact Rick Lang to see if he will agree to fill the vacancy on a mutual aid basis.

c. Health Insurance Benefits: The Selectmen reviewed and discussed the attached memorandum from Jeanne Bernard that requested a stipend in lieu of health benefits coverage. That memo noted that the town currently pays 90% of the health benefits costs of the other three fulltime employees. The Selectmen decided that they needed further information and requested Lloyd to research the enactment of the Town of Woolwich Personnel policy. Motion by Dale, seconded by Phillip, to table the matter until the next Selectmen's Meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

d. Election of MMA's Legislative Policy Committee: Motion by Rita, seconded by Dale, to cast one ballot for Chester Garrison. The motion passed unanimously.

e. Election of MMA's Executive Committee Officers & Directors: Motion by Phillip, seconded by Dale, to cast one vote for all Executive Committee candidates who are running without opposition and to cast one vote for Vice President for Janet White, Chairman Board of Selectmen of New Portland. The motion passed unanimously.

f. Sagadahoc County Communications Center (SCCC) Board of Directors: Motion by Dale, seconded by David, to reaffirm the Town's support for the SCCC Board of Directors and to appoint Rita A. Sturtevant as its representative. The motion passed on a 4-0-1 vote.

g. Agriculture & Forestry Committee Appointment: Motion by Todd, seconded by Phillip, to appoint Robert S. Rollins, Sr. to a term on the Agriculture & Forestry Committee that will end on May 1, 2008. The motion passed unanimously.

h. Midcoast Military Redevelopment Zone: Motion by Todd, seconded by Rita, for the Town of Woolwich to participate in the Midcoast Military Redevelopment Zone Program. The motion failed on a 1-4 vote.

i. Award of Office Renovation Contract: Motion by Dale, seconded by Rita, to award the Office Renovation Contract to Maine Frame Builders (John Vigue) at a price of $8,000.00 (Surface Mounted Counter Shutter Option). The motion passed unanimously.

j. Veterans Exemption Application: Motion by Phillip, seconded by Rita, to approve the Veterans Exemption Applications of David L. Andrews, Vernon F. Brackett and Carroll R. Redding and Widow's Exemption Application of Karen D. Brown. The motion passed unanimously. Motion by Todd, seconded by Rita, to approve the Veterans Exemption Applications of Juanita J. Ponziana, Herbert Koehnlein and Ralph Rogers. The motion failed on a 0-5 vote.

k. Open Space Applications:

(1) Donald & Shirley Rachwal - Motion by Phillip, seconded by Rita, to table the application of Donald & Shirley Rachwal pending receipt of further detail of the public benefit claimed. The motion passed unanimously.

(2) Katherine & Mark Wheeler - Motion by Rita, seconded by Todd, to approve the application of Katherine & Mark Wheeler as Ordinary Open Space. The motion passed unanimously.

l. Other

(1) Selectmen/School Building Committee Workshop: The Selectmen asked Lloyd to schedule a workshop with the School Building Committee on Monday, July 31, 2006, at the Town Office at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the contracting process for the School Building Repairs and the potential new school.

(2) Computer Maintenance: Motion by Phillip, seconded by Rita, to award the contract for Information Technology Managed Services to Burgess Computer at a price of $399.00 per month. The motion passed on a 4-1 vote.

(3) Town Owned Vehicle Policy: By consensus, the Selectmen established a policy that the 1996 Ford Crown Victoria sedan was for the exclusive use of the Fire Chief/Codes Enforcement Officer. They requested Lloyd to send a memo to Ken advising him of that policy.

Adjourn 8:25 p.m.

Lloyd Coombs

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

cc: Selectmen/Staff

 

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