Town of Sabattus

Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes

July 10, 2007

 

 Roll Call of Board of Selectmen:

 Present:  Bill Henshaw, Chairman

 Present: Guy P. Desjardins, Selectman

 Present: Gino R. Camardese, Selectman

 Absent: Mark R. Duquette, Selectman

 Present: Paul W. Loesberg, Selectman

 

In Attendance:

Gregory Gill, Town Manager                                           Normand LaPlante

Suzanne Adams, Town Clerk                                          Mary LaPlante

Thomas Fales, Police Chief                                            Will Fessenden

John Hyde, Road Foreman                                              Donald Therrien, Fire Department

Jerry Sabins, Transfer Station Manager                        Chris Morin, EMA Assistant

Robert Scott, Fire Chief                                                    George Merrill, Fire Department

Andre Marquis, EMA Director                                           Mike Yohe

Bertrand Larochelle, Transfer Station                           Joe Disselkamp

Joline Lacoste, School Board Member

 

Motion to accept the Meeting Minutes of July 3, 2007 made by Selectman Gino Camardese and seconded by Selectman Paul Loesberg.

All in Favor.

 

Department Heads:

 

Thomas Fales, Police Chief-Informs the Board that he is checking on prices for a new server for the Town Office.

 

Gregory Gill, Town Manager-

1.       Review Delinquent Taxes-Delinquent taxes outstanding as of Friday June 29, 2007 is $46,834.73 consisting of 50 accounts. Delinquent taxes collected from Friday June 29 through Friday July 6 was $3,240.89.

 

Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report as read made by Selectman Gino Camardese and seconded by Selectman Paul Loesberg.

All in Favor.

 

2.       Maine Department of Transportation- -Asks the Board to sign the Urban-Rural Initiative Program. This will give the Town an estimated amount of $50,256.00 to repair roads. It is signed by the Board.

 

Motion to accept the Urban-Rural Initiative Program in the amount of $50,256.00 made by Selectman Gino Camardese and seconded by Selectman Paul Loesberg.

All in Favor.

 

3.       Requesting to form a “Solid Waste & Recycling Committee-This is due to the reduction of the Transfer Station’s Budget at the Town Meeting of about $15,000.00.  The Committee could find ways of increasing our recycling to reduce our tipping rates.  Has already asked Jerry not to get rid of the two containers that he is replacing, we may be able to use them as recycle containers.  The Town Manager will set up the first two Agendas and then sit in the rest of the meetings. Requests permission for the Committee to have nine members. 

 

Motion to allow the Town Manager to set up a Solid Waste & Recycling Committee to have no more than nine members made by Selectman Paul Loesberg and seconded by Selectman Gino Camardese.

All in Favor.

 

4.       Requesting to form an “Update to the Comprehensive Plan Committee”-Informs the Board that our current Comprehensive Plan does not have a capital improvement section or the word zoning.  Without zoning, anyone can move in next to you which could mean lowering the value of your property. This can keep businesses from coming in because they don’t know if the land is protected. This Committee would envision what the Town of Sabattus could be in ten or fifteen years. This could also diversify our tax base without hurting the schools. Selectman Guy Desjardins suggests that  the Committee include a Selectman, Planning Board member and the CEO.

 

Motion to allow the Town Manager to form an Update to the Comprehensive Plan Committee to have no more than fifteen members made by Selectman Paul Loesberg and seconded by Selectman Gino Camardese.

All in Favor.

 

5. AVCOG-Informs the Board that he received a call from Bob Thompson the Executive Director of the                Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments. A letter was sent in June and he wanted to know if the two present members were still going to be on the Board. He asks the Board if Sabattus is a Charter member of the Executive Committee. He is told to go ahead and give Bob Thompson a call.

 

John Hyde, Road Foreman-

1.       Computer and printer- Received a computer from the Selectmen’s office and Chief Fales is currently searching for a printer. Don Therrien from the Fire Department informs the Board that there are two printers at the Fire Station not being used. This will be looked into to see if one can be used.

2.       New Air Compressor- Received three bids for the new compressor.  The lowest bid came from Trask-Decrow Machinery for $2,285.00. The funds to come out of the garage tools account.

 

Motion to allow the purchase of the air compressor from Trask-Decrow Machinery for $2,285.00 made by Selectman Gino Camardese and seconded by Selectman Paul Loesberg.

All in Favor.

 

3.       Request Electrical Upgrade for Compressor-This will continue until the 17th.

4.       Discuss safety works walk-thru-continue until July 17th.

5.       Carry-over accounts-Questions the balances on carry-over accounts. Selectman Guy Desjardins responds that all carry-overs amounts must be audited before they are posted to the accounts. Asks Greg to contact our auditor Bruce Nadeau to get the audit done as soon as possible.

 

Jerry Sabins, Transfer Station Manager

1.       Open & Review applications received-One position to fill, part-time recycling attendant.  Informs the Board that he and Greg looked over the applications and have scheduled two interviews for Friday morning. This will be continued on next week’s Agenda.

2.       New Program- Is starting the new program as of Wednesday. The Transfer Station will be recycling #1-7 HDEP plastic. This symbol is shown on the bottom of the containers and they are requesting that the caps are removed and the containers rinsed.

 

Andre Marquis, EMA Director-Informs the Board that he has e-mailed the Androscoggin EMA Director, Joanne Potvin  to see what dates that she has free to set up our Emergency Meetings.

 

Comments from the Floor:

 

Donald Therrien, Fire Department-Asks the Board, what the procedure is for requesting an Executive Session concerning issues in the Fire Department. The Board suggests that they schedule a workshop instead.  This will be scheduled for July 24th after the Selectmen’s Meeting.

 

Jerry Sabins, Transfer Station Manager-Asks when everyone will receive the new revaluation paperwork. He is told that Vision Appraisal has turned everything to Donna Hayes our Appraiser.  She thinks that the mobile home values are still too high and is looking over everything otherwise the Town will receive a huge number of  abatements.

 

Mike Yohe, owner of Mixers-Asks about the procedures of setting up a new business. Thought that all businesses needed to go before the Planning Board even though they want to locate in the mall. He is told that it would be best if he attended the next Planning Board Meeting.

 

Joline Lacoste, School Board Member-Informs the Board about the School consolidation. As of right now, they have not found a community to consolidate with. Other localities feel that we are not pro school because of this year’s Town Meeting. The School Board is looking to form a “Reorganization Planning Committee.”  Is seeking one Selectman, one School Board Member and one citizen from each town.

 

 

Motion to go into Executive Session at 7:20 for Personnel matters pursuant to 1MRSA, Sec.405,(6) (A) after a ten minute break made by Selectman Paul Loesberg and seconded by Selectman Gino Camardese.

All in Favor

 

Motion to move out of Executive Session and go into regular session at 9:00 made by Selectman Gino Camardese and seconded by Selectman Paul Loesberg.

All in Favor

 

Motion to adjourn at 9:01 made by Selectman Gino Camardese and seconded by Selectman Paul Loesberg.

Three in Favor. Selectman Guy Desjardins opposed.

 

 

Selectman Meeting Minutes of July 10, 2007, Accepted On__ ___    , 2007.

 

______________________________                                                 

Bill Henshaw, Chair

 

______________________________

Paul Loesberg, Selectman

 

______________________________

Gino R. Camardese, Selectman

 

______________________________

Mark R. Duquette, Selectman

 

______________________________

Guy Desjardins, Selectman

 

MEETING MINUTES COMPILED BY SUZANNE ADAMS, TOWN CLERK