Selectmen Meeting Minutes

Town of Mount Desert

Board of Selectmen

Selectmen present were Chairman John Macauley, Selectmen Martha Dudman, Matt Hart, and Brian Reilly.

Harbormaster John Lemoine, Public Works Director Tony Smith, Fire Chief Mike Bender, Town Clerk Claire Woolfolk, Town Manager Durlin Lunt, and Police Chief Jim Willis were in attendance, as well as members of the public.

        Chairman Macauley called the Meeting to order at 6:30.

        

There were no Public Hearings.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to approve the December 19, 2016 Minutes as presented.  Motion approved 3-0-1 (Reilly in Abstention).

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to approve the December 27, 2016 Minutes as presented.  Motion approved 4-0.

Chairman Macauley voiced appreciation for the work Selectman Reilly did while on the Board.  Selectman Reilly stated that he has enjoyed his time on the Board and regretted having to step down, due to a move out of the area.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Reilly seconding, to approve the Consent Agenda as presented.

Selectman Dudman enquired whether the Town would receive any of the Hancock County Planning Commission funding.  Public Works Director Smith noted the money was usually earmarked for lower income communities.  

Motion approved 4-0.

Chairman Macauley asked Public Works Director Smith for a report on the solar arrays proposed.  

Director Smith summarized the Sustainability Committee has been in discussion with Revision about the possibility of erecting solar panels in the Town.  Currently the site for the arrays is the Highway Garage roof.  The Town has received two Power Purchase Agreements from Revision.  These are determined to be reasonable proposals.  

Revision has proposed furnishing and installing at their cost the arrays.  The Town will purchase electricity from the arrays.  The Town will have the option to buy the arrays after six years.  The price then will be $109,000.00, subject to change to due to issues found during inspection.  Once purchased, the Town will get the power generated from the arrays for free.  The life expectancy is expected to be approximate 40 years, with the inverters requiring replacement at 15 years.  Director Smith is asking for authorization to pursue further negotiations toward a final draft of the Power Purchase Agreement.  The issue would have to be presented at Town Meeting.  Director Smith hoped to have authorization due to budgeting schedules.  

Director Smith stated the power purchased would be competitively priced against Emera, and Revision is able to purchase the equipment at a better rate than the Town could because Revision buys a larger quantity of equipment than the Town does and Revision can take advantage of federal tax credits.  Other places for the arrays have been looked at as well.

MOTION:  Selectman Reilly moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to authorize Public Works Director Smith to continue negotiations with Revision for the solar array installation.  Motion approved 4-0.

        There was no Old Business to discuss.

MOTION:  Selectman Reilly moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, to approve the Public Space Special Event Application for the Horseless Carriage Club of America on the Northeast Harbor Marina Green June 27 and 29, 2017.

Town Manager Lunt noted a small amount of cars would be parked there, but it was not a formal car show.  

Motion approved 4-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Reilly moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to authorize the Harbor Master to solicit bids for the replacement, delivery, and installation of 2 (two) 20’ X 20’ floats at the Seal Harbor Pier.  The money would come from Seal Harbor docks CIP reserve account #4010200-24600.  Motion approved 4-0.

Harbormaster Lemoine noted the money was in the CIP fund.  The floats in question are on schedule for replacement.  Old floats will be sold for a small amount.  

Selectman Hart felt there were three options:  To allow the position to remain empty, to hold a special election for a new Selectman, or to appoint a new Selectman.  It was agreed to fill the position by appointment as is customary.  The Board would ask for recommendations, with the goal of having a newly appointed Selectman in place for the February 2017 meetings.   With enough interest, the Board could conceivably appoint a new member in at the next meeting.

This item was resolved and taken off the agenda.

A review of the budget was made.  

Chairman Macauley asked about cell phone usage.  Fire Chief Bender noted there was a cell phone per fire truck, used as backup communication.  Police Chief Willis noted cell phones have been removed from police cars, and police are using data modems.  

Discussion of the issue with radio communication problems followed.  Chief Willis reported the Town may be allowed to use the Cadillac Mountain tower, with frequencies provided for the Town’s use.  If this change occurs, new radios will be necessary and the Town would need to decide on digital or analog radios.  Chief Willis was cautiously hopeful this change would come to pass and relieve many of the Town’s problems with radios.

Chairman Macauley inquired about the two fire fighter positions.  Chief Bender noted the amount for salaries had increased for the coming year.  Chairman Macauley requested the number of new employees be stated in the budget.

Chief Bender noted the heating oil price had risen for Somesville.  He had been advised to estimate the oil price at $2.80 per gallon.  The same gallons are estimated for use at the higher price.  The burner in Somesville had been replaced approximately two years ago.  The burner in Seal Harbor is scheduled for replacement in another year or two.

Selectman Reilly asked why the Maine PERS was budgeted up.  Town Manager Lunt felt the amount should go down with changes to the Police plan.  The rate has gone up for some of the others.  The amount is dependent on how much employees make.  

Chief Bender noted the money budget for building maintenance has traditionally been estimated for all three stations in one lump sum.  He is trying to break the amounts out to better track the costs.  After a year or two these amounts should be more clearly reflective of what’s spent at each station.  

With regard to custodial services, Chief Bender noted an outside contractor does the restrooms in all three stations two days a week.  The price includes travel and mileage for the work.  This price does not include cleaning the common rooms.  

Town Manager Lunt asked if the Board would at the next meeting make some decisions on the Town Report and Dedications.  

Additionally, a picture for Tom Richardson was discussed.  It was agreed to contact Mr. Richardson and ask him to come to the Town Offices.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to approve and sign Treasurer’s Warrant AP1738 in the amount of $164,534.79 and approve signed Treasurer’s Payroll, State Fees, & PR Benefit Warrants AP1736, AP1737, and PR1716 in the amounts of $2,808.00, $1,321.81, and $97,415.76, respectively.  Motion approved 4-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Reilly seconding, to acknowledge Treasurer’s School Board AP/Payroll Warrant 13 in the amount of $157,165.44.  Motion approved 3-0-1 (Macauley in Abstention)

MOTION:  Selectman Reilly moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to adjourn the meeting.  Motion approved 4-0.

Meeting was adjourned at 7:10 PM.

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew J. Hart, Secretary