Selectmen Meeting Minutes

Town of Mount Desert

Board of Selectmen

Meeting Minutes

A meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held this date in the Meeting Room, Town Hall, Northeast Harbor, Maine.

Those present included:  Chairman John Macauley, Selectmen Matt Hart and Martha Dudman, Town Manager Durlin Lunt, Police Chief Jim Willis, Public Works Director Tony Smith, Harbormaster John Lemoine, and members of the public.  

Chairman Macauley called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.

        There were no public hearings.

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, to approve the Minutes as presented.  Motion approved 3-0.

Minutes were tabled for lack of a quorum.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, the confirmation of Ed Montague as Wastewater Superintendent at an annual salary of $55,000.00 effective June 6, 2016.  Motion approved 3-0

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, the confirmation of Chad Erwin as Motor Equipment Operator II at $18.57 per hour effective June 6, 2016.  Motion approved 3-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, confirmation the appointments of Zachary Allen and Christopher Johannson as Part-time Dispatchers and Part-time Patrol Officers effective June 7, 2016.  Motion approved 3-0

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved with Selectman Dudman seconding, confirmation the appointment of Ben Hamor to the Shellfish Committee for a two-year term.  Motion approved 3-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to approve the appointment of Ninette Ferm as Warden for the June 14, 2016 State Primary Election, Pursuant to 21-A §501.  Motion approved 3-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectmen Dudman seconding, to approve the appointment of Barbara Dickson as Deputy Registrar for the June 14, 2016 Primary Election, Pursuant to 21-A §.  Motion approved 3-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to accept with regret the Resignation.  Motion approved 3-0.

Selectman Dudman recognized the very nice Thank You received.

Selectman Hart requested to discuss Item F further.  He asked for more information regarding the trial.  Public Works Director Tony Smith provided details of the situation.  

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, approval of the Consent Agenda as presented.  Motion approved 3-0.  

Chairman Macauley noted there was an Otter Creek speeding data report.  Police Chief Willis reported on the report.  The department took a 40-day sampling of speeds.  Chief Willis provided details of the statistics gathered.  Based on the information gathered, patrols can be scheduled where deemed best.

Mr. Smith noted this was regarding the replacement of the Bracy Cove Pump Station.  The funds were approved at Town Meeting.  

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, approving Olver Associates for the Bracy Cove Pump Station Professional Technical Services.  Motion approved 3-0.

Director Smith noted the bids he received for the work came back out of line with estimates.  His recommendation is to construct the ramp this year, and request additional funds for the pier at next year’s Town Meeting.  

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, to approve the construction of just the ramp to be completed on or before June 30, 2016 for a price of $22,000.00, which includes the bid price of $19,000.00 plus $3,000.00 for additional riprap, with funds for this work to be drawn from those approved under Article 27 of the 2015 Town Meeting warrant identified as account number 3000031-40390, as recommended by Public Works Director Tony Smith.  Motion approved 3-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, approval of the license.   Motion approved 3-0.

Chief Willis noted there have never been dedicated funds for enforcement of shellfish or animal control.  The Shellfish Committee has requested enhanced enforcement.  There is money in reserve accounts for these budgets.  This money comes from licensing.  

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, to transfer funds for shellfish and animal control enforcement activities to include wages, benefits, uniforms, equipment, training, with meals and lodging, mileage, fuel, vehicle cost, contracted services, conservation supplies, and other related expenses.  This would include an inter-fund transfer of $2500.00 to the Shellfish Revenue Account (#1440500-40502) from Shellfish Reserve Account (#400-2950).  This would also include an inter-fund transfer of $1000.00 to the Animal Control Revenue Account (#14407004052) from Animal Welfare Reserve Account (#400-24204).  Motion approved 3-0.

Public Works Director Tony Smith noted that in Somesville a culvert needs replaced by the DOT.  This will allow the DOT to travel Town roads over the Town’s posted speed limit if necessary.  

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding to approve the request.  Motion approved 3-0.  

Town Manager Durlin Lunt reminded the Board of the change to the Village Green ordinance which requires the Board to review placement of objects like memorials.  

Selectman Dudman inquired where the proposed stone bench would go.  She wondered if Suminsby Park was the best place for a bench of this type.  She suggested that perhaps the harbor area would be a better choice.  Selectman Hart suggested conferring with the Garden Club to find a place to use the bench.  It was noted that stone benches are out of character for the area, and perhaps a different style bench would be preferred.  

It was suggested that Mr. Lunt get the person requesting the bench in touch with Ellie Andrews.  

Police Chief Willis noted that when Police Officers and Dispatchers work holidays they are given an 8-hour comp day.  He noted that the Town of Bar Harbor accrues the hours worked and employees receive a check at the end of the year.  He requested the same system for the Town of Mount Desert.  

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, to approve the proposed amendment to the Holiday Pay Section of the Personnel Manual, Section 6.3.6.1 as presented.  Motion approved 3-0.

Chief Willis explained the system for providing an additional layer of authority to the Town.  To clarify the relationship Mr. Willis requested authorization to sign the MOU.  

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, approval of authorization to sign the MOU.  Motion approved 3-0.

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, authorization to purchase the new snow plow for $7950.00 from the Public Works Equipment Reserve Account 4050100-24500.  Motion approved 3-0.

Town Manager Lunt noted there was no price for the postcard survey determined yet, but he estimated approximately $1500.00.  The money would have to be taken out of the contingency account.  Selectman Hart noted there was some consulting money approved at the Town Meeting.  Taxpayers would be asked about their internet usage.  

MOTION:  Selectman Dudman moved, with Selectman Hart seconding, approval to authorize the Broadband Committee Post Card Survey.  Funding would be provided from the Contingency Fund, (#122000159350).  Motion approved 3-0.

Steve Smith of Otter Creek voiced concerns about Otter Creek.  He mentioned the proposed legislation with regard to Schoodic and inquired whether the Board had discussed it.  Discussion ensued regarding the legislation.  

Mr. Smith also noted there were several issues in Otter Creek the residents there would like to straighten out.  He listed several of the issues:  a fresh water hookup to the fisherman’s landing was desired, an exit from the landing, the vista cleared so the creek was visible, and cleaning Otter Creek were mentioned.  Mr. Smith added there were several other issues as well.  He requested the Board schedule a time to meet with regard to these issues.  

Chairman Macauley noted that a prioritized, comprehensive list of requests was necessary.  The list should be prioritized so those items felt to be the most important could be addressed first.  Mr. Macauley also felt it needed to be determined which of the items truly would require legislation and which could be handled more simply.  Selectman Dudman suggested getting some of the other concerned citizens of Otter Creek to attend a meeting would be helpful.  

Discussion ensued regarding who might be good to attend the meeting.

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, to approve warrant AP1678 in the amount of $430,138.18;  approve signed Treasurer’s Payroll, State Fees, & PR Benefit Warrants AP1675, AP1676, AP1677, PR1647, PR1648, and PR1649 in the amounts of $3,010.00, $26,518.12, $3,887.06, $44,076.71, $42,614.79, and $44,354.40, respectively;  acknowledge Treasurer‘s School Board AP/Payroll Warrant(s) 13, 24, and 25 in the amounts of $31,624.29, $148,304.89, and $81,959.86, respectively

as presented.  Motion approved 3-0.

None Scheduled.

MOTION:  Selectman Hart moved, with Selectman Dudman seconding, to adjourn the meeting.  Motion approved 3-0.

Meeting adjourned at 4:28.

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew J. Hart, Secretary