SELECTMEN’S MEETING
May 1, 2018
1.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA:
Ed
Walsh made a motion to approve the agenda, seconded by Kimberly
Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the agenda was approved.
2. MINUTES
OF LAST MEETING:
Ed
Walsh made a motion to approve the minutes for April 10, 17, and 24,
2018, seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the
minutes were approved.
3. DEPARTMENT
HEAD / COMMITTEE CHAIR UPDATES:
None
4.
OLD BUSINESS:
A. Atlantic
Broadband Agreement
The
Town Administrator, Jennifer Roux provided a recap on where this
stood. The agreement is not yet signed. The Board asked that
Bourque and Clegg review the Atlantic Broadband agreement draft
versus the Metrocast agreement. After review of said agreement
draft, they pointed out several instances whereas the Atlantic
Broadband agreement extended the life and time to their benefit on
established items in the Metrocast agreement. Examples included but
are not limited to the extension of service based on the number of
homes, liability insurance, restoration turnaround times, etc. A list
was provided to the Board and they will review and rebut that we want
many of these things to stay as they were. If you have any
questions ask one of the Selectmen or the Town Administrator.
B. Mass
Gathering Permit, Dead Beat Customs
The
Town Administrator researched, as requested by the Board, into the
background of Dead Beat Customs and their past events. Mrs. Roux
found no incidents and everything looked good historically. Elise
Miller indicated that the Board will recommend to them that they have
a deputy on duty that evening for traffic and it was noted that the
Sheriff department always has copies of mass permits and will be on
alert as well. Ed Walsh made a
motion to approve the Dead Beat Custom’s mass gathering permit,
seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, permit was
signed and granted.
C.
Marijuana Public Hearing
Jennifer
Roux indicated she had a follow up from last week discussions and
questions proposed by Mr. Nass. Proposed questions were: “Will you
allow nonresidents to attend the public hearing and speak?
Response, anyone can attend the public hearing. Only property owners
or residents will be allowed to speak. “Are you going to set time
limits on the speakers?” Yes, three minutes and no rebuttals or
comebacks. “What role do you want the Marijuana committee to take
at the public hearing?” As long as it pertains to the question on
the ballot, only a couple of minutes pertaining to the history of the
committees role. Ms. Roux reiterated that they wanted to make sure
all the questions and items discussed would only pertain to that one
question on the ordinance. Mr. Nass stood and asked them to clarify
the no comebacks if by answering questions they had to come back up.
Ms. Miller commented the hearing is just for the ballot and suggested
there be a different type of gathering after the public hearing to
answer all those other varying questions.
5. NEW
BUSINESS:
A. Cemetery
Check Request
The
Town Administrator ordered flags for the Cemetery committee.
Initially is was quoted at $500, however it was actually $650. She
needs the Boards authorization to pay the extra amount on the card.
B. Purchasing
Policy
The
Treasurer met with FEMA this week to go over roads and emergency
management items. They were looking for our purchasing policy. She
has drafted one which you can take with you tonight and put on the
agenda for next week. If you have any questions, maybe you can email
them to me in advance so they can be addressed ahead of time.
Basically everything we already have in place is on here, it is just
formalized into a policy. We are hoping to get it signed in the next
week or two.
C. 18-19
Mowing Contract
Jennifer
Roux indicated any work done for the town which exceeds $5,000 needs
to go out to bid. Looking at the 18-19 mowing contractor, the amount
is under the $5,000 mark. She also noted was that we have had the
same contractor for many years. Everyone is happy with the services
provided and the owner is willing to leave costs at the same price as
last year. There was a question which arose to whether he will need
to add the recreation fields or not. However, Brian White does those
fields and intends to continue to do them. For this new contract
nothing has changed. Jennifer Roux asked the Board if we want to
continue with his services or does it need to go out to bid?
Ed Walsh made a motion to waive the bidding process and continue
services with Ham’s property for the same amount as prior years,
seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the Town
Administrator will draw up a contract for the Board to sign next
week.
D. Special
Town Meeting
We
have to have a special town meeting because we went over winter
maintenance more than the 15% permitted by law. The Board has also
seen emails from the rec center regarding electrical work to be done.
Due to time constraints it can not be expended by June 3oth, so an
article will need to be placed on the annual town meeting warrant for
18/19 with work starting July 1. After talking to all parties
involved July 1 was the safest bet. With your permission, we are
calling back the Warrant/Finance committee to make a recommendation
on this special town warrant, so at the same time we will let them
know we have added article 77 to seek the town vote to appropriate
dollars from the recreation capital improvement fund for the
operation to expend that account.
E. 18-19
Annual Town Meeting
With
the Board’s approval, we have a date for the 18-19 Annual Town
meeting which is May 23rd at 6 pm. The Board indicated
that they would like the time to be 7 pm. The only article on the
agenda is to ratify the overdraft of winter maintenance. If monies
are not expended, it will go back into their account.
Articles
9, 10, 11 and 12 are all containing to zoning. After meeting with
the code enforcement officer to review, the Board wanted to vote on
all of them together.
Article
13 Acton Fire Rescue ordinance addressing the appointment of
officers. Ed Walsh made a motion to approve articles 13 as written,
seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the motion
carried.
Article
14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 were reviewed. Ed Walsh made a motion to
approve articles 14 through 19 as written, seconded by Kimberly
Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the motion carried.
Article
20 – Maximum Rate for Abatement. This article is to approve the
amount of interest to be charged after October 16th
and April 16th,
the maximum is 8%. Ed Walsh made a motion to approve the maximum
amount (8%), seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor,
the motion carried.
Article
21, 22, 23, 24,25 were reviewed. Ed Walsh made a motion to set
Article 21 rate at 4% and to approve articles 21 through 25 as
written, seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the
motion carried.
The rest of the articles will be reviewed at the next meeting.
F. Maple
Stone Donation
Maple
Stone was in today. The Town Administrator showed the Board pictures
of picnic tables made by the children of the community. They would
like to donate one for goat hill. All they get is the community
service hours. So, if you accept the donation, we can sign off on the
hours. The Board agreed to accept the donation.
Culverts
on H Road issue was resolved with property owners and Code
Enforcement officer on a conference call.
G. Downstairs
Office
Ken
Paul would like to turn the rec room downstairs into his office and
reassign the other offices and space. Jennifer Roux will sit down
with him in a few days to review requirements and costs. The Board
agrees with the increase of staff, the Town Administrator will work
on it next week. Elise Miller asked if we should involve Peter with
equipment that might need to move. Mrs. Roux will contact Peter.
6. PUBLIC
COMMENT:
Lois
Michaud: Asked about the purchase of the flags as they are waiting.
She also wanted to thank Jennifer Roux for doing the Warrant/Finance
committee meeting and asked if they could compensate. Jennifer
thanked them and explained since she is on salary it is part of her
position and not the agreement that she be additionally compensated.
The Board thanked her for her consideration. Thirdly, Lois was asking
about 2 veterans graves that were unattended. It will be addressed
in a letter being sent to Three Rivers Land Trust on another matter.
Joe
D. from Lakeside Drive
wanted to clarify 2 items for the record. 1) There were 3 residences
on the unpaved portion of Buzzel Road and 2) it is only this past
year that snow plowing was stopped at the end of the payment area.
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BOS Office Hours First, Second and Third Thursday of Each
Month 7:00 to 8:00 pm
05/11/2018 Spaghetti Dinner, 5:30 to 7 pm, $5 donation, to support
Odyssey of the Mind
05/15/2018 Public Hearing on Marijuana Ordinance, 7 pm
Copies of ordinance are available in Town Office
05/16/2018 Candidates Night, tentatively 7 pm
05/17/2018 Acton Planning Board Public Hearing, 7 pm
Conditional use permit requested by Richard Leaknee, Map 235 Lot
011
to establish an automotive repair facility
8. UPCOMING MEETINGS:
05/01/2018 BOS, 5 pm
05/03/2018 Planning Board, 7 pm
05/08/2018 BOS, 5 pm
05/15/2018 BOS, 5 pm
05/15/2018 Marijuana Public Hearing, 7 pm
05/17/2018 Planning Board, 7 pm
05/17/2018 Recreational Committee Meeting, 7 pm
05/22/2018 BOS, 5 pm
5/24/2018 Cemetery Committee Meeting, 5 pm
05/29/2018 BOS, 5 pm
Elise Miller announced that the Library has passes for the Children
Museum and Theater, Portland, Me. 1 pass per family per day.
Ed Walsh made a motion to adjourn,
seconded by Kimberly Stacey-Horn. All were in favor, the meeting was
closed
9. MEMBERS PRESENT:
Ed
Walsh, Selectmen, Elise Miller, Selectmen, Kimberly Stacey-Horn,
Selectmen,
and Jennifer Roux, Town Administrator
10. OTHERS PRESENT:
Unavaiable