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SELECT
BOARD MEETING 8-4-2008 PRESENT: Craig Poulin, Chairman; Paul Rooney; Denise Lindahl; Jack Driscoll, Town Administrator; Amon Morse, Road Commissioner; Peter Allen, NVC Representative; Drexell White, Harbor Master; Jerry Tucker, ACO; Barbara O’Leary, Town Clerk Citizen
Concerns: Animal Control Officer, Jerry Tucker, was present along with residents Miriam Newman and Elaine Carnahan, to discuss a dog at large issue between the two neighbors. Ms. Newman has had ongoing problems with the Carnahan’s dogs, especially their pit bulls over the years. However, she now feels this may be resolved for the time being. Ms. Carnahan stated she has installed an electric fence to keep the dogs in her yard. The most recent issue was due to one of the smaller dogs digging near a shed and getting out under the fence. This has been corrected. Jerry Tucker stated there have been problems in the past with the dogs and a summons issued. He hopes this fence will solve the problem. Craig Poulin stated no one should be afraid in their own yard and if the problem should continue the Animal Control Officer will issue a summons. Ms. Carnahan stated as money allows, she plans to install a second fence around the yard. Town Administrator, Jack Driscoll reported the office received a call about two dogs at large on Rte 1 near the Lincolnville line that had porcupine quills in their faces and darting across Rte 1. The Deputy Clerk, Robin Coombs, tried calling the ACO at home but was unable to reach him. This was a traffic and safety issue and Mr. Driscoll contacted the Lincolnville ACO who responded. Mr. Tucker stated he had been ill for a few days and has spoken to his son about relaying messages to him. Paul Rooney recommended the ACO have a Deputy Animal Control Officer, who would be available to assist the ACO if ill or not available. Jerry will ask his brother Ray if he would be interested. He was the ACO in Searsport at one time and has the training. Other dog issues included the ACO responding to dogs running loose and a bull chasing a car. The dogs were caught but had no collar or tags. The ACO will keep the dogs for the week in hopes the owner calls looking for them. If no owner is located they will be taken to the Humane Society. The bull turned out to be a moose running across the road. Another call also involved a dog on Rte 1 last week. This was a wolf hybrid that a woman put in her car and it ripped the seats apart. The woman was instructed to not put any stray animals in her car; she should call Animal Control. NVC: Peter Allen, NVC Representative had no issues to report. Craig Poulin asked Mr. Allen to have their police officer speak with children in the Village regarding bicycle helmets. He has noticed most children are not wearing helmets, which is a law. He pointed out there are several intersections in the Village where a car must come out into the road and it would be easy to hit a child riding a bike. Mr. Poulin sees this as a public safety issue. Mr. Allen is also the Safety Agent for the Village and will speak with Officer Demeo. Mr. Allen asked if the speed signs had been ordered yet. Road Commissioner, Amon Morse, said the Town has not got together with the State regarding the speed limits. Mr. Allen will be away in September but will leave instructions for someone else to help with the signs if they are ready while he is away. Harbor
Master: Drexell White reported he is still updating the moorings database. There was an issue with the new harbor channel at Saturday Cove which was enacted at the Town Meeting. A lobsterman had placed his pots in the channel unaware of the new boundaries. Once contacted the pots were moved. Last year a resident placed a mooring and was asked to move it. This was met with resistance. The mooring still has not been moved and Mr. White will write a letter stating the policy of the Town and the mooring must be moved farther out. Mr. White mentioned the issue with the Abercrombie’s boat ramp and float. Signs placed by her and the Town will help delineate these properties. Craig Poulin asked if the Town has ordered the signs. Jack Driscoll said they have not been ordered. Paul Rooney said the Town uses White Signs or Bob Remsberg to make signs. A notice was placed in Doris Moran’s newspaper article distinguishing where the Town property ends and the Abercrombie’s begins. Mr. Rooney asked if the floats should be looked at when they come out this fall for repairs. Mr. White said currently there are two different sized floats and it would be safer if they were the same. The Harbor Committee will look into this and look at any repairs. Mr. Rooney suggested contacting Viking Lumber and Northport Marine during the winter to see if the repairs could be done for less money during the off-season. Administrator’s
Report: Code
Enforcement Officer:
Paul Nyren contacted Craig Poulin with an issue of a building permit on John Boynton: Mr. Boynton came to the Office wanting a plumbing permit. When explained the Code Officer is only in on Fridays, he still wanted a permit. He was given the CEO’s phone number, the Deputy CEO was contacted and she would call Mr. Boynton when she got out of work, but still he wanted a permit. Mr. Boynton then spoke with the Administrator who explained all of the above. When Deputy Code Officer, Toupie Rooney came to the office, she explained the plumbing permit was issued last week when the plumber spoke with her and the CEO. The plumber forgot to take the permit with him. The issue was a misunderstanding, but Mr. Boynton would like an apology. Denise Lindahl stated the office does not have to put up with rude people and she has instructed the Clerk and Deputy Clerk to call the Sheriff’s Department if necessary. Marilyn
D’Agostino:
a second notice of violation has been sent with no response.
The issue remains of serving the summons when Gregory D’Agostino is not
here very long. Attorney Bill Kelly
is waiting for the Board to instruct him to add the latest violation to the
papers to be served out of State. Paul
Rooney stated the CEO does not have a problem with the driveway and felt we
should move forward. Craig Poulin
and Denise Lindahl agreed with the other violations already in place the Town
should go forward with this and get the papers served.
Jack Driscoll reminded the board Mr. Kelly had said Mr. Driscoll could
hold the paper and call the Sheriffs Department when Mr. D’Agostino was in
town, so they could be served. The
Board agreed to have the papers served to Mr. D’Agostino in E911:
changes to Under motion of Craig Poulin, second by Denise Lindahl, the Board approved this E911 change and instructed the Addressing Agent to send a letter to all residents involved. General Assistance: no new applicants. NIMS Training: The staff attended Point Lookout: Tax Assessment needs to be finalized so the Tax Commitment can be done. Discussion was held for later in the meeting. At
this time, Peter Simpson, Emergency Management Director, presented the Town’s
2008 Emergency Standard Operating Procedures for approval of the Board.
The Board signed the manual and will receive a copy when signed by Roads
& Bridges: Road Commissioner, Amon Morse, was contacted by Lane Construction regarding their paving bid. They would like to increase the approved contract amount for paving roads in Northport since materials have gone up since the bid was accepted. Amon recommended they attend the Board meeting, but they are not present. The Board agreed the contract amount is the amount that will be paid. Sian Evans 288 Bluff Road had a wash out last winter. When fixed, Ms. Evans says the Town’s contractor removed her property stakes. The stakes are in the middle of the driveway. She has also had Dan Small survey her property and the stakes remain. Mr. Morse spoke with the contractor who did not remove any stakes. He also noted Ms. Evans stated she is having a property dispute with her neighbor. Since the Town, or its contractor, did not remove the stakes, no action was taken. Nancy Metz property has water issues a culvert would resolve. However, Ms Metz will lose her parking place if a culvert goes in. She will try other methods before installing a culvert. The Clerk presented a letter from the Maine DOT to the Temple Heights Improvement Association regarding their inquiry of installing crosswalks. The letter stated that it is within the Town’s purview to install crosswalks on Town roads. The Road Commissioner and the Board were not aware of the request. After discussion it was determined not to begin placing crosswalks on Town roads and no action was taken. Paul Rooney will contact Dirigo Engineering regarding the drainage proposal near Ashley Landry and Charlie Dhyse’s properties. This is a change from Dirigo’s original review of the drainage problems. The change will put the ditching on the north side of Ashley Landry’s property. The Board agreed to go forward with this change. Other
Business: Craig
Poulin noted the Freedom of Access law now requires training for certain elected
and local officials. Town officials
will need to complete the training, which can be done through the State of TAN
BIDS: The Clerk presented 2 bids for the Town’s 2008 Tax Anticipation Note. Bids were received from: TD Bank North 2.69% interest
After discussion Craig Poulin made the following motion: Under Motion of Craig Poulin, second by Denise Lindahl, the Board voted 3-0 to accept the bid from Camden National Bank for the 2008 TAN with an interest rate of 2.61%. Commitment: Discussion followed on the value of the Erickson Foundation and its impact on the commitment of taxes. The Clerk presented different scenarios for the mil rate based on a total property value of $16 million for The Erickson Foundation. After discussion, Craig Poulin made the following motion: Under motion of Craig Poulin, second by Paul Rooney, the Board voted 3-0 to accept the revised real estate property value of $14,197,986.35 and personal property of $1,802,013.65 for The Erickson Foundation, which will set the mil rate at 13.2. Ordinances: Craig Poulin asked for an update on the ordinances needing updating. He reminded the Board the Building and Subdivision Ordinances were not submitted for approval at the town Meeting and were going to be presented at a special town meeting in the fall. Jack Driscoll reported the newly approved Site Plan Review has some discrepancies the Code Officer has identified and this should be revised and brought before the Town again for approval. No other changes have been made to the Building Ordinance or the Subdivision Ordinance. Craig Poulin also noted a leash ordinance should be drafted as well. Jack Driscoll was instructed to draft the ordinances. After further discussion it was agreed to wait till Town Meeting next May to present all of these ordinances. Clerk’s
Report: WCAP submitted a form for matching funds from the State. Since the Town approved funds to WCAP it is now eligible for matching funds. The Board agreed and signed the form. Elections Workshop. The Clerk reported there is an upcoming mandatory workshop for the Clerk in September. She would also like the Deputy Clerk, Robin Coombs and Town Bookkeeper, Vicki Eugley attend one day of the workshop when the new Central Voter Registration system is reviewed. Under motion of Craig Poulin, second by Denise Lindahl, the Board voted, 3-0 to have the Town Clerk, Deputy Clerk and Town Bookkeeper attend the Elections Conference in September 2008. The Clerk will post a notice the office will be closed on that day. Mileage
Rate: The
Clerk asked for clarification of the rate for mileage.
Discussion followed. It was
agreed to pay mileage at the rate of $0.58
per mile. Conflict
of Interest: In
a follow up item, the Clerk presented information on conflict of interest of
anyone serving on a board or committee. Under
Title 1 M.R.S.A. §2605
(4) officials must disclose their interest in a matter and abstain.
Also noted is “a board member must also abstain from participating if
he or she is related by blood or marriage by one of the adversary within the 6th
degree.” Denise Lindahl stated the
Planning Board Chairman does not always recuse himself when necessary and all
boards and committees should be reminded of this conflict of interest and the
need to abstain. Minutes
Approval: The
Clerk presented the draft minutes of July 21 & 28 for review and approval. Under
motion
of Craig Poulin, second by Paul Rooney, the Board voted 3-0 to approve the
minutes of 7-21-2008 as written. Under
motion
of Paul Rooney, second by Craig Poulin, the Board voted 3-0 to approve the
minutes of 7-28-2008 as written. With
no further business, under motion of Paul Rooney, the Board voted 3-0 to
ADJOURN. Respectfully
Submitted, Barbara
O’Leary Town
Clerk |