Select Board Minutes - 2024-01-23

TOWN OF DURHAM SELECT BOARD

Fire Station 615 Hallowell Road, Durham, ME 04222 01/23/24 6:30 PM

MEETING MINUTES

1. Call to Order & Establishment of Quorum, Pledge of Allegiance

In Attendance: Joe Tomm (Chairman), Rich George (Vice Chair), Josh Klein-Golden, Heather Roy, Joe Roy, Jerry Douglass (Town Manager), Rob Tripp (Fire Chief) and Calvin Beaumier (Road Commissioner).

Guest(s): Members of the Budget Committee, John Talbot (Planning Board Chair) and Marc Derr

2. Amendments to Agenda:

New Business: 2024 Planning Board Recommendation for Land Use Ordinance – tabled until Tuesday, February 6, 2024 SB Meeting.

3. Public Comments: Limited to 3 Minutes Per Person – None

4. Old Business:

2024 Budget Article Recommendation

Jerry Douglass, Town Manager Updated 2024 Budget

§    Page 2 of 15 – State Revenue Sharing (Line 13-6300) changed from 675,00 to 740,214
§    Page 9 of 15 – Animal Control (Line 39-7240) changed from 20,000 to 18,650
§    Page 14 of 15 – Transfers Out (Line 99-8500) changed from 457,293 to 466,836
§    Fund Balance 445,000, with a zero (0) tax increase

The Select Board recommended for the Administration Budget in the amount of $466,156 to go on the warrant article.

Joe Roy motioned to move the building repairs maintenance line under municipal buildings to the Administration and increase it to $10,000. Heather Roy seconded for discussion. Joe Roy moved to remove his motion.

Joe Roy motioned to add a line for maintenance and repairs in the administration budget in the amount of $5,000. Heather Roy seconded. Motion carries 5 – 0.

Administration Budget adjusted to $471,156 with the additional $5,000 added for maintenance and repairs.

Eureka Community Center – Calvin Beaumier

Exterior Doors are in need of replacement – Estimated cost for the hardware and labor to replace - $20,000 Propane Heat (secondary heat source) – Estimated $8,000 - Use remaining ARPA Funds Foundation is also in need of repairs within the next couple of years.

Josh Klein-Golden motioned to transfer out $50,000 from undesignated fund balance and add to the Eureka Capital Reserve Accountt to cover replacement doors and foundation repairs, plus $9,000 in ARPA Funds to cover secondary propane heat source. Joe Roy seconded. Motion carried 4 – 1.

Select Board page 1 January 23, 2024

Joe Roy motioned to approve the Capital Reserve Account request in the amount of $516,836. Heather Roy seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

Joe Roy motioned to approve the proposed ARPA Funds in the amount of $44,630. Rich George seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

Joe Roy motioned to table the 2024 Planning Board Recommendation for Land Use Ordinance until the additional SB Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, February 6th, 2024. Heather Roy seconded. Motion carried 5 – 0.

Drafting of Union Church Warrant Article

The Board discussed how to draft the warrant for transferring the Union Church from the Town to the Durham Historical Society. The Town Manager has also been in contact with the Town Attorney for assistance in this process.

5. Manager Report:

§    Lighting upgrades at the Eureka Community Center are complete. The lights at the Town Office
     are almost complete.
§    Request to have a SB member sign AP warrant(s) once a week to avoid late fees.
§    RFP for Reevaluations sent to 12 companies and the due date is February 8th, 2024, bids go out
     February 12th, 2024.

6. Fire Chief and Road Commissioner Reports:

Fire Chief, Rob Tripp

§ The department is requesting the Select Board vote to use $20,035 from the town’s matching grant line. This is for radios purchased through county EMA. To be refunded in full by the county upon receipt of payment and delivery. The department has already taken delivery and is awaiting install.

Joe Roy motioned to pay the $20,035 bill for the fire department radios. Heather Roy seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

§    The department has just been awarded a $2,500 grant for the purchase of 5 sets of wildland gear.
     This is being provided by the State of Maine department of agriculture, conservation and forestry,
     in conjunction with the Maine Fire Chief’s Association.
§    The fire department’s budget for fiscal year 2023 has 1% remaining, as we continue to receive
     invoices for this past year.
§    We continue to hire and train new employees as our senior members start to retire out.

Road Commissioner, Calvin Beaumier

§    Storms have been coming at us every few days where we have dealt with everything from flooding
     to snow and ice to freezing rain to wind and tree damage.
§    Crews will be cleaning up debris and repairing washouts from recent rain and flood events.
§    Continued work on 2024 budget numbers and processes.
§    Working on RFP package for proposed 2024 paving.
§    Working on RFP specs for equipment trailer and mower

Select Board page 2 January 23, 2024

§   Continued work on obtaining bids for Eureka repairs as well as other municipal buildings.

7. Consent Agenda:

¨   Approve Minutes from January 9th, 2024 SB Meeting and approve and sign January 18th, 2024 AP
    Warrant.

Joe Roy moved to accept consent agenda as presented. Heather Roy seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

¨   Appointment Application – Planning Board, Alternate Member

Rich George motioned to accept Marc Derr as an alternate member of the Planning Board. Heather Roy seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

8.   Upcoming Meeting(s) and Town News:

¨ Select Board Meeting 2-06-24, 2-13-24 & 2-27-24 @ Fire Station, 6:30 pm ¨ Planning Board Meeting 2-07-24 @ Fire Station, 6:30 pm

9.   Adjourn:

Joe Roy motioned to adjourn the meeting at 9:28 pm, Heather Roy seconded. Motion carries 5 – 0.

Select Board page 3 January 23, 2024