Select Board Minutes - 2024-07-23

Town Of Durham Selectboard Meeting Minutes Fire Station Meeting Room, 6:30 pm July 23, 2024

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

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 pm by Joe Roy, Selectboard Chair.

In Attendance: Joe Roy (Chair), Josh Klein-Golden (Vice Chair), Joe Tomm, Heather Roy, Deb Oliver and Jerry Douglass (Town Manager)

Guest(s): Chief Rob Tripp & Zeke Harris

Please Note: Audio issues occurred during the opening of the Selectboard meeting. Sound was restored at the 8:21 mark of the recording.

Chief Tripp announced the promotion of Fire Fighter George “Zeke” Harris to Lieutenant. Congratulations Lieutenant Harris!

2. Amendments to Agenda:

Add under Item Number 8 - Consent Agenda, Approve June 11, 2024 SB Meeting Minutes.

3. Public Comments: Limited to 3 Minutes Per Person

Michael Ozga (Davis Road) – Regarding the Q&A School Board Candidates on July 9, 2024

4. Old Business:

a. Continued Discussion on Selectboard Goals for 2024

Public Safety - Police presence in the Town of Durham

• Poll Question in November

• Informational Workshop

• September deadline to have it on the Ballot for November

• Facebook Invite

• September 10th SB Meeting start at 5:30pm at Durham Community School Cafeteria Regular Session following with a Public Hearing on Law Enforcement in the Town of Durham

• August 27th SB Meeting – Workshop on Fact Sheet to review before the September 10th Hearing.

The Board prioritized their goals for 2024 with economic development and public safety/law enforcement at the top of the list.

The Board discussed moving ahead with Push Notifications for the Town of Durham. Creating a QR CODE to help residents sign up to receive the notifications and using the upcoming November Election to have a sign-up table for people to join the push notification application.

Heather Roy motioned to authorize the Town Manager to sign up for push notifications for the Town of Durham. Joe Tomm seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

b. Continued Discussion on Adjusting Fee Schedules

Gravel Pits – The town generates income from the excise tax on the equipment that is used to extract gravel through registrations. The property is not taxed because it’s considered undevelopable land.

Town Office Fee Schedule

• Notary Services

Josh Klein-Golden motioned for Notary Services (Durham Resident) – First Document (No Fee), $5 per each additional document. Heather Roy seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

Joe Roy moved that Non-Resident Notary Services charged $5 per document. Josh Klein-Golden seconded; motion carries 5 – 0.

• Eureka Community Center Rental

Heather Roy motioned that the Eureka Community Building Rental line read free for non-profits, $100 for residents and $200 for non-residents. Deb Oliver seconded. Motion withdrawn by Heather Roy for further research.

c. Solid Waste Committee Updates

• Solid Waste Committee has not met since May 2024, the committee is looking for direction by the Selectboard.

• SB get frequent check-ins with the Committee

• Monthly Reports from Committee

• The SB Chair will reach out to the Solid Waste Committee Chair and ask what the committee needs from the Selectboard.

5. New Business:

a. Request for Excise Tax Refund to Resident in the amount of $112.98

• Resident registered a camper and then realized that they did not have the proper towing capacity with their truck, so they are requesting a refund on the excise tax.

• The resident returned the camper to the seller and the Bureau of Motor Vehicles is refunding the resident for the plate and registration stickers.

Durham Select Board Meeting Minutes – July 23, 2024                                              Page 2

Deb Oliver motioned to accept the reimbursement of the excise tax to the resident in the amount of $112.98. Heather Roy seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

6. Manager Report

• Town of Pownal recently started their new automated trash program with Casella and they are experiencing issues with missing bins, etc.

7. Board Member Reports

Heather Roy – (In reference to the Fire Chief’s Report) The number of car accidents is up, residents are concerned about the safety of the way people are driving.

Jerry Douglass (Town Manager) – Maine DOT reached out to the Town Manager about the intersection on Route 136 (Royalsborough Road, Rabbit Road and Quaker Meeting House Road) – it’s the third most dangerous intersection in the State of Maine. The DOT would like to join the August 27th SB Meeting to give a presentation for turning the 2- Way Stop into an All-Way Stop.

Trash Tags – The Town will need to come up with an alternative revenue collection once the automated trash pick-up system goes into effect.

8. Consent Agenda

a. Approve Minutes from July 9, 2024 Selectboard Meeting

b. Approve and Sign AP for July 23, 2024

c. Approve Minutes from June 11, 2024 SB Meeting

Josh Klein-Golden motioned to approve the consent agenda as amended with the approval of the June 11, 2024 meeting minutes added - Item C. Joe Tomm seconded; motion carried 5 – 0.

9. Upcoming Meetings and Town News

• Selectboard Meeting August 13@ Fire Station, 6:30pm & August 27th @ Fire Station, 6pm

• Resource Protection Workshop, July 31st @ Fire Station, 6:30pm

• Planning Board Meeting, August 7th @ Fire Station, 6:30pm

10. Adjourn

Josh Klein-Golden motioned to adjourn. Deb Oliver seconded; motion carried 5 – 0. Meeting adjourned at 9:05pm.

Durham Select Board Meeting Minutes – July 23, 2024                                                Page 3