Select Board Meeting ~ December 23, 2025

2025-12-23 · Select Board · 20:45 · watch on YouTube →

Regular Select Board meeting at the fire station on December 23, 2025, with a short agenda and no old or new business. The board approved the minutes of the December 9 meeting and the consent agenda. Town manager Jerry (?) reported that public works is down one full-time plow operator and that the town may temporarily rehire a former employee, and he previewed two presentations set for December 27: Maine DOT on safety on Route 136, and WasteZero on a pay-as-you-throw trash program. Rebecca (?) reported that the early childhood development task force has finished its work and that its recommendations go to the school board on January 14. The remainder of the meeting was year-end remarks from the manager and board members, followed by the consent agenda, the AP warrants and the schedule of upcoming meetings.

No written minutes could be matched to this meeting. The transcript records that the speaker changed but never who was speaking, so any name attached to a statement below is inferred from context and is marked (?).

What was discussed

1. 1:45
   Call to order, agenda amendments and public comment

   The chair opened the meeting at the fire station and led the pledge of allegiance. There were no amendments to the agenda and no public comment. Josh (?) moved and John (?) seconded approval of the minutes of the December 9 meeting.

2. 7:01
   Old and new business

   The board had no old business and no new business.

3. 7:01
   Town manager's report: public works staffing

   Jerry (?) said he would work from home part of the following week and be reachable by email and phone. He reported public works is down one full-time plow operator, that a route normally takes about two hours and crews are covering for each other, and that the town may temporarily rehire a former employee who is laid off over the winter.

4. 7:01
   Upcoming presentations and workshop items

   Jerry (?) said Betsy and Mark will attend on January 13 to cover what remains in the employee handbook, and that George will be there for the land use amendments. On December 27 Maine DOT is to present on safety on Route 136 and WasteZero is to present on the pay-as-you-throw program, with the solid waste committee expected to recommend that route.

5. 7:01
   Crash involving a dump truck at the pit

   A board member said a colleague who handles serious bodily injury crashes had raised concerns about a crash near the pit involving a dump truck, and asked to discuss it with Jerry and Calvin.

6. 12:02
   Existing trash tags during a transition

   Asked whether the current tags could still be used through town meeting, Jerry (?) said that depends on how quickly WasteZero can supply bags and what they cost, that nothing has been settled, and that residents should continue as they do now until told otherwise. He said the decision on which route to take belongs to the board.

7. 12:02
   Year-end remarks from the town manager and board

   Jerry recapped the year and thanked public works, the fire department, office staff, the board, residents and the town's boards and committees. Board members gave closing remarks, including thanks to staff and comments on the holiday decorating route organised by a community member.

8. 17:24
   Early childhood development task force

   Rebecca (?) reported the early childhood development task force has been dissolved now that it has completed its recommendations. The recommendations go to the school board meeting on January 14 and will come back to the Select Board with the revised budget once the school budget is set.

9. 17:24
   Consent agenda, AP warrants and upcoming meetings

   Josh (?) moved and John (?) seconded approval of the consent agenda. The chair read the AP warrants and the schedule: town office closed December 24 and 25; Agricultural Committee January 7 at the Eureka Center at 6 pm; Planning Board January 7 at the fire station at 6:30; Solid Waste Committee January 12 at the Eureka Center at 6:30; next Select Board meeting January 13, 2026 at the fire station on the employee handbook.

10. 17:24
    Executive session and adjournment

    No executive session was needed. Josh (?) moved and John (?) seconded adjournment.

What was decided

• 7:01
  Approve the minutes of the December 9 meeting, moved by Josh and seconded by Johnpassed
• 17:24
  Approve the consent agenda, moved by Josh and seconded by John; the chair recorded it as unanimouspassed
• 17:24
  Adjourn, moved by Josh and seconded by Johnpassed

An outcome reads "unclear" where the recording does not state it plainly. The recogniser drops short words, and "the motion does not carry" is one missing word from its opposite.

Worth knowing

• 7:01
  Public works is down one full-time plow operator. Jerry (?) said a route normally takes about two hours, that crews are helping each other cover, and that the town may temporarily rehire a former employee who is laid off in winter.
• 7:01
  The December 27 meeting is to include Maine DOT on safety on Route 136 and WasteZero on the pay-as-you-throw program, which the solid waste committee is expected to recommend.
• 12:02
  No cut-off date has been set for the trash tags residents hold now. Jerry (?) said the cost and delivery time for the new bags are still unknown and residents should keep doing what they do until they hear otherwise.
• 17:24
  The town office was to be closed December 24 and 25, and the next Select Board meeting was set for January 13, 2026 at the fire station.

Motion language found in the transcript

Located by pattern matching, with no model involved: "I move that", "I'll second", "all those in favour". This is an independent check on the summary above: 2 passages of motion language, against 3 decisions summarised.

Elsewhere

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