TranscriptSelect Board Meeting ~ April 7, 2015

My mother gave us a wooden rocking chair for a wedding present. I thought that was a pretty I'm going to give my cribage subtle hint is not it is heated when I want to be out there but it's not heated all the time. Ended up in the neighbors

about a year and a half. I was actually two days later just about I think she called in the next day too but Oh well settled pretty good. I'm good. Finally, finally get to see my house. Don't need to be advertising Pepsi. [laughter]

We can advertise caffeine-free Pepsi. That's nice. Actually, you turn it like that and it looks like a beer canery. [laughter] I'm not sure people would object. No, they probably would ask, "Why aren't you drinking more?"

And how do they know that I'm not? All right. One way to get them to the meeting, put a cooler blow out by the door. It keeps everybody mellow or well, depends on if they're an mellow drunk or an angry drunk. Somewhere back instead of boxing, the Chicago Cubs decided that to get more people to come to the ball games, they would offer 10-centent beers.

They only did it once. [laughter] I see why. They didn't care who [snorts] won. Oh, no. They had to cancel the game cuz all the drunks went out on the field and tried to beat up the opposing team. [laughter] That's I'm not sure that Cubby's games have changed much. [laughter]

I don't think so. That's true. That uh that's probably better than happy hour. Yeah. [snorts] Happy more than an hour. I lived when I first moved to Portland and I was in my very early 20s. There was a bar in the old port that had 50 cent tequila shots

and they had like a line out the door. [laughter] name of that bar? It's right where they parked. Square Morgans, huh? Square Morgans's which is gone. Yes, that one is gone. There was another one. That's what it was. They did the

shuffle in, stagger out. Is that what it was? Yeah, there was another one right where they park all the buses for that go to Botsw all the time. Oh, yep. Heck was that one? That was a big one. Dough go there a lot. Y all set.

Yeah. Anytime, John. order. We have four out of the five selectmen here this evening. So, we have a quorum. Could we please rise for the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Uh, next on the agenda, selection of chair and vice chair. I nominate Jeff Wakeakeman for chair. Second. All in favor? Yeah. Are there any other nominations? Nominations are now closed. [laughter] All in favor? Opposed?

Yes. Um, vice chair and I'll get back at her. I nominate [laughter] Sarah. Any discussion? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. All right. Amendments. I was just going to preempt you from making [laughter] amendments to the agenda. I do have one. Um, I'd like to add uh seven under action and discussion. Item 7F, discussion on a committee to look at alternative methods to the town meeting budget vote.

agenda? Okay. Public comment. I move we accept the consent agenda as presented. Second. Any discussion? I did have one quick question about the um the main purse increase that's in here. That is we discussed that during budget season.

No, this is this is new. This is uh we we had um planned on a rate of about 4.2% or 4.1% and they have increased it on us. So this is going to adversely affect any budgets that have main pers in it. Um and not much we can do about it because It's unfortunate that they

so they are bumping it from 4.1 to 7.5. Am I right? Uh no. Oh, okay. 4.1 to 5.6. They're bumping the employee section from 7 to 7.5. Got it. I misread that because it's still one. Yeah, it's still 25% increase, right? Um and have you had a chance to look at the numbers on that yet to see what the impact is?

All in favor of the voting on the consent agenda. Motion carries. Action and discussion items act on animal control officer. that have been taken so far this year. Um it's approximately between six and seven a month average. Um I guess first is uh we need to look at do we stay with the contract with Lisbon or do we uh go and hire our own? And so

I' I'd like to hire our own. Is that a motion? Yep. Is there a second? would second it, but yeah, if we could have some discussion about it because I'm on the fence. I don't, you know, it the first year it doesn't save us any potentially it saves us somewhere in the the ballpark of of $2,000

plus or minus moving forward, assuming that we keep assuming that we have some stability with the person that stays, which has historically been a little iffy. And then we're right if if that person leaves then we're right back to having to pay for the training again and all of that versus contracting with Lisbon when their animal control officers may come and go, but they have a contract with us and they will continue to provide.

I I don't want to hold against the person not not hiring someone just because we think they might leave. I know. I'm just trying to Yeah, we might get a road commissioner might work only four months from us and then leave. We'll be right back at it all over again. So, I don't want to hold that against the animal control obviously that that not not to go in that direction because we're afraid he might leave. You know what I mean? But I think for for the town of Durm and for the residents, uh I think having someone of our own is is is going to be a plus, you know, compared to Lisbon. Uh Lisbon ain't going to get any better for uh the budget wise over there. I think it's just going to keep on getting worse every year. Um to for us,

I'm kind of on the I'm kind of I feel kind of the same way Sarah does. I I was really impressed with both candidates, the second one mostly, but my fear is the same problem down the road and there's some benefits to not having to not having to worry about

and the difference I absolutely understand your point about any position that you hire, but I I feel like there's a little bit more potential for for loss, for lack of a better term, when we're talking about a very a what really is a very small stipened position. You know, I mean, the dollar figures that have been talked about for for the stipen for that position, I don't necessarily think have the same holding power that hiring a

full-time employee and benefits and an annual salary and all all of those things. So, I I don't find the two to be really comparable, right? I I know we we we argued for $1,500 for our window here and we're talking about saving $2,000 a year now and cost plus absolutely I mean for for this for the you know set aside everything else I mean for the taxpayers in Durham I think it's the right direction to go in

and I I've not met the gentleman that is currently the I don't think I've met the current animal control officer but but I thought I agree with Mark that both the candidates that we've interviewed yeah especially the second one I was very impressed I was

comfortable with either one for me it's more of a long term the history in the long term there is some benefits for us but didn't we have one that stayed for like 40 years [laughter] so so we did we we had one that was here for for a very long time and since he left um the we hired one who lasted I

think about 6 months or less and we tried to hire another one and didn't get any uh qualified candidates on on that one and that's uh during that time we were contracting on a per call basis with Lisbon which it was more expensive than uh the year contract and we we decided to go in with the year contract then and that was probably about three years ago. I think I think we got a very very good candidate um that's very excited about the job and uh I just don't want to hold it against him or hold it against the town not just because we have a bad taste in our mouth about someone that left for six months and and not going that direction. I mean, I was very I felt last night when I left here very I said felt good knowing that we're going to go in that direction with with the people with the person that we interviewed. I really did. And I and I I think we had a real

strong candidate, too. And I'm not holding it against other candidate. For me, it's for me it's the it's not the person, it's the the position or the or the department, so to speak, and the long-term jevity in it. And there was there are benefits both ways, but for me, um the $2,000 savings is a savings

if and it could cost us as much or more and go through this other stuff and we don't have to be as we don't have to worry about the extra insurance. There's a few pluses there if we contract it out. It's more of their problem than it is ours. So for me, I I think at this point that's kind of where I'm leaning.

It's easy. It's easy to go with Lisbon. That's for sure. It's it's it's definitely easy to say, "Let them handle it." And that's and it is what do we do when the Lisbon officer goes on vacation because presumably he has I I believe we've contacted the pal animal control officer in the past to to cover uh kind of like a mutual aid type thing. Um I I don't remember when the

last time we actually had to do that was, but I think that's kind of the way it was worked. And is that paid on a per call basis or uh I don't know. I don't even know if we actually whether we actually paid anything or whether similar to a mutual aid, right?

Uh you don't you don't pay when someone comes in from another town to help fight fires. I I I don't remember actually paying anything, but I can't say for sure. Um I'm I'm in the same boat as the other two as far as I just don't know which way which which is the right way to go. Um the savings is a delayed savings. It's not it won't happen until next year. Um it it could it could end up

very well. Um I have been happy for the last three years not having to not having to worry about it. And um so I'm I'm on the fence. Um I think I think I'm actually leaning more at this point for going ahead and giving it a try because I I imagine we can always go back to Lisbon. They may charge us more.

But they're also in the situation I mean they're also in a situation they really would like us to be contracted because it helps their budget too. Yep. Oh, yeah. Are we ready to vote? Anybody else have anything else? All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries. Um, do we wish to make a motion on hiring now or do we

wish to uh have a brief executive session to discuss more? Uh I think brief brief. Okay. So all right. So we'll we'll add an executive session on EMP then that was the just so that you understand when you said we could my understanding from prior conversations had been that this was sort of a bridge burning. If we chose not to to then that would no longer be an option. But you have now suggested that

I would I would expect that they probably would expect that they feel much better entertaining taking us back on our own. Um I I mean I can't say for sure but they have a $300,000 budget they got to cut. They they got 100,000 they cut out. They got another 200,000 they got to cut out of that budget over there. They just don't know where it's going to come.

I mean just just the reaction they have 208. [laughter] No, just just the reaction that was received when we had mentioned that we were looking at it seems as if they really wanted to keep us and um I'm I'm hoping it might cost

us more because I mean we we have burn we will we have burned a bridge but I I would expect that they would still take us back at at a price. Okay. So, can you notify Lisbon per our agreement that as of whatever the end date for this fiscal year that for for them? Yeah.

Okay. Next on the agenda is to set the code enforcement hours. Um midnight to midnight seven days a week. Yes, sir. [laughter] Um, what was the budget figured on? 24 hours. Uh, yeah, I think so. Was three eight hour days, wasn't it?

I believe so. And then some extra hours for meetings and Yeah. Do you are you looking to keep the same three days that you're working now? Yes. Is Is the board okay with that? I'm just get used to it. So, what's the uh what days are that? Is that

Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday? Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. So, you would basically be here the hours that the office was open, right? Okay. U so moved that the animal control officers will be set for Monday CEOs. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Animal control CEO CEO. [laughter] the [laughter] the CEO or actually the CEO codes official. I think we officially changed that a couple years ago. But yes, uh the CO hours will be set for Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday um for the regular office hours.

Excuse me. Starting when next week if you want Monday, you want to start Mon. That's fine. You can start Thursday, too. It doesn't really matter. Yeah, Monday's Monday is a new pay week, right? Or is Thursday the new pay week? Thursday is the last day of

Thursday is the last day of this. Okay. So, so Monday would be the beginning of a new pay week. Yeah. Okay. Second. Okay. All in favor? Motion carries. Act on committee, fire, and office appointments. We have a sheet in here that has a long list of appointments that we have to do every year.

Get out your pens. And yes, after after the meeting's done, we'll have an awful lot of signing to do. So, do you wish to to have them all read or do you want to read them yourself and make a single motion? Yeah, I suppose myself make single motion.

Okay. meeting cuz I think the election clerks and stuff all have to be appointed too, right? And they are not on these lists, this list. pending? There's no motion pending. I will to I move that we appoint the committee fire and office appointments as set forth in the list provided.

These are all the correct names as far as as far as we know. Yes, we we Okay. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Certainly, I would state that these are available for people to to come in and look at. Yes. rather than read them all aloud.

policy. And this is uh I believe we started this last year, maybe the year before, but uh just clarifying that when someone comes in to pay their pay taxes, the old the the money goes first to the oldest unpaid tax obligation and continues forward uh until the newest would be paid.

payment policy as presented. I'll second it. Any discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. Results of town meeting. Did you have anything? I didn't really have anything. I I figured I didn't know what we would need to talk about, so that's why I put that in there.

Okay. Well, F is actually related to results of town meeting. Are there is there anything else that we need to discuss at this point based on results? I don't believe so. Okay. On to F alter uh finding an alternate or fi discussion on a committee to look at the alternative any alternative methods that we could have to the current town meeting budget votes and um how we want to proceed with that. I think there was definitely a lot of interest at town meeting of people that that want to be on that committee and so I think it does make sense to to seek to post for volunteers or whatever the appropriate

process is now [clears throat] while it is on people's minds and and they are involved. Y I don't know what in terms of of any kind of guidance that we might want to provide that committee as far as I know we had looked at some of the legal ramifications and and what we would or would not potentially be able to do and limitations of not having a charter and all of that. So, I think that we should be prepared to provide that committee with as much of the legal framework as we can so that they don't spend a tremendous amount of time spinning their wheels and coming up with a great plan only to find out that it's against the state statute. I think that would be just a waste of everybody's time,

right? I um I think that's good. I think it would be a good idea for us to give them some sort of a a mission statement um as as far as what are they there to do? Um, all and you know, are they going to be looking at one single method? Are they going to do we want them looking at multiple methods? Um, you know, how how do we how do we want them to to go about the business?

Right. I'm I would tend to leave the I guess mission statement a little bit open-ended because I think that that I anticipate that that the the people that began that petition process will get involved in the committee and I think that that the petition made the the mission statement very clear and so I don't want to get where there has been a a petition of taxpayers in the town. I don't want to get too involved in in narrowing their focus before they've even started.

Right. That's one of the concerns I had. I I want it to be more open-ended and right not just look at what the petition was trying to put forward, but see if there are other methods too to get more involvement. Um, and I think the big picture is how can we best

Yeah. increase participation and balancing involvement with information too. Um, so all right. Uh, how many do we want on it? That's right. What's the number? Nine. Nine's a lot of a lot of people. Seven and nine. I know it's a lot of people, but this is really there is

there is a lot of logistics to this. So, it's going to take a a lot of research. Yeah. And they I mean if we do nine they could or even seven they could break into subcommittees too to to explore different options um and then report back to the regular one if they wanted

and I think having a larger committee you get more viewpoints and I think that there's a lot of different perspectives on this this question. I don't I don't want Yeah. I don't want this to be a special interest type one that has feeling that everybody has feelings one way or everybody has feelings another way. I want there to be a broad a broad depth of people who want to get involved and and have different opinions even.

And with that in mind, I think we should make a space available for them to meet whether it's here or the Eureka Center so that if because I think the meeting should be open to they they have to be right so that people can you know come and observe even if they're not on the committee and and be involved. So

this potentially contemplates a complete change in in how town advertise this on the on the website website channel. We could uh put something in the tri town um at least try to get it into the uh Durham news section. um if they if we can

and I would propose perhaps a direct either letter or phone call to the the Donna to Donna who started the petition just to to make sure that she I agree has absolutely every opportunity to to be involved. How long do we I mean do we want to leave the leave it open-ended? Do we want to say we want the applications by x a certain date?

Uh 30 days, 45 days. I was thinking two meetings from now, which would be 28. Okay. 30 days. Yeah. So that we we have we could actually start make appointments two meetings from now. what do you want to call the committee?

I don't know because I when I was trying to write down the uh I was trying to be concise on what I was writing down for the this and it's like there's no way um that's why I'm asking you Jeff. Mhm. [snorts] I'm I'm looking to

alternative warrant review because that's really what they're looking for is an alternative way to or alternative warrant voting. alternative warrant vote. Maybe we should maybe we should solicit some of them names from them and then make it official because it's probably

we got to put something in the [laughter] in the ad. Yeah. Um or we can just say alternative or exploration committee at at exploring alternative methods for voting on the town budget. Alternative war exploration committee. Yeah, that works.

Awak. [snorts] [laughter] Yeah. Okay. So, I'll make a motion that we form an alternative warrant exploration committee that will consist of between seven and nine members. um and that we uh solicit members using our town website, town channel, and any other means that we could um with uh the

intention of appointing the members at our meeting two meetings from now. I'm not sure of the date on that. One April 21, one May 5th. May 5th. So that would be so at our meeting on May 5th. So do we want to set up some so this just doesn't become this

yes I I think endless discussion I think that's a good idea maybe at our next meeting we can work on a mission statement and some maybe right that some yeah checkpoints along the way milestones and um with a and kind of set when we need the final a final report by

Okay. So, so the motion is to create the board and to uh solicit for applications um with between seven and nine members. I'll second it. Any further discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. And please do send the uh a personal invite to D on that.

discussion items tonight? Okay. Departments and committees, town administrator. Uh I made copies of this. This is this is not my my favorite thing in the world. [laughter] This is our bank balance as of today with the withdrawals and the deposits in this month. So we're looking at about a half a million dollars in the account. So, I'm looking at needing to go out and find um a bank to for a tan to be available for us because next month I think we're going to need it.

Okay. Especially since we have two bond payments going next month in May. And we used Anders last year, I think. I think we did use Anders last year. Um Janet had suggested that I call um Bank of Maine um one of their I think it's Bank of Savings Bank of Maine. No,

Bath Savings. Bath Savings. That's what it is. Bank of Maine. Just got um So would you do you are you looking for permission to go ahead and uh research? Yes, that would be nice. So moved. Second. All in favor? Motion carries. Um and um if you'll

bring back what you find to the board so that we can vote on I think we looked at three. Yeah. I think and that's typically what we try to look at is three uh three things uh that so that we can kind of get a what's the best I think we had our best interest for the bond for the public works through that savings wasn't it?

I don't remember. That's where it went. But uh bath savings. No, bath savings was the um fire department. The fire department. I think the public works one is through Henderson. Um and our last 10 I think was through Andersagan as well.

Anything else from the administrator? Uh no, I think that's good. Any questions? Okay. Oh. Um we uh there've been some issues with the sewer smell or something occasionally. And and I don't know when the last time that was pumped when we ought to maybe Paul could find I don't know if there's a map in there somewhere tells exactly where that tank is.

I know that what looks like a well out there is not a well. I lifted the cover today to find a pump pump station. Yeah. So yeah I was one of the things that I had wanted to bring up was that I think it's not just needing to be pumped. I think there may actually be a problem.

Yeah. But we need to know where that tank is between here and that pumping station maybe. Yeah. And and look into maybe getting that on a little bit more of a regular checkup. if it turns out to be a larger problem, as Paul suspects that it might be, obviously, we just voted on the budget less than a week ago, and if we have to do some kind of major septic thing at the town,

I'm holding my breath on that one, no pun intended. Um, [laughter] I know that there is money in the building fund. Would that be something that we could then would presumably we'd have to call a special town meeting to say

if we were to have to do something like that? That's probably what we'd have to do. Separate system. Hopefully it's just a pump out here. It needs to be replaced or something. It's not pumping in the leech field. I mean, that's normal what happens in lift station. So hopefully that's what it is.

It doesn't look like a huge mound up there for some reason, but maybe didn't need. You can tell that I really know nothing about it. building like this are 15 gallons a day per person. It's not like a house where it's 90 gallons a day, [snorts]

you know. So, probably a pretty small system. Yeah, it looks to be there's some stuff that's coming in that that has I I have some concerns, but I'll I'll look at it. Okay. All right. Anything else for the administrator?

Interim road commissioner. Yeah, I got some got a safety enhancement grant application. It's for a set of dump blocks and a welding blanket and it's essential for have a safe work environment at the shop. So, uh it's for $2,000 and we've uh Scott's done some research and found a blanket and it's a dump box. The total is 130625. I just need a signature on it. Pass it on.

Uh do we have do we have any we have screens down there at all? Does he have screens that he puts up when he's doing welding screen? That's that's um something I mentioned to him. He said that Sean put in for one last year, but I don't know. We didn't either we didn't purchase it or I mentioned that to him that we should get some of that from the welding screens. Yeah.

So, so that's I mean there's still money left there. If that's something we need, we can research that too. But now, is this a grant that we've already gotten and we're just spending or this? So, basically right now uh we need an authorization for him to

submit it and and for one of us to sign it. I move that we permit the public works to file to apply for the the safety grant and the board of Suckman will will sign up on it. I'll second it. Any further discussion? All in favor? Motion carries. [snorts] Anything else?

Yep. Um proposing that talk to Barry Baldwin. Excellent. Barry Baldwin. I talked to him about uh we've thought about um moving the bulky waste cleanup to the new facility. We pretty much got it figured out. I got to go over with him, but we can have everybody come in the long driveway that goes out back and we can have all the dumpsters and trucks out back and they can circle around and then they'll come right back out through the center of the building. So, it's there's nobody passing each other. Our biggest concern is that somebody's backing up, you know, moving around when some of the cars are coming in. So, I mean, that's just something we was thinking about having.

So, you think you could the flow would be better there? Oh, yeah. Yeah. Be a lot better. Yeah. A lot better. Granted, it's a 50 mph zone, but you can get more cars off the road over there because they can line it up on the road.

Yeah. Because nobody's going to be passing each other, you know. But I think if we and there won't be any mud and um I would I would suggest that uh we have cones or something available in case in case we do get the backup. But um

No, we're going to Yeah, we're going to uh get that. That's what I figured out. We conage signs some con. So everybody has no Has anybody checked with uh pine tree waste whether they're okay? We know we check with them. They get three rolloffs and six packets coming. So

yeah, but as long they're okay with the location. Yeah, they just want them if we change it. They just want to know. Yeah, that's something we've been thinking about and I think it would work a lot smoother. We'll have the cones so it'll be no no second guessing.

It's better on our field over here too. Yeah, if we need to load the hose right there, you got to drive it down. Um Yep. It's just a just a thought. I I I think we'd need to really advertise it though. Um Right. That's Yeah. Yeah. And we're thinking of putting some signs out on the main road. Basically,

Carol's going to still hold her um plant sale at the Eureka on the same day. So, you know, if people stop there, she I'm sure she'd be willing to sign up there. So, a mile up the road. Yeah, we'll do that, too. Obviously.

Plus, I think it's kind of a nice PR thing of having introducing people to the space that that's a town facility now. And I think that's a won't have any glass or anything. I think do we have enough people to run it? Um make

I don't want to have him got a hold of his pat to see if he wants to run the gate, but Okay. Making sure everybody know uh cuz you're going to have to make sure you direct somebody direct people back through the building or and things like that.

Yep. Yep. We'll put some signs up and Okay. I got to go over with Barry sometime this week, but uh that's something to think about. I think it'd be real good idea. anybody want to make still staying involved with it even though he's no longer as slept and I think that's

keep an eye on the goodies is why [laughter] volunteering his time that's what he's doing right yeah so I make a motion we uh we move the bulky waste up to the the new public works second any further discussion all in favor motion carries thank you thank you for the idea anything else from you or from the select men

yeah I have one thing to go over with in I uh I got a call from a gentleman about a week ago about uh he went over to see you guys on a Friday, went there. No big deal. He I told him, "You guys don't work Friday in the afternoon." And uh he mentioned about the doors u being damaged done.

Mhm. Instead of just taking his word for it, I wrote over there. I said, "I go take a look at this first." Um and that's when I I noticed that there's been some damage to the trims and the door and the vinyl and someone ran into the building

and uh that's when I came up with a list. I just said, "Well, I guess first sit down, I'll make a list of stuff. I'll get stuck." You guys want to pass it down? Yep. Since uh since I've been here since November, we had some occurrences. Okay. You can see pictures too of the the building and the damage. If anybody wants to see that, which been you seen it? Um I think all these just about all seven of these you notice is usually all nothing but a um

driver of error as I want to say. I guess put it in a good term. Yep. And I've mentioned every one of them. All right. Uh, was there incident reports made out on all these? Nope. No, don't believe so. What procedures did we put in place to make sure they don't happen anymore? Did we put any saying, you know, any guys out there about help backing it in or

Oh, yeah. Yeah, we have got So, we put something in place now. Yeah. Yeah. I guess the one that bother me in the motions. All the door trims replaced now. And uh that right there, that right there shouldn't have happened. And

yeah, I'm just saying how did the buildings up in front of someone? Oh, what happened is the guy put the body up and no one was there spotting him. Spotting it. Yeah. So now we have spotters. Spotters. All right. So we did put something in place so it doesn't happen.

Stress that I think numerous times about being spotters and you know was that one done? I know we we we had one reported to us uh several months ago. Was that one after that? No. No. And that was the same. And that one that was there was an incident report and a police report and that was determined to be that the other person was following too closely.

No no no. This was this is the himself. Oh no. I was talking about number one. on the list. No, the the the dump up one was was uh was actually reported to the board uh several months ago. So, and I I know accidents happen. I ain't seen any. I know the guys have, you know, trying to do just, you know, it's been a lot I feel in the last four months. You know, seven I can think of and a lot. I just, you know, I got taxpayers are paying for all these damages and I

like to keep it at a minimum if I absolutely could and I'm sure you would too. I agree. I totally agree. So, as long as there's something in place, a lot of it's a surprise to me when it happens and you know, it happens. I know that. But

especially with their wings and them doors aren't quite wide enough and Yep. and you know I mean uh stress to them to watch their overhead clearance and by the by the now get the fire fire chief. Now we got spotters and someone someone goes in and out of the shop every time we got somebody there watching them. Now I'm making sure

because I went over the fire department looked at all their doors and none of them are touched and they got big trucks are hauling in there and they're Yeah, it's the wing that usually gets them. That's the biggest issue. [laughter]

The wing hangs out there quite a ways. So, okay. So, I just wanted to make sure something was being done and know we're we're going on the right track. Yeah, the trim's all taken care of and we got some paint for the for the wood to be fixed and uh

Yep. We're going to keep it nice. Awesome. That's all. Anything else? Thank you. And that's all signed up. Hey, um down the road here shortly, I'm hoping to put it together by June, but depends on what road commissioner wants to do. But, um we got a job on Quaker meeting house. We're going to be starting uh six driveway culverts and there's ditching and stuff. Um and as we get closer to it, I think we probably ought to put that on the website because that that road's used a lot. Quake meeting and rabbit road.

That way there'll be, you know, minor traffic to it. It won't be a lot, but be done. Is that in the area that that Sean had been planning to do the overlay one and there's a couple driveway couplets on Rabbit Road that we need to replace, but I just throw them out there so you guys get a heads up on what's going to happen in the near future. So,

no, I like the idea of putting it on the town channel as well. That way they can know. People can plan and people can know what's happening for that road's used a lot. So, it's heavily traveled. So, good. No, this a good thing to do.

Yep. All right. Okay. Thank you. Y code enforcement. Yeah. I just pretty quick here tonight. on some ordinance review work. Um, so I've gotten uh some I've been talking to Stephanie Carver at GP Cog. She's sort of does that sort of stuff for those guys. She's um she had kind of set it aside. She was supposed to get back to me about a month ago and she had set it aside waiting to see what was going to happen with the town meeting to make sure there were funds available. She's supposed to have some proposal to me by the end of the week. As soon as she has that, then I'll get that uh combined with some of the other stuff to the planning board and let them review it. Then we can come back here with what their recommendations are. I've also contacted uh there's a company in South Portland called Planning Decisions um that that does ordinance review work by contract with towns and stuff, but I'm sure

they're probably going to be out of our price range. But I thought it was probably it's worthwhile to get as much information on the on the table as possible to bring to the planning board. Um, I'm getting more people talking to me about wanting to get the comp plan moving and I think this year would be a good year to try to see what we could do about developing a committee to get started on that because it's a long process. It takes a long time. It could take probably close to two years to to completely revamp it. Um, and I'd like to try to start a plan to formulate getting that moving. Um, I'm assuming my

history through this process with comp plans is the code enforcement officer usually plays a pretty significant part with the committee and helping them stay focused and you know various things that are necessary to to look at and how it applies to ordinance and so on. So, um, I'm I'm expecting to be available to do that. So, I wanted to just that throw that out there for the board to have a chance to to discuss it uh if they feel

If they feel the same way that the significance of it is something we want to get moving on, um, then you could direct me that way. At the risk of what might be a foolish question, what is the interplay between, you know, we're looking at ordinance review and making all the the planning related, land use related ordinances cohesive and consistent and and also talking about comprehensive plan. Is there a benefit to doing one before the other or does it make sense to sort of move them both forward on parallel tracks?

Um, yes and no. There's always a benefit because the the ordinance has to follow the comp plan. Right. That's right. That we could spend time and money revamping the ordinances only to have a a comp plan come in and then have to

tweak all the ordinances again to follow the comp plan. Right. unless unless we were careful about the approach. So the approach that that that I've been working with with the with the uh planning board is is that at least for what's budgeted for this year and what's probably doable for this year to bring before u before town meeting next year would would be just to straighten out just a structural approach to the ordinance. not really change anything but take out all of the inconsistencies, the um the uh the redundancies. Uh condense parts, you know, we can move we can condense certain parts and move them into other parts of the ordinance to try to make it a little more user friendly and a little easier to understand and operate both for the board and for applicants. um there really isn't any there's so much of that that needs doing that I don't expect to have any real focus on structurally changing the nature of what

the focus of the ordinance is. So at that point if we do get a comp committee going um as the ordinance work moves forward the comprehensive plan committee should also be laying out the format and the formulas necessary for the future aspect of that and the new work coming into doing the ordinance can apply directly and immediately right to what's what's coming forward. So they're offset slightly in a good way and that year is the great year that that would make that work really well. So I think essentially and structurally in my mind they're set up really well right now to go that way

take care of some of the contradicting parts of it. There's a lot of them in there. Presumably sort of streamlining that and clarifying what we have will make it easier for the comprehens and any committee to know what we have. you know, they won't have to wade through quite as much redundancy and and inconsistency in order to to figure out what may or may not be changed,

right? Making it so that the people could understand it is really a big plus. Huge. They come in looking at here and then two pages over here it says almost the opposite. It's which way do you go? It's a very difficult document to to

get any kind of coherency out of. It's just extremely difficult. Um, and I you know, but I think it's necessary that it gets done and everybody that leaves the planning board in any way, shape, or form, including the board members themselves, all walk off with the same thing. So,

that's all I have. Yeah. So, did you have a time frame in mind when you think we should consider starting to form a committee or I would like to sit down and review that. I'm assuming early in the um in the fiscal season here. You guys have got a bunch of house normal housekeeping work at this time of year to do anyway. I was hoping probably within a month or so to have a chance to sit down with the um with the planning board as well.

They're only meeting once a month. it makes it a little difficult to get a lot done. 24 hours a year is not a lot of time to work with folks and stuff, but um I will try to get something to present to them so that I'll get some feedback from them and we can roll some of their ideas into where that's going and then we'll have something to bring forward to you guys to look at and we should be able to focus on some decision making then.

And we did float, for lack of a better term, sort of a trial balloon last year. Janet did put a posting out to see if there were people interested in in being involved with the comprehensive plan review. So, we do have a list of names.

Yes. And some of those are are are anxious to get it moving. So, um if while they're anxious, absolutely. It's a big project and we're well overdue. Yeah. State law. Okay. All right. Thank you. Anything further? No, Chief.

written report. I just wanted to come by tonight and let you guys know that my father's condition, it somewhat stable, but it it continues to deteriorate gradually. But I'm at a point now where I'm, you know, it's pretty well some days it's an hour to two or three hours. So it uh in a nutshell, what I figured I'd do is I would come back tomorrow, stop back tomorrow. And it's probably going to mean that [clears throat] I periodically every once in a while I'm going to get backed up and have to take time off because I still don't have all of his legal stuff or his financial stuff squared around. I have it all in the works. But it uh so anyways, I just wanted to let you know that uh I believe the personnel policy says I'm supposed to notify you guys as to when I need it and when I'm should be ready to come back. So should be back at it tomorrow.

Okay. Thank you. Any questions? I don't know. Keith I think Keith might have had some stuff he wanted to bring on. Well, [clears throat] I did have two things I just wanted to let you know about. Okay. Um one, they're not the only ones hitting garage doors. We actually replaced two garage door panels.

There we go. Thank you. [laughter] You didn't take them from stick them on your bring them all with me next time. Yeah. Um the other thing, uh the tower improvement over there. We're raising that tower at 40 ft. Um that is in the works. We've ordered parts and pieces and they've done some assessment over there. Um I don't know if you know there's they're going to be setting a pole next to the station for guidewire. Um it's going to be in the vicinity of the septic tank. Um, and they're also going to be cutting a few trees in the back of the station for the guide wire.

I saw the I saw that there was a charge in our warrant on that. Yep. Um, that is for the beginnings of the tower. Yep. So, is there a time frame when they expect that? Hopefully May. May. Yeah. Assuming the ground is good. And I

was going to say that's such a positive thing to hear because the chief had been saying, oh, you know, they can't put it in until spring. So that must mean it's finally spring. [laughter] possibly June, but more likely May. Good.

Um we actually also met with Andrew Scog and Sheriff's Department last Friday. Um, and they're um possibly going to have three antennas on the tower also, which probably will not be active for at least a year, possibly two years, um, just to help their service in this area.

And will they be reducing our county tax? [laughter] Anything out of this? No. So, they won't be active us to use, but they're active for them to use. All it is is a repeater link for their officer down here. For one, if you've ever seen a trooper down here in this town trying to talk to their dispatch, they're walking around with their radio way up here.

Um, [clears throat] it's all it is a link for them. Oh, yeah. Okay. Reception. Does the does state have the same issue or are they do they have better? They're on their a different system. comments. Uh, upcoming meetings, uh, regular selectments meetings held here at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 21st, 2015. May 5th, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. Uh, note the

town office will be closed for Patriots Day. I do not have the 20 the 20th of April uh, for Patriots Day. Um any let's see when is the uh RSU meeting here in Durm? Is that the the 29th? 2 It's a Wednesday. Yeah, I think it's the 29th, but

I'm pretty sure it is the 29th. So there will be an RSU5 meeting at the Durham School on the uh 29th of April. There is uh also one tomorrow the 8th at Powell Elementary School. Uh the meeting starts at 6:30 with a meet and greet at 6. Uh and that will be for budget uh

public input on the budget and then they'll have their regular meeting. I'd like to move that we go into executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA 4056A personnel personnel matters. Second. All in favor? Motion carries.