Town of Brooklin
Select Board Meetings
July/August 2009
July 7, 2009
Approved on July 14, 2009
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Minutes were read and approved for meeting of June 30, 2009. Voted 3-0
Brooklin resident, Tom Morris, representing the Blue Hill Library Future Planning Committee, presented the select board with visions for the future for all communities on the peninsula for 10 years in the future. Blue Hill Library is spearheading the program to see where towns/or organizations are headed in the future, for the select board to suggest someone from each town to be on this committee, and just throw ideas around to gain community vision planning. Tom Morris said two meetings are scheduled (Sept 8th and Sept 14th) 4-9 PM with dinner being served.
The Weekly Packet reporter, David Walsh, attended our meeting and stated the paper would be reporting the whole month for each town weekly meetings. He will be in Brooklin the first Tuesday of each month and then print minutes from meetings for the past 4 weeks. David asked for copies of past meetings to be ready when he comes to Brooklin the 1st Tuesday.
Rich Freethey will write a letter to the Office of the Governor, John Baldacci, in reference to the bad condition of town roads causing an accident with the fire dept’s rescue truck. This letter will be sent to David Cole, Commissioner for ME Dept of Transportation, Dennis Damon, Maine State Senator and Hannah Pingree, State Representative and the local papers.
The Board received a Preliminary 2010 State Valuation Notice that the Assessment Review dropped 5.24% .
State Valuation for 2008 = $396,850,000
State Valuation for 2009 = $414,150,000
State Valuation for 2010 = $392,450,000
The Proposed 2010 State Valuation Notice will be sent by certified mail on or before October 1, 2009.
Jerry Gray rode up to the Old County Road and didn’t see any big issues with maintenance of the road. Of course after a heavy rain, there will be issues with water run off.
Jerry Gray will check into attending an assessment workshop.
The board voted 3-0 to adopt the Vault Policy terms.
Wells Cove will be opened up for shellfish digging per Rich from the Shellfish Conservation Committee. This committee is switching its’ monthly meetings to the first Tuesday of each month rather than the last Tuesday of the month.
Discussion was held on when to have another staff meeting. It was suggested to have a meeting on 7/21st if this works for all officers. Grant will check to see if this date is available or another date would work better.
Planning Board Chairman, Bill Hanley, stopped to mention the PB Meeting was coming up on July 9th. Three items to be discussed (1) Cell Tower improvement (2) Auto Shop on Naskeag (3) Dog Kennel on Harriman Point. Also, the board needs to review which members are due for new appointments.
Parking Ordinance needs more work. Items are being left at Naskeag in the parking area preventing parking of vehicles.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:30 PM
Warrant: $85,055.58
Receipts: $36,407.20
July 14, 2009
(Approved on July 21, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Minutes were read and approved for meeting of July 7, 2009. Voted 3-0
The select board signed Appointments for Judy Jenkins to serve as
- Health Officer until June 30, 2012 (3 years)
- Deputy Plumbing Inspector until June 30, 2010 (1 year)
- Code Enforcement Officer until June 30, 2010 (1 year)
The new Trio Budgetary Program and Payroll Program have both been installed. Gigi Hardy and Lorna Grant trained on Monday, July 13th. Tuesday, July 14th trainees were Lorna, Tammy Andrews and Gigi. Two full days of training.
The clam warden was in to tell the board that the clam flats in this area are open to digging. Our area was not hit with the red tide danger as other flats have been all over Maine.
The board signed the Vault Access and Storage Policy that was approved last week.
Fire Chief, Sam Friend, was in to update the board on the truck claim.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Minutes taken by J. Gray
Warrant: $7,328.04
Receipts: $13,408.04
July 21, 2009
(Approved on Aug. 4, 2009)
Present: Grant, Gray and Freethey
Aaron from Harris Co. – training
Sam Friend, Neil Allen
Harris Company was here today for more training of the new Budgetary Program. Aaron worked with Tammy on printing checks and processing payroll. He also worked with Lorna in balancing departments and all accounts – how to make adjustments and print off reports.
Normal town business was held through out the afternoon as listed below:
- Answering phone and questions on property taxes
- Issuing Dump Stickers – new stickers are not needed for this year. The Transfer Station is using the 2008 stickers this year as a money saving measure.
- Gun permit information was asked
- Lock was requested by Tax Collector
Sam Friend was in to discuss repairing the damaged rescue truck. Jerry will go with Sam on Wednesday to talk with the insurance adjustor.
Meeting Adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant # 3: $13,537.67
Receipts: $15,254.52
July 28, 2009
(Approved on 8-4-09)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Sam Friend, Veteran’s Committee Members
Office Staff Meeting began at 1:30 PM until 2:15 PM. For now, it was decided to hold these meetings once a month – 2nd Tuesday of @ month at 1:15 PM. Richard Freethey passed out job descriptions as a first draft. He also passed out a draft for developing procedures for the Town Office and it’s operations. To be reviewed and discussed at the next meeting.
Richard and Jerry worked on learning the new budgetary program – imputing bills to be paid -- reviewing the new coding of department numbers – entering vendor information, etc.
Sam Friend and the board discussed having the rescue truck moved to New Hampshire where the repair work can be done all in one place – repairing the frame and the cab. Now that a new replacement truck is out of the picture, we need to proceed forward in repairing this vehicle.
Sam also discussed his recent meeting with the Emergency Management Agency (EMA) and their plan to switch from “wide band” to “narrow band” which would create additional expense for the fire dept. This switch is expected to be in place by Dec. 31, 2013. It is important that all area fire departments have a consolidated plan going forward. Sam suggested a reserve account be established in the future for replacing all the pages which will cost approx. $15,000. Discussion to continue.
Dump stickers were issued, a gun permit was issued, and tax information was given out.
One dog complaint was received and referred to Robert Gross (Animal C. Officer) in Bucksport. Clam warden was in the office with no new business. Susan Farley, WHCA, dropped off information at the town office for available heating assistance programs and resources.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant #4: $62,744.02
Receipts: $150,708.98
AUGUST 4, 2009
(Approved August 11, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Minutes were read and approved from the meeting of July 21st & July 28th, 2009.
Voted 3-0 to accept with changes.
Chip Angell came in the office to let the board know progress is being done on the Path for Brooklin Walks. Outward Bound and the Brooklin Youth Corp have been clearing blow downs, etc from the path leading from Luder’s property to the Billy Young Field. More work needs to be done to continue to keep the pathway clear and both groups have done a great job.
Received a form from FairPoint Communications that needs to be filled out for tax exempt status for the Town. Rick will complete this form.
A letter was read from URIP – assistance for roads from the state – stating the funds this years will be approximately $29,292 compared to $36,156 last year.
Staff meeting next week at 1:15 PM with Frank Bianco and Lauren Allen, if they are available. Rich will check.
Maine Community Foundation notified the Town their decision to “regretfully decline our request” from Julie Wang for a grant to support a Master Landscape Plan for the center of Brooklin.
Jerry talked with the insurance adjuster in reference to repairing the rescue truck for the Fire Dept. The adjuster will be actively involved with the repair shop in New Hampshire.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant # 5: $68,676.32
Receipts: $ 68,861.71
August 11, 2009
(Approved 8/25/09)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Minutes were read and approved from the August 4th meeting. (Voted 3-0) to accept as amended.
The updated 2009 Tax Maps from RJD Appraisal Co. were received.
Staff Meeting was held at 1:15 PM which included members of the Community Team Frank Bianco and Lauren Allen. Discussion of job descriptions and other office procedures were talked about. Next meeting in two weeks to be chaired by Lorna.
The board voted 3-0 to appoint Todd Richardson to the Board of Appeals for a one year term.
Wade Dow stopped in to bring the board status updates on his gift of property to the Town in reference to a letter from his lawyer.
The 2009 Real Estate Tax Commitment Book will be available on the Brooklin Web Site in the near future. When time allows, the tax collector will forward the files to Greg Summers to put up on the website.
Meeting Adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant #6: 60,678.75
Receipts: $122,000.84
AUGUST 18, 2009
(Approved on Aug 25, 2009)
Gray and Freethey Present
Grant was absent due to illness. The Board received a notice from the Hancock County Planning Commission regarding information on HCPC septic grants.
The town has received a check back from Wise Business forms as a refund on the costs of mailing the tax bills. Amount is $ 83.22.
We received a memo regarding information on a DOT Road maintenance handbook. The town was allowed up to three copies free, and in various media formats. The Board decided we would ask for one copy on CD and one hard copy. Freethey sent an e-mail to the Dot POC requesting the copies.
We received the bills from Harris for the TRIO software and training. We decided to table payment until next week when the whole board could discuss the TRIO costs. While we can pay the additional unanticipated costs, we may need to have additional monies voted on by the town at special town meeting (see below).
Select board received a Hancock County Commissioners Caucus Warrant regarding a meeting for the purpose of electing a municipal officer as a member of the county budget committee. The meeting will be held 8.25 at the Sedgwick Town Hall at 6:00 PM.
The Board discussed the need for a special town meeting to be held in the next couple of months. Agenda items needed to be acted upon are (1) Zoning Maps (2) Increase in Fire Chief Pay that could not be acted upon in April (3) Harris TRIO costs noted above (4) Training time reimbursement for away from office travel for town officials.
The assessor will be in the town office on the 26th.
Our county tax bill will be due the week of 8.24.2009
Gifts for the Veteran’s Memorial are coming into the town office. Freethey drafted a couple of different thank you letters to be used by the Board and the Veterans committee, depending upon dollar amount of gift. He will ask the committee to come in on 8.25 to discuss mailing “thank yous” and for them to review ideas from contributors.
Road commissioner met with board and was concerned about whether the DOT repatrol was coming by to inspect the roads. Board agreed to inquire to find out if we were getting serviced the same as other towns.
Meeting Adjourned 6 PM
Minutes reported by R. Freethey
Warrant # 7: $47,735.59
Receipts: $169,573.41
August 25, 2009
(Approved on 9/8/09)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Minutes were read and approved from meeting of August 11th and August 18th. Voted 3-0 to accept as read.
Staff meeting was held at 1:15 PM and continued discussion with the Town Office Improvement Committee.
Sam Friend stopped by and gave the board an update on the fire truck repair work. The work is progressing better than expected.
The board approved a letter to the land owner of Birchland Cemetery requested a meeting to discuss repair work that needs to be done on the grounds and head stones.
A non resident shellfish commercial harvester stopped in the office to see the board regarding the refusal of a commercial license -- to be reviewed by the board
Meeting Adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant# No Warrant – Treasurer absent
Receipts: $142,225.87