Town of Brooklin
Select Board Meetings
September/October 2009
September 1, 2009
(Approved on 9/8/09)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Jim Faye was in the office to discuss maintenance on Birchland Cemetery.
He has no problem with the town crossing his property to the cemetery and was appreciative to be asked. His deed does acknowledge access for the Town.
Road Commissioner was informed of a meeting with FEMA at the town office on Sept. 15th.
The committment book for listing the tax payer’s of Brooklin in now on the Website on line. Any financial institute who might need tax information can now use the website rather than calling the town office for most information they might need.
The assessor was here on 8/26th. Two properties were visited by Rich and Jerry along with the assessor. Notes were made for adjustments for next year. The assessor did process a Tree Growth application and addressed other tax payer questions/concerns.
Chris Pitman was in the office to discuss the issue regarding the refusal of a commercial Shellfish License. A letter is required to be sent to the Dept. of Marine Resources.
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM
Warrant #8: $261,885.47
Receipts: $240,868.54
September 8, 2009
(Approved on Oct. 6, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Minutes were read and approved from meeting of August 25th and September 1st. Voted 3-0 to accept with changes.
Grant called to have porta potty removed from Brooklin General Store.
Sign is needed for the Folly Road. Grant will order.
Patricia Blake, representing the Daughter’s of the American Revolution, visited the office and asked the select board to proclaim the week of Sept. 17th through 23rd as Constitution Week and to ask our citizens to reaffirm the ideals of the Framers of the constitution done in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained. The board members signed the document and the town clerk affixed the town seal, today, Sept. 8th, 2009.
The board signed a “Pledge & Security Agreement for Public Deposits” with BH Bank & Trust. This is combining school and town checking accounts into one account effective Sept. 2009. Also signed by the treasurer. Jerry and Tammy had a meeting with the bank on Friday, Sept. 4th and agreed to this change to benefit the town.
Chris Pitman was out of town for a family funeral in Canada.
Meeting adjourned at 6:00 PM
Warrant: $30,911.18
Receipts: $61,437.78
September 15, 2009
(Approved on Oct. 6, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Bills were reviewed and placed on the warrant for payment.
FEMA Official was in the office to meet with the board and road commissioner to discuss potential project ID for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Grant worked on accounting information for the auditor coming on Sept. 24th.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant: $60,496.16
Receipts: $188,745.27
Sept. 22, 2009
(Approved on Oct. 6, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Gray was training Rich Freethey to imput bills to be paid on the warrant using the new Trio program. Gray will be absent next week.
Grant continued to pull together material for the auditor. The treasurer and Grant will be in the office on Thursday working with the auditor. Grant will be in the office on Friday, again working with the auditor.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant: $33,954.42
Receipts: $34,570.02
Sept. 29th, 2009
(Approved on Oct. 6, 2009)
Present: Grant and Freethey (Gray is out of town)
The afternoon was busy helping with tax property questions, issuing dump stickers, finding septic permits, looking up old deeds, no tax collector or clerk in office because of a state required training program, and on and on.
The Veteran’s Committee came in and explained the estimates they had gathered for the Veteran’s Memorial Monument to be erected. There will need to be a special town meeting to move forward on this project.
Shellfish warden was present to discuss various enforcement issues and to present his bi-weekly report.
Mary Cummins, chairman of School Board, brought in material received in reference to the School Consolidation Law is a failed experiment.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant: $116,702.30
Receipts: $21,343.20
October 6, 2009
(Approved on Oct. 27, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Voted 3-0 to approve the Minutes from 9/8, 9/15, 9/22 and 9/29 with changes.
Rich Freethey will be out of town next week.
Staff Meeting today at 1:15 PM. The Treasurer was not present. Continued to discuss job descriptions and the office procedure manual, as both have not been completed. Hopefully, these manuals would be helpful to any new elected officer for the town.
Tim Sawyer brought in a draft for a town sign to be placed out front next to the road. The board has been discussing posting the hours for the tax collector, & other officers to be visible for the public. A town sign listing the Fire Dept, the Keeping Society and the town office will be discussed further.
The 1st draft of the New Shoreland Zoning Map has been reviewed. Some corrections need to be done and will continue to be work in progress until completed and then voted to accept at a town meeting.
MMA has scheduled a “Highway System Simplification Study Group”and asked for a town official to be a participant for this group. Rich has agreed to work on this program. One of the items for discussion is the “rumor” that DOT may turn back all state aid roads to municipalities and eliminate the funding for local road assistance known as URIP.
The assessor will be in Brooklin on October 16th and help with the filing of the MVR (Municipal Valuation Return) that is due by Nov. 1st for the year 08-09. The assessor will also update any deed transfers.
Jerry Gray will be painting the floor of the Vault.
Meeting adjourned at 6PM
Warrant: $7,007.89
Receipts: $8,392.18
October 13, 2009
(Approved on Oct. 20, 2009)
Present: Gray and Grant (Freethey out of town)
Approved minutes from meetings held on 9/8, 9/15, 9/22, and 9/29. Voted 2-0 approved as read.
Read minutes from meeting held on 10/6/2009 and approved. Voted 2-0
Road Commissioner was in, turned in his worksheet and discussed some of the work he has done. Put in a new culvert on Dodge’s Wharf Road in N. Brooklin.
Clam Warden discussed the conservation committee meeting held on Oct. 6th. and talked about possible changes to the Ordinance. Will be discussed later.
Winter hours were received from the Blue Hill Surry Transfer Station. Starting November 1, 2009—the hours will be 7AM to 4PM. Closed on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. New Years Day will be 11-4 PM
Meeting Adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant: $104,663.99
Receipts: $28,146.70
Approved Minutes October 20, 2009
(Approved Oct. 27, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Voted 3-0 to adopt the changes for new maximum amounts for the GA Appendices (A-C) for Oct. 1, 2009 to Oct. 1, 2010. Signed by the select Board on 10/20/09, mailed and will be filed with the Dept. of Human Services.
Voted 3-0 to send out a Tree Growth Penalty supplemental tax bill for Failure to re-file every 10 years to keep property in Tree Growth.
The Municipal Valuation Return report for 2009 was approved (voted 3-0), signed and returned to the State.
Town Office Sign for out front — will have future discussions
Select Board met with the Community Team to review the progress to date.
Part 1 — was to purchase and train on Trio Budgetary Program as well As a Trio payroll program . Results: this has been accomplished and Grant expressed a large amount of time is saved using the new program. Once the receipts are entered, and the checks are printed, all entries are done at this point. No more double entry. A huge improvement but everyone is still on a learning curve.
Part 2 — The Team was to review the efficiency of the office hours and review if jobs could be consolidated. Results: the team has not had much time to check this request. They will be checking with other towns to see the hours available to the public, to See who does what jobs, are any consolidated and also, check salaries.
Part 3 — Communication problems within the office. Results: This has very much improved. Having bi-monthly staff meetings has helped and each one letting other staff members know what is happening with their own job has certainly helped with understanding and communicating. The select board feels this will continue to improve.
Meeting Adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant: $2,563.78 Receipts: $27,062.68
October 27th, 2009
(Approved on Nov. 3, 2009)
Present: Gray, Grant and Freethey
Voted 3-0 to approve the Minutes from Oct. 6th and Oct. 20th, 2009.
Veterans Memorial Committee came in for a progress meeting
Another non-resident shellfish license complaint was sent to DMR who in turn notified the select board of this problem. Select Board was instructed to investigate and report their findings to DMR.
Meeting adjourned at 6 PM
Warrant: $241,562.66
Receipts: $29,832.32