Town of Waldoboro, Maine

                                                     Board of Selectmen Meeting

                                                              Municipal Building

                                                           1600 Atlantic Highway

                                                                      MINUTES

                                             Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

1.      Call to Order.

The Board of Selectmen met at the municipal building on the October 26, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. to conduct town affairs. 

Members present were Kathleen Blodgett, Gordon Webster, Rebecca Maxwell, Theodore Wooster, and Ellen Winchenbach.  Staff present was Town Manager Lee Smith, Assessors’ Agent Darryl McKenney, and Administrative Assistant Michael Ducharme

Others present were Dennis J. Robbins, Laurie A. Robbins, and Carl Creamer, Lincoln Davis representing the Waldoboro Business Association, Scott Vaitones business manager for MSAD #40, and Carleton Johnson, Chairman of the Water Committee.  Also present were Art Mayer representing the Courier Gazette and Mike Colbert representing the Lincoln County News.

2.         Public Hearing(s) – None.

3.         Approve Consent Calendar.

On the motion of Webster/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To approve the consent calendar as follows: (Vote 5-0)

A.      Regular meeting minutes - October 12, 2004.

B.      Warrants & Financial Reports:

1.   General Fund Warrants 15 and 16.

2.   Payroll Warrants 15 and 16.

3.   Water Department Operating Warrant # 46.

4.         Communications.

         On the motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To accept and place on file the following correspondence:  (Vote 5-0)

A.            Petition re: PUC Review of Water Department Rate Case Filing.

The town clerk received a copy of a customer petition  requesting  that the Public Utilities Commission suspend the Water Department rate increase.  There were 97 signatures on said document.  The Public Utilities Commission has acknowledged receipt of the petition and has suspended the rate increase until they have had time to investigate the case.

B.           Petition re: Paving of Deaver Road.

This is the second petition that we have received on this matter.  Last year we received a petition requesting to pave the road.  This year we have a petition, from what looks like 7 different residences, to not pave the Deaver Rd.  The Public Works Department has rebuilt the Deaver  Road, finishing up the rest of the gravel work this year.  The intent of the Town was not to pave the road (paving would cost around $50,000).  Back Cove Road is scheduled to be paved in 2005 and wouldn’t be prudent to pave Deaver Rd. after Back Cove Rd. is paved, sending heavy equipment over a road you just paved.  The Town Manager recommends that the selectmen hold a public hearing sometime in the near future since there are two conflicting petitions.  From a management perspective, paving is not recommended.  The only advantage to paving is that eliminates sending a grader to the other end of town to grade the road a couple times a summer.  Maxwell feels there should be a public hearing.  Smith noted that several families are seasonal and would not be able to make a hearing, but their opinions could be solicited by mail.  A public hearing will be scheduled between now and early next summer.

C.           Cooperative Extension Annual Meeting.

The Cooperative Extension Services Annual Meeting is November 8^th.  The business meeting is at 6 p.m., and the presentation is at 7 p.m., across the street from Medomak Valley High School.

5.         Committee & Departmental Reports. - None.

6.         Official Action.

A.            SAD#40 Conceptual Design Presentation for Middle School.

Scott Vaitones – The intent is to close D.R. Gaul in Union, A.D. Gray, and the Educational Services Center in Warren, and move the Superintendents office, Special Ed, Alternative Ed and business office to the D.R. Gaul building .  The State rated A.D. Gray as the second worst school in the State.  The State will fund about 93% of the $12.6 million project.  The district is scheduled to meet with a sub committee of the School Board on November 1^st, and they will send the project to the State School Board for concept approval, tentatively on November 10^th.  If the State School Board approves the project, it will then go to referendum (tentatively on January 11^th).  If all goes smoothly, the school will open in September 2007.

There are a handful of items that the State will not fund in the 56,000 square foot school that the School Committee felt were needed.  Taxpayers will be asked to fund about $1.1 million from property taxes which, based on a $185,000 home, will cost the taxpayer about $35/yr.  Some of the items that make up the $1.1 million are:  $60,000 to $75,000 for a pitched roof instead of a flat roof, $120,000 for the green architecture (more environmentally friendly), $60,000 to $70,000 for some extra space in the gym, and $24,000 to bring the elevator to the third floor.  Other additional costs could include $70,000 to $80,000 to expand the gym, $180,000 to pave and put a rubberized surface on the track, a new tennis and basketball court, a larger library, a larger cafeteria, and larger corridors. 

Lee Smith – Are there any additional operating costs calculated into that figure?  Vaitones – One of the things that we have submitted with the proposal are any added expenditures (i.e. additional custodians, teachers, food service, heating, electrical, etc).  We project about 1 ½ teaching positions will open up because of this building due to additional programs that will be available.

Lee Smith – Is it fair to assume that, when the project is done, there will be little room left for growth because of the wetland areas?  Vaitones – Yes. When the land was purchased, there were different wetland rules.  The rules are much stricter now, leaving less buildable land, and the site is pretty well used.

Lee Smith – Although the building looks nice, with the relocation of the parking areas and such, the campus looks crowded, and the well lay out does not look attractive because of the wetland constraints.  Have you given any thought about approaching abutting property owners to purchasing additional land behind the school for placement of septic systems  or ball field?  Vaitones – I will certainly pass this on to the School Board.

         The selectmen thanked Mr. Vaitones for his presentation.

B.           Water Department Rate Filing.

Carlton Johnson stated that the Water Committee had reviewed the proposed rate base of 1200 cf per quarter as suggested at the public hearing and recommends that the Selectmen reduce the base to 900 cf per quarter.  This new base would move 4-5% of the gross revenue into different classes. The conservative user’s bill (900 cf per quarter usage) would go from $47.07 currently, to $58.62 (showing a $9.60, or 20.4% savings over the original proposal).  This will help to promote water consumption.  Blodgett feels this is a good compromise.

On the motion of Wooster/Maxwell, the Board VOTED:  To file the amended rate with a lowered base of 900 cf per quarter (Vote 5-0).

C.     Schedule Public Hearing on Liquor License Renewal for DePatsy’s Lane.

         On the motion of Maxwell/Winchenbach, the Board VOTED:  To schedule the public hearing on Tuesday, November 9^th at 6:00 p.m. (Vote 5-0).

D.           Act on New Street Address Requests.

1.      River Bend – On the motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To approve new street name for River Bend located off Winslows Mills Road.  (Vote 5-0).

2.      Goose Neck Way – On the motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To extend Dale Lane 500 ft. rather than rename the end of the road for one homestead. (Vote 5-0).

7.      Convene as Board of Assessors

On the motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To recess as Selectmen, and convene as the Board of Assessors at 7:00 p.m. (Vote 5-0)

The following abatements were considered:

On the motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To approve the abatement request by changing the assessment to a D grade doublewide home (Vote 5-0).

On the motion of Blodgett/Maxwell, the Board VOTED: To approve an assessment change in the home to poor condition for 1 year and grant $109.60 once (Vote 5-0).

On the motion of Blodgett/Winchenbach, the Board VOTED:  To approve these veterans abatement requests.   (Vote 5-0).

On the motion of Wooster/Maxwell, the Board VOTED:  To accept the recommendation of the Assessors’ Agent, and approve these abatements.  (Vote 5-0)

8.      Reconvene as Selectmen

      On the motion of Wooster/Maxwell, the Board VOTED:  To adjourn as Assessors and reconvene as the Board of Selectmen in executive session as Trustees of the Philbrook Fund at 7:12 p.m. (Vote 5-0).

A.            Philbrook Fund Application #06-04

On the motion of Wooster/Maxwell, the Board VOTED:  To authorize up to $100 in transportation assistance for medical appointments and request to meet with applicant to further discuss the application.  (Vote 5-0)

9.      Adjourn

On the motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board VOTED:  To adjourn at 7:30 p.m.