Town of Waldoboro, Maine
Board of Selectmen Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, August 24, 2004, 6:00 PM
1. Call to Order
The Board of Selectmen met at the Municipal Building on Tuesday, August 24, 2004
at 6:00 p.m. to conduct town affairs.
Members present were Kathleen Blodgett, Rebecca Maxwell, Theodore Wooster,
Gordon Webster, and Ellen Winchenbach. Staff present were Town Manager, Lee
Smith; Michael Ducharme, Administrative Assistant; Darryl McKenney, Assessors’
Agent; John Black, Code Enforcement Officer; Linda Perry, Town Clerk; and Scott
Lash, EMS Director. Others present were Charlotte Davenhill, representing the
Cable Consortium and representatives of the Waldoboro Public Library including
Delia Mohlie, Librarian and Jackie Fawcett, President of the Board of Trustees.
Media representatives were Art Myers representing the Courier-Gazette and
Michael Colbert representing the Lincoln County News.
2. Special Town Meeting & Public Hearing(s)
A. Special Town Meeting.
A special town meeting was held at 7:00 p.m. to act on an article to purchase a
portion of the Virginia Light property for the purpose of construction of a new
source of supply for the public drinking water program. See the Official Town
Records for a copy of the minutes of the meeting.
B. Public Hearing – EMS Revised User Fee Schedule.
The public hearing regarding the revised EMS User Fee Schedule was called to
order by the Chairman of the Board of Selectmen at approximately 7:10 p.m. She
explained that voters at a town meeting held on June 12, 1999 authorized the
Board of Selectmen to establish rates for the use of the ambulance service under
such terms and conditions as they deem advisable after notice and public
hearing. The purpose of the policy is to help defray the expense of providing
ambulance service from the local property tax. Notice of tonight’s meeting was
published in the Lincoln County News on Thursday, August 12, 2004. Copies of the
Notice of Public Hearing were also posted at the Municipal Building, Clark’s
Drug Store, Maritime Farms, Moody’s Diner, Waldoboro True Value and Flipper’s
Market.
The Chair then turned the meeting over the EMS Director Scott Lash who explained
that the last rate adjustment for ambulance charges for service has been over
two years ago. He indicated that effective July 1, 2004 Medicare implemented a
temporary adjustment in some areas such as New England until 2009. This
adjustment is a “blend within a blend”. In order to receive any additional
increases, it is necessary to adjust our rates.
The hearing was then opened to public comment. No public comments were received
and the Chair closed the hearing at approximately 7:15 p.m.
On motion of Webster/Maxwell, the Board VOTED: to adopt the revised EMS User Fee
Schedule effective July 27, 2004. (Vote 5-0).
3. Consent Calendar
On motion of Maxwell / Wooster, the Board VOTED: to approve the consent calendar
as follows:
(Vote 5-0)
A. Minutes of the regular meeting of July 27, 2004.
B. General Fund Warrants 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
C. Payroll Warrants 4, 5, 6, and 7.
D. Water Department Operating Warrants #43 and #44.
4. Communications
On motion of Webster / Wooster, the Board VOTED: To accept and place on file the
following correspondence:
A. Waldoboro Public Library minutes of 07/08/04.
B. ISO Public Protection Classification Letter.
The town manager explained that the fire insurance rate was scheduled to go to
Class 7/9 (on a scale of 1 to 9, with 1 being the best). The Insurance Services
Office (ISO), Marlton, New Jersey, agreed to withhold implementation pending
completion of improvements to the water system. Subsequent to the completion of
the improvements, ISO returned to Waldoboro in July 2004 to complete a new
survey and inspection of the system. The resulting classification was revised to
Class 5/9, a significant improvement. ISO stated that “this is an improvement
from the former classification…that means your community’s fire suppression
services are improving in the face of the demands of a changing environment. The
effective rate is effective December 1, 2004.
Weaknesses which prevent an even better classification were: 1) lack of
firefighters responding to fire calls (every 5 additional firefighters
responding adds 1 point); 2) achieve bi-annual business fire inspections (which
the fire department has started), and 3) installation of additional 12-inch
water mains (such as a new main from the corner of Atlantic Hwy and Jefferson
St. to the corner of Atlantic Hwy and Kalers Corner Street to provide more water
pressure to the property on the latter side of the Medomak River.)
C. Lincoln County Lisa Newsletter.
D. Lincoln County Criminal Justice Project. A request was made to have one of
the Board members attend the celebration on 08/26/04 at 1:00 PM at Lincoln
Academy. Regretfully, all of the Board Members have previous obligations.
5. Committee & Departmental Reports
A. Waldoboro Public Library re: Tax Cap
Librarian Delia Mohlie informs us that the community is concerned about the
impact of the upcoming Palesky legislation on the Town of Waldoboro. Mohlie
mentioned the Library is putting together an information binder with
non-positional information about the proposal. This binder would give a variety
of points of view, with supporting documentation including the proposal itself,
letters, newspaper clippings, and such. President of the Board of Trustees,
Jackie Fawcett, was concerned about the impact of Palesky on the funding of for
the Public Library. She also said to feel free to send all inquiries to the
Library where the binder is located.
6. Official Action
A. Act on Rate Case Proposals (Water Department)
Four bids were received to undertake a rate case study for the Water Department,
as follows:
Bids Received Amount
Aqua Maine $2,500.00
Gordon LaBay $2,250.00
Horton, McFarland, & Veysey $2,600.00
Maine Rural Water Association $2,500.00
On motion of Wooster / Maxwell, the Board Voted: To award the bid to Gordon
LaBay at a low bid of $2,250. (Vote 5-0)
B. Act on Salt Bid
Bids for salt were read as follows:
Bids Received Price Per Ton
Harcros $52.40
Morton $55.91
Cargill, Inc $52.94
International Salt Co. $45.85
Eastern $60.80
On motion of Wooster / Maxwell, the Board Voted: To award the bid to
International Salt at a low bid of $45.85. (Vote 5-0) NOTE: Last year’s cost was
$41.20 per ton with International Salt, and this year’s budget is $41.20 per
ton.
C. Act on Board and Commission Vacancies
On motion of Maxwell / Webster, the Board Voted: To appoint Charlie Flint to the
Planning Board for 3 years. (Vote 5-0)
On motion of Maxwell / Webster, the Board Voted: To appoint Tyler Lupien to the
Board of Appeals to fill an unexpired term. (Vote 5-0)
Recess. On the motion of Maxwell, the Board Voted: To recess at 7:00 p.m. to
conduct a Special Town Meeting and a Public Hearing.
Reconvene. On the motion of Maxwell/Winchenbach, the Board Voted: To reconvene
at 7:20 pm. (Vote 5-0)
D. Act on Tax Relief Resolution
The Board considered a “Resolution Regarding Property Tax Relief” asking that
the Board of Directors of SAD#40 utilize any additional state resources provided
to SAD#40 as a result of the adoption of Question #1 in June 2004 referendum to
the reduction of the property tax commitment.
On the motion of Wooster/Maxwell, the Board Voted: To approve the Resolution
Regarding Property Taxes. (Vote 5-0)
E. Discuss Town Report Dedication
On motion of Wooster/Winchenbach, the Board VOTED: To table action on the
dedication of the town report until next meeting and requested that a list of
names be compiled and submitted at the next Selectman’s meeting.
F. Act on CED Lease Agreement for the Friendship Street School
The Coastal Economic Development (CED) Corporation leases three classrooms at
the Friendship Street School for the Head Start Program during nine months of
the school year at a cost of $2,250 per month. CED leases one classroom during
the summer months (June, July, and August) at a cost of $900 per month. The
total value of the lease is $22,500.
On the motion of Webster/Wooster, the Board Voted: To approve the revised Lease
Agreement between the Coastal Economic Development Corporation and the Town of
Waldoboro commencing September 1, 2004 and ending August 30, 2005. (Vote 5-0)
G. Discuss the Interview Process for the Community Services Advisory Committee
The Town Manager recommended against hiring Community Services Department staff
pending the outcome of the property tax cap referendum scheduled for November 2,
2004. He did recommend continuing with the establishment of an advisory
committee.
On the motion of Maxwell / Wooster, the Board Voted: To accept the town
manager’s recommendation and start the interview process to create the Community
Services Advisory Committee. (Vote 5-0)
H. Act on Developer Water Main Extension Agreement with BC Housing
On motion of Webster/Wooster, the Board VOTED: To table action on the proposed
Water Main Extension Agreement pending a review of the proposed agreement by the
Water Committee. (Vote 5-0).
I. Act to set the 2005 Tax Rate
Assessor’s Agent Darryl McKenney was present to present his recommendation for
the 2004-05 property tax commitment and tax rate. He stated that all buildings
had been revalued this year adding over $60 million in new value. He stated that
land values would need to be adjusted again next year consistent with his
schedule of revisions every three years. The town manager suggested that a
notice should be mailed to the taxpayers in advance of the bill explaining why
values were changing. McKenney recommended setting the tax rate at $13.70 per
$1,000 value.
On the motion of Webster / Wooster, the Board Voted: To set the 2005 tax rate at
$13.70 per $1,000. (Vote 5-0)
J. Act on the Renewal of the Adelphia Cable Contract
Consultants have recommended a preliminary denial of the cable contract and
prepare for administrative proceedings. Charlotte Davenhill mentioned that
Adelphia has not been very accommodating to our requests during negotiations.
On the motion of Wooster/Winchenbach, the Board Voted: To authorize the Chairman
of the Board of Selectmen to officially notify Adelphia Communication
Corporation of the preliminary denial of the cable contract renewal effective
September 12, 2004. (Voted 5-0)
11. Executive Session(s)
A. Philbrook Fund Application #04-TBA.
On the motion of Maxwell/Webster, the Board Voted: To convene as Philbrook
Trustees at 8:07 p.m. to act on: (Vote 5-0)
On the motion of Maxwell/Webster, the Board Voted: In favor of Philbrook Fund
Application #04-TBA for the amount of $150.00. (Vote 5-0)
On the motion of Maxwell/Winchenbach, the Board Voted: To reconvene at 8:12 p.m.
12. Adjourn
On motion of Maxwell/Wooster, the Board Voted: To adjourn at 8:15. (Vote 5-0)