SUMNER SELECTPERSONS
The meeting began at
Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber,
and Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James
Keach, CEO Sidney Abbott, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the Advertiser
Democrat, and resident Stephen Peters.
The Minutes of
Open Session:
Dr. A. Ingrid Eriksson spoke to the Board about the similarities of the 1918
influenza epidemic and the bird flu now in
CEO Sidney Abbott: DEP sent notification of closure on site remediation at R10,
Forms and Reports: Tree Growth Certification was signed for A. Ingrid Eriksson and John
Allen: Map R13, Lots 9 and 9A.
Road Report:
The MDOT Bridge Inspection Report was given to Keach. Three bridges are listed
as needing significant repairs;
Keach would like the Board to adopt a Road Posting Ordinance that gives
him the authority to post the roads when needed to prevent damage. This will be
done at the next meeting.
Old
Business: The Adult-Only Business
Ordinance was reviewed and edited for the February 28 hearing.
New
Business:
The
Community Response Team Questionnaire was reviewed and will be mailed out to
residents
The Board gave approval for fire station winter maintenance of under
$1000.
Correspondence:
AVCOG sent the 2005 edition of Local Government in
The Audit for MMA Property and Casualty Pool program was received.
Other:
Upcoming meetings were listed.
The Account Activity Report to
McNeil has contacted MDOT to inspect his road for
compliance with mobile home park regulations.
He also reported that the light on Pole 4 on Rte. 140
is still out. He has called CMP, Peters called and the Office has called. Runes
will check into the bill the Town receives from CMP for street lights.
The meeting ended at
SUMNER SELECTPERSONS
The meeting began at
Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber,
and Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James
Keach, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat, and
resident Stephen Peters.
The Minutes of
Open Session:
Planning Board members James Durfee, David Bragg and John Allen discussed the
ongoing excavation work at Butterfield Estates Mobile Home Park owned by
McNeil. The Board would like a master plan of the park, rather than 2 or 3 at a
time. They feel that there is a conflict of interest in McNeil having Sumner’s
CEO also doing the excavation work. According to Sumner’s Site Plan Review
Ordinance, the Board feels that all work should stop until a Site Plan Review
is conducted. The Board brought up McNeil calling on State agencies for
assistance and felt that he is using his position as a selectman to his
advantage. Other concerns noted by the Planning Board: how many acres does
McNeil have, he has talked of putting in 25 units; would like to see an
engineer’s plan that addresses the aquifer; Rescue and Fire personnel will have
questions; want CEO to issue a halt order until Site Plan Review is conducted;
the mobile home park is licensed by the State but is a subdivision under
Sumner’s ordinances and there are no guidelines for its development; there are
erosion control problems; McNeil came to the Planning Board after the fact and
his attitude led to misconceptions; large mobile home parks tend to lead to
social problems.
Standard said that no work should go on until the Planning Board
conducts a Review and asked McNeil if he would be doing more work before the
Review. He said the Ordinance should be followed.
McNeil’s responses were that there was no law that says he can’t move
dirt or put in soil improvements and he has building notifications signed by
the Planning Board. He said he is following State rules and he will stop until
spring. He said he had no alternative but to follow on the course set if the
Planning Board won’t follow State rules. He said the Site Plan Review conflicts
with the Subdivision Ordinance; he had to put in 5 units and proceed quicker
than planned in order to get the Board to look at Title 30A regulations. His
recent survey says he had 15.6 acres including the road; he does not have any
plans for the number of units, but he wants to develop to the full potential.
He told the Board he will have the assistance of his attorney.
Bragg said the Board works very hard to follow State and Town rules;
their own biases are not part of the voting process.
McNeil moved to have the Selectpersons ask the CEO to send a letter to
McNeil ordering him to stop work. No second.
Silber moved to have the Selectpersons send a letter to McNeil with a
copy to the CEO asking him to cease all work until a final plan is approved by
the Planning Board based on the Site Plan Review Ordinance and the Subdivision
Ordinance. Standard seconded. So voted.
Bragg asked McNeil to come to the next meeting because the Plan was
incomplete. McNeil agreed.
CEO Sidney Abbott received the Biennial Report Forms for Shoreland
Zoning.
Forms and Reports:
An Abatement was signed for the Corey Arris
MH as it has been moved out of Town with no possibility of collecting the
taxes.
A Supplement was signed for Ralph
and Karen Dunn for TG withdrawal.
The Unsheltered Count of Homeless Persons on
McNeil moved to accept the General
Assistance Policy Manual. Silber seconded. So voted.
The Warrant was signed for a
Special Town Meeting on February 14 to vote on Pauline’s Farm Kennel.
The Board approved the MDOT
form for the placement of three “Wrinkle in Thyme” signs.
Road Report: A new “Stop” sign is needed at the intersection of
Labrador Pond and Valley Roads. Keach will be ordering signs soon.
Old Business:
The Board reviewed ordinances for the February 28
hearing. Norton was asked to look into a noise control ordinance.
The Regionalization Meeting
at the Buckfield Town Office was postponed to February 22.
Norton will see what needs to
be done to adopt Rules for Road Posting.
New
Business:
The first meeting to begin emergency planning will be
held on February 14 during the Selectpersons’ meeting.
Runes will attend an MMA
workshop on Title 30A (needed for clerk certification) on January 25.
Correspondence:
Northeast Municipal Forum
magazine
MMWAC agenda and minutes
WeRecycle-collects
and disposes of televisions and monitors
MMA Municipal Budgeting
Workshop February 8
National Watershed Coalition newsletter
and membership application
Other:
Silber is planning to attend the January 25 Oxford
County Municipal Officers meeting in Buckfield for a discussion on Road
Abandonment and Discontinuance.
The meeting ended at
SUMNER SELECTPERSONS
The meeting began at
Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber,
and Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James
Keach, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat, and
residents Stephen Peters, Dorothy and Edwin Hinshaw.
At
The Minutes of
Open Session:
McNeil wanted it noted that he had contacted AVCOG several years ago so that
the Planning Board and Office would have information on mobile home parks. He
has not made any other calls to State agencies concerning his property.
Darryl Rugg spoke on behalf of Tri-Town
Rescue to urge residents to put their address numbers on their houses or
mailboxes for emergency personnel. Tri-Town has difficulty recently trying to
respond to calls for assistance. He suggested an ordinance. The Board will remind
residents in the next newsletter.
Forms and Reports:
The Board appointed Lana
Pratt to Tri-Town’s Board of Directors until
A Supplement was signed for
David Bragg for TG withdrawal, R 16,
The Notice of Public Meeting
to Adopt Rules and Regulations for Posting Roads was signed.
A Farmland application was
submitted by George and Kelly Affleck to take effect in 2006.
A CMP Pole Location Permit was tabled until McNeil can
get information on charging CMP for the easement and setting a restriction on
placement within the road limits. Standard will call CMP to see if there is a
charge for moving poles out of the road limits.
Road Report:
Keach has placed the order for road name signs.
The MDOT Bridge Report on Labrador Pond Outlet recommends the bridge
should be closed until it can be replaced. The State will not provide
assistance. Silber and Keach attended the Oxford County Municipal Officers
meeting on Road Abandonment. The attorney’s advice was that significant work
and money spent on a public easement road would change its status to a town
way. The attorney also stated that Sumner’s Road Ordinance does hold based on
the history of town road use and maintenance, the interviews with residents and
the acceptance of the Ordinance by voters at a town meeting.
The Board agreed they did not want to spend the funds necessary to
replace the bridge and possibly change its status. They also do not want to
remove the bridge and cut off access to the properties on the other side.
Standard will research options.
Keach said the
The Board gave approval; that amount does not qualify as a substantial amount.
New
Business:
Firefighters Robert Walder, Steven McGinty and Robert Stewart met with
the Board to begin Emergency Planning. It was decided that the Town should be
divided into wards using the tax maps and compile a database with the information
on the community responses. McNeil says the County is working on a plan for
first responders. A generator for the Town Complex and a fire department radio
tower are items that should be obtained. Four key areas to be dealt with are 1)
organization/chain of command 2) supplies and storage 3) hazards: ice, fire,
flu 4) defenses. At the next meeting, items for stockpiling will be listed,
such as Clorox, surgical gloves and masks, and trash bags.
Correspondence:
The State sent notice that FEMA reimbursements have
been delayed; there was a question on funds remaining to be paid to Sumner.
Runes was
given approval to attend an MMA Grant Writing workshop.
The Town of
McNeil took the Animal
Response Team emergency training information.
Other correspondence--no
action taken:
Northeast Municipal Forum
magazine February 2006
RCAM Roadways to Friendship program to provide transportation to
elderly
MMWAC January report
Oxford County Municipal Officers meeting February 22-Crime
Watch/Elderly Scams
Transfer Station report
EMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Application
Upcoming meetings:
February 15 School
Board/Community Meeting
February 22 Richard Baker,
DEP, site visit at Butterfield Estates 10:00 AM-to be posted
February 22 Regionalization
Meeting at
February 28
March 23
The meeting ended at
SUMNER SELECTPERSONS AGENDA
The meeting began at
Attending:
Selectpersons Thomas Standard and Mark Silber, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes,
Road Commissioner James Keach, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the
Advertiser Democrat and Stephen Peters and Dwight Dwinal.
Selectperson Clifford McNeil
arrived after
The Minutes of
Richard Baker, Shoreland Zoning Coordinator, sent the
CEO a copy of his letter to Clifford McNeil concerning McNeil’s request to fill
in the old gravel pit adjacent to the
Forms and Reports:
At
The
CMP Pole Location Permit was edited and signed. The Board crossed out the line
stating that 14 days notice was given. A letter from MMA Attorney Rebecca Seel
stated that CMP does not charge to move poles and that
municipalities have the power to order relocation. Standard will ask CMP
to move Pole 3 on Fields Hill.
Tree
Growth certification was signed for Scott Austin, Map R3,
Road
Report:
Keach
has called Norm Haggan about the icy condition of Rte. 219 at the
The
PUC sent a letter to Keach concerning a Dig Safe incident in 2004 in which a
cable was cut. No action will be taken against Keach.
Attorney
Thomas Dean responded to the MDOT Bridge Report on Labrador Pond Outlet with
the advice that the bridge should be closed to vehicle traffic. The Board
agreed that the bridge should be posted as “Closed-Pass at Your Own Risk” with
vehicle access blocked. Notices will be posted and mailed to abutters, the
Sumner Post Office and the Hartford Town Office.
Old
Business:
The
database for Emergency Planning was created from the community responses. Items
to be stockpiled were discussed and included non-prescription medications and
dried and canned foods. Setting up depots in the three churches was discussed.
Standard brought in an influenza planning guide from
New
Business:
Standard brought up the limited access to DSL for many Sumner
residents. Norton will send a letter to Oxford Networks CEO Roderick Anstey
asking what Sumner can do to improve access. Standard will contact the PUC
about State plans for wireless access.
Runes will be meeting with a credit card company representative on Wednesday
at
Standard received a call from a young woman whose windshield was broken
as she was traveling through Sumner on February 18. One of Lowe’s plow trucks
sprayed rocks and sand and hit her vehicle. She said she tried to stop the
truck, but the driver ignored her. Silber said the contractor is responsible
for damages and she should call Lowe’s Garage. Norton will send Lowe a letter
advising him of the complaint.
Correspondence:
DeLorme
mapping will have a public presentation on tax mapping in
The Public Hearing on Ordinances began at
SUMNER SELECTPERSONS
The meeting began at
Attending:
Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Clifford McNeil and Mark Silber, Clerk/Treasurer
Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James Keach, Secretary Cynthia Norton, CEO
Sidney Abbott, George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat and resident and
firefighter Steven McGinty.
The Minutes of
Open Session:
Resident Lorraine Litchfield, who works at Litchfield General Store, met with
the Board to advise them that residents who attend the meetings feel unwelcome
and intimidated by the Board. She suggested that at the beginning of the
meetings, attendees could be welcomed with an invitation to speak if anyone has
an issue. The Board was surprised by the perception, but will revise the agenda
and meeting procedure so that all who attend feel comfortable.
CEO Sidney Abbott told the Board that he has been hearing a lot of talk about what the
Board has said about him and his work, but nothing directly from the Board.
Standard noted that Abbott had not been at the last several meetings to talk
with. He said that since the last meeting, McNeil had made him aware that
Abbott had another LPI sign the applications for septic systems installed by
Abbott on McNeil’s land. Standard will not be contacting another CEO to inspect
the mobile home park; he said that there does not now seem to be a conflict.
Abbott reminded the Board that a CEO doesn’t set policy, but carries out orders
from the selectmen. Abbott has been following the Camano project to build a
road to the pond. DEP will be issuing a permit.
Forms and Reports:
The Board adopted the Resolution for Incident Management which was
submitted by Scott Parker, Oxford County EMA Director. McNeil would like the
Town to appoint someone else as director for Sumner. Standard will contact
Clayton Schneider, a new resident, whose background would make him a good
director.
The MDOT Transportation Project Request form was tabled until the Board
has more information. Keach feels that the Town will be obligated to fund a
portion of the request for State road assistance. Standard will contact MDOT.
Silber would like maintenance on Rte. 140; it is very bad.
Road Report:
Keach said the culvert that was plugged at the
Hartford Selectman Lee Holman called Standard about the decision to
close the bridge on
Old Business:
Standard drafted an emergency planning Preparedness Manual for Sumner
residents based on information from several state agencies. When the manual is
done, the Board wants to send it to all residents in the hopes that it will
help them prepare for extended emergency situations. The Board is very
concerned about individual home preparedness and health care in the event of an
epidemic.
McNeil has talked to the MPUC about utility poles. He was told that
selectmen can be very specific about the placement of poles. Standard will call
CMP and ask them to move poles on Fields Hill and
New
Business:
Approval was given for Runes to take the week of March 19-25 to visit
her father, who is ill, and May 19-20 for her son’s college graduation.
Runes was
given approval to advertise for insurance coverage bid proposals.
Correspondence:
McNeil submitted a letter concerning his Site Plan Review Application
to the Planning Board. He stated at the meeting that he is in contact with DEP
about filling in the pit between his development and the river. It will take a
full permit.
Also:
MMWAC minutes and agenda
SPO Planning Grants-check
with Comprehensive Plan Committee
USDA Community Grants-forward
to Fire Department
NIMS IS-700 class at the
Oxford County Municipal
Officers Meeting March 22 in
AVCOG Subdivision/Site Review
Workshops-McNeil and Abbott plan to attend
MMA position on LD 2056 to
Repeal Personal Property Tax-no action
Conservation Expo in
Other:
The Account Activity report
through
Standard has signed up for the March 23 meeting in
A GA training session will
be held in
The meeting ended at
SUMNER SELECTPERSONS
The meeting began at
Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard and Mark Silber,
Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James Keach, Secretary Cynthia
Norton, CEO Sidney Abbott and George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat.
The Minutes of
Open Session:
Comprehensive Plan Committee members Edwin Hinshaw, Bobbie Peters, Pamela
Farrar, Henri Arsenault, Mary Ann Haxton, Martha Elkin, Joel Babb and Lana
Pratt met with the Board to bring them up to date on the Plan. Hinshaw read
portions of the draft that stressed the importance of community. Haxton
explained the comments section asking for written responses from specific
groups and individuals. She said the Committee expects to have a portion of the
Plan ready for town meeting vote in August.
The Board thanked the Committee for their work and commitment. Silber
mentioned that copies of an opinion paper that Standard had written in November
had shown up at Litchfield’s store. There were anonymous critical comments
handwritten on the copies that created confusion among townspeople. Neither the
Committee nor Standard distributed those copies.
CEO Sidney Abbott was not aware that there are now three mobile homes on the Gagnon
property on
Gerald Farrar, Planning Board chair, and Mark McAlister came in to talk
about McAlister’s new home in the Beech Ridge Subdivision. It had come to
Standard’s attention that it is too close to
Farrar explained that the Planning Board authorized the building
notification and were not aware at the time that Subdivision Ordinance had a
setback requirement. Runes noted that a letter from the Planning Board and/or
CEO should be written to McAlister explaining the error and authorizing the
completion of the building in its current site. It was decided that Farrar and
Silber will contact MMA attorneys for advice on the proper action to take.
Forms and Reports:
The Board signed an abatement and supplement for Ralph E Dunn and Karen
A Dunn to correct a prior supplement.
A supplement was signed for David B Bragg for TG withdrawal.
The Municipal Warrant to the Animal Control Officer for Unlicensed Dogs
was signed.
Road Report:
Keach has put gravel on
Old Business:
Emergency planning-Standard has updated his proposed Preparedness
Manual and received a brochure from FEMA. He will send Sumner’s plans to Scott
Parker, Oxford County EMA Director.
New
Business:
A resident request for a 25 MPH sign on
No action was taken on a resident complaint of truck traffic over
Fields Hill. The Board discussed posted roads and logging trucks on
The fire extinguishers need to be hung up on the walls per OSHA
regulations. Standard will take care of it.
The Fire Department wants to sell the old 1967 Chevy pumper; Runes will
advertise with MMA and Uncle Henry’s.
Correspondence:
Standard will call Buckfield Town Manager Glen Holmes about the MMWAC
proposed budget.
Other:
March
29-GA meeting at Hartford Town Office at
April
5-EMA Directors’ meeting at Norway Town Office 5:00 PM-Standard
plans to attend.
April
25-Alan Carr, candidate for Oxford County Sheriff, will attend Selectpersons’
meeting
Scholarship
Applications are available and due April 30