SUMNER SELECTPERSONS AGENDA OCTOBER 11, 2005

The meeting began at 7:00 PM.

Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard and Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James Keach, CEO Sidney Abbott, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat, and visitors Charles Standard and Stephen Peters.

The Minutes of September 27, 2005 and Warrant #7 were received and approved.

Sidney Abbott will be appointed at the next meeting for one year as CEO/LPI. McNeil said that Abbott does fine as LPI and responding quickly to people, but the CEO needs more expertise and Sumner should look at sharing. McNeil offered the opinion that if the CEO is shared, people can wait to have their concerns dealt with. Standard has spoken further with Canton Selectman Richard Ray about sharing a CEO. They will set up a meeting with interested towns.

Forms and Reports:

Bradley and Tamara Corson were Abated and Supplemented for incorrect building assessments.

An  Abatement was signed for Donald and Susan Masse for an incorrect building value.

Road Report: Keach has accepted a bid from Commercial Paving of $3200 for 100 cy of cold mix. He has swept Jack Road and will put some of the mix there. He is planning to change the culvert on Cottage Road this week, but is expecting rain to delay the work. He has talked to Ken Pinkham, FEMA representative, about further mitigation that could result in receiving about $74,000 on a $91,000 claim. Pike is scheduled to pave
1¼ miles of
Gammon Road within the next two weeks.

Standard is riding Sumner’s roads and using the Road Surface Management System software to survey road conditions.

Old Business:

Standard has further simplified the Adult Business Ordinance. The next step is to have the Planning Board review it, set up a hearing and present it at the next Annual Meeting.

New Business:

Two bids were received on the grader—Hallowell Construction bid $3,155 and Durling Construction bid $4,150. Standard moved to accept Durling’s bid, McNeil seconded. So voted. Standard will contact Durling; payment and pickup are expected in 30 days. The funds will be deposited to the General Fund and designated for use at the next Town Meeting.

Correspondence:

     The Town’s water sample tested safe for drinking.

     The furnace was cleaned and anti-freeze was put into the heating circulation system. 

     The deadline for comments on proposed amendments to Shoreland Zoning was October 19.

     A thank you note was received from AWAP for the Town Meeting donation.

     A very nice thank you letter was sent from the Town of Buckfield for Sumner’s Fire Department response.

The Proposed 2006 State valuation is $50,450,000 (actual $57,628,808, taxable $48,762,443).

     A letter was sent to Norm Haggan concerning the corner by Pleasant Pond.

A letter was sent to Shirley Martin concerning the Campbell house and septic system and advising her that the house cannot be lived in unless a legal system is installed. A copy was sent to Northeast Bank and Abbott.

Other:

New Office Hours: Tuesday 10:30-7:00; Wednesday 8:30-4:30; Thursday, 8:30-3:00; Friday 9:00-1:00; Saturday 9:00-12:00

October 25-Jane Chandler will come in to discuss changes in the Tri-County Rescue Bylaws

     October 25-Bids for plowing and deck roof are due

November 8-Larry Gronewold will come to meeting to discuss mowing

Account Activity Report to 9/30/05

Transfer Station Financial Report 7/1/05 to 9/30/05

The meeting ended at 8:00 PM.

 

 


SUMNER SELECTPERSONS OCTOBER 25, 2005

Attending: Selectpersons Mark Silber, Clifford McNeil, Thomas Standard, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James Keach, CEO Sidney Abbott, and George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat.

The Minutes of October 11, 2005 and Warrant #8 were received and approved.

Open Session: Susan Litchfield attended on behalf of Tri-Town Rescue to make the Board aware of changes in the bylaws which includes the membership of the Board of Directors. Each town is asked to designate a representative. Litchfield will call Robert Walder to ask him to serve. Diana Stewart and Wilda Dunham serve on the Auxiliary.

CEO Sidney Abbott has inspected the property owned by Gary and Maureen Searles. Their intent is to develop a campground off the Redding Road. They will attend the next Planning Board meeting.

DEP will be conducting a site review of the Williams property south of Redding Road due to a possible shoreland zoning violation.

Forms and Reports:

Carmen and LaVerne Barrasso would like an interior inspection of their building. They were abated last year, but are still unhappy with the valuation. McNeil will not go back unless the Barrassos are there. They will be put on the 2006 assessing list with O’Donnell.

The Municipal Valuation Return was signed.

The Board appointed Sidney M Abbott as CEO/LPI to August 31, 2006.

Road Report: Keach hauled in 12 yards of gravel to fix Jack Road; he also hauled gravel for Black Mountain Road and did some patching and grading. He graded DeCoster, Barrows, Tuell Hill, Arthur Allen, Estes, Redding, Andrews, and Heath Hill Roads. He replaced culverts and ditched several roads and spent a day putting up street signs and cutting brush.

Keach was notified of a culvert and drainage problem at the corner property across from Litchfield’s General Store. Standard will contact MDOT to see if they can change the culvert to alleviate the flooding. The owner of the property lives in New York, but the land is rented to a resident.

Old Business:

Standard talked to Norm Haggan, DOT, on Friday, October 14, 2005. Haggan expressed the opinion that the drainage improvements he made on Wednesday, October 12th are adequate to prevent the icing problem on the Highway 219 curve by Pleasant Pond.

The Personnel Policy was signed and adopted.

The Town received a FEMA check for $70,888.74 for spring storm damage and mitigation.

New Business:

Two bids were received for plowing and clearing snow at the Town Office/Fire Station and dry hydrants. Skip Stanley of Stanley Excavation bid $210.00 per storm and David Bragg bid $4,000.00 per winter for the Complex and $1,000.00 per winter for the hydrants. Stanley’s bid was accepted.

Stanley also bid $3,500.00 to extend the roof over the back deck. This was rejected. A request for bids will be put out again in the spring. It was determined that it is too late this year to start building and the bid was too high.

Correspondence:

ACO Dannie Paine sent a letter asking for reimbursement on his shelter costs. He would like $50.00 per month until July 2006, then he would like $400.00 per year. This was agreed to.

Notice was received from MDOT to make contact to pick up the speed radar trailer. Keach will pick up the trailer in Rumford.

An MMWAC reimbursement check was sent to Buckfield Town Office in the amount of $16,962; to be used to reduce the budget in the next fiscal year.

Standard and McNeil will represent the Town on the SAD #39 Budget Committee and a newly formed committee to make plans for the future of the District.

A multi-town discussion on sharing a CEO will take place on October 27 at Standards’ house.

Other:

The Oxford County Municipal Officers meeting on October 26 will be held in Hartford.

Larry Gronewold will come to the November 8 meeting to discuss mowing.

The grader was paid for and picked up.

JRA Sealmaster has filled in cracks in both parking lots at a cost of $275.00 (220’@$1.25 per foot).

The Fire Department will ask the Buckfield Department if they would like the 1967 Chevy truck for $1.00.

If they are not interested, the truck will be put up for bid.

 


SUMNER SELECTPERSONS NOVEMBER 8, 2005

The meeting began at 7:00 PM.

Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber, Clifford McNeil, Road Commissioner James Keach, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat and resident Stephen Peters.

The Minutes of October 25, 2005 and Warrant #9 were received and approved.

Open Session:

The Comprehensive Plan committee presented their work and findings accompanied by a series of overlay maps of the town that showed lot divisions, concentrated building areas, topographical layout and natural resources. Each member spoke briefly on the information in each overlay and discussed zoning and the character of the villages. Co-chair Mary Ann Haxton said it is their intent to build cooperation instead of regulation in the planning and preservation of Sumner as a rural community. The Committee will present again on the 15th from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in conjunction with the Planning Board meeting. Notices of the public meeting have been posted.

Reports and Forms:

Larry Gronewold met with the Board to discuss the mowing contract. He has visited the cemeteries and Town lots that he will be caring for. Norton will contact the abutters to each cemetery before spring to advise them of a new contractor and make sure of access and any restrictions. Gronewold and the Selectpersons signed the three-year contract.

The Board signed the three-year plowing contract for the Office Complex. Contractor Skip Stanley called during the day and will come in later to sign. He will also be taking of the dry hydrants.

Form 801 Assessor Notification for Scientific Games was signed.

Standard took the MMA Federal Issues Membership Survey.

Road Report:

Keach reported that Gammon Road was paved and he has shimmed the shoulders. The Bradeen Road sign, Gammon Road sign and Bonney Road sign and post disappeared Halloween night.

Old Business:

Silber moved to adopt the Rules of Procedure for Selectpersons’ Meetings. McNeil seconded. So voted.

McNeil will call the Barrassos to set up a time to inspect their building on Andrews Road.

Standard said the meetings to discuss sharing a CEO will continue; Richard Ray of Canton is the leader of the discussions. McNeil said that MMA has a job description and contract for a shared CEO that would need town meeting approval.

Correspondence:

The School Board will be having a special meeting on November 9.

EMA sessions for NIMS training will be held on December 5. The Board talked about the need for a plan for Sumner covering emergency evacuations or incoming refugees and a storage building for cots and blankets.

Other:

The Board would like the Fire Department to contact Buckfield concerning the sale of the fire truck.

The Account Activity Report through 10/31/05 was available.


SUMNER SELECTPERSONS NOVEMBER 22, 2005

The meeting began at 7:00 PM.

Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber, Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James Keach, CEO Sidney Abbott, Secretary Cynthia Norton, and George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat.

The Minutes of November 8, 2005 and Warrant #10 were received and approved. The minutes of October 11 were signed again as the date was incorrect on the original and had been signed on the first page.

CEO Sidney Abbott: Richard Baker, DEP Shoreland Zoning Coordinator, sent a letter concerning their site visit to the Williams’ property on Redding Road. Abbott said the buildings need to be moved—they cannot stay between the river and the road. A septic system also needs to be installed. The garage has to be five feet above the 100 year flood mark.

Abbott is dealing with three campers on the River Road that were placed with no official notification and no septic systems.

Forms and Reports signed:

     Audit letter

     Draft management letter

     BETR Form 801 for Scientific Games

     Appointment of Danville Jack as alternate Planning Board member to August 31, 2006.

     Letter of Authorization to Maine State Planning Office and report on hazardous waste collection

     Tree Growth Management Plan for Danville Jack on R2, Lot 6

Road Report: The MDOT radar trailer has been set up at the Hartford-Sumner line and across from the elementary school. According to the printouts, a large percentage of drivers are speeding through the Town. Keach will move the trailer unit to West Sumner before it is returned. Standard will send a letter with the data collected to the State and enforcement agencies to show that there is a problem with traffic speed.

Keach called John Benton at MDOT about assistance with bridge repairs. He was told that the State has taken ownership of the Upper Heald Bridge on Redding Road and the Fields Bridge on Gammon Road as both bridges are over 23’ long and have over 100 cars per day. The State will not help with other bridges.

Old Business:

McNeil and Standard made a site visit to the Barrasso property on Andrews Road at the Barrasso’s request. McNeil recommends no change to the building value at this point, but they will be put on the spring assessing list for a review. McNeil will call Mrs. Barrasso.

The Tri-Town Bylaws were approved at the Tri-Town business meeting.

New Business:

Buckfield Town Manager Glen Holmes has requested a regionalization meeting with the Buckfield Board on Wednesday, December 14 at 6:30 PM. The Sumner Board will attend.

McNeil brought in a draft ordinance for regulating political signs. This will be placed on the warrant at the Annual Town Meeting along with the Adult Business and Dog Control Ordinances.

Standard brought up hiring a researcher to determine the status of River Road and then voting to officially close the road. He will contact a lawyer to assist the Town with the proper procedure.

Correspondence received and reviewed: no action taken

     Maine Employees Health Trust rates are increasing as of January 1, 2006.

     Maine Audubon partnership program for sustainable forestry

     CEO job description from Richard Ray

     Oxford County Municipals Officers meeting on “Towns working together”

     Small Community Grant Program for Septic System Replacement

Other:

     The Comprehensive Plan Committee will have a follow-up meeting on November 29, 6:00-8:00 PM.

     There will be a Rabies Clinic, Saturday, January 7, 10:00-12:00 in the fire station.

McNeil will call Bob Walder about removing the cabinets in the Planning Board room. The room is becoming crowded and two of the units are not being used.

The meeting ended at 8:20 PM.


SUMNER SELECTPERSONS DECEMBER 13, 2005

The meeting began at 7:00 PM.

Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber, Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, Road Commissioner James Keach, Secretary Cynthia Norton and George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat.

The Minutes of November 22, 2005 and Warrant #11 were received and approved.

Open Session: Connie Cushing brought in a proposal for fund raisers for cemetery repairs. She is very concerned after hearing about the vandalism in Elmwood Cemetery and learning that the Town does not have funds for emergency repairs. She would like to organize one or two fundraisers for repairs and cleaning. Runes noted that guidelines would have to be established for how the money is to be spent and in what amounts. Silber wondered if aluminum bars could be purchased to support broken stones. Silber moved to establish an account for fixing headstones and fences as established by Connie Cushing. McNeil seconded.
So voted.

Forms and Reports:

The Management Letter for the audit report was signed.

Road Report: George Healy’s mobile home culvert needs to be replaced. Keach is aware of it and will take care of it in the spring. Standard reported the Stop sign is missing from the intersection of Labrador Pond and Valley Road. He would like to see it and subsequent missing Stop signs replaced with Yield signs. There was no consensus on this proposal.

Old Business:

Runes and Standard are researching Sumner’s public easement roads by going through Town and County records.

New Business:

A winter newsletter will go out this week advising residents of a rabies clinic, the cemetery fundraiser plan, changes in hunting laws, Office and Transfer Station hours and ordinances.

An Addendum to Office Plowing Contract was signed specifying a payment of $45.00 for sanding only. This was the price suggested by Stanley.

Correspondence:

The City of Lewiston sent a copy of the letter to MMWAC regarding the solid waste contract which expires in 2007. The City is looking at expansion and sharing the costs with MMWAC member towns. This matter will be discussed at the Regionalization Meeting with Buckfield on the 14th.

The NIMCAST user’s guide was given to McNeil.

MMWAC sent agenda for the Board of Directors and Executive Committee meetings.

Other:

     The Account Activity Report to 11/30/05 was available.

The Board will meet at 5:00 PM from December 27 to February 28. A hearing will be held on the Dog Control, Adult Business and Political Signs Ordinances on February 28 at 7:00 PM.

Silber reviewed an article in the November 2005 Maine Townsman on eminent domain. He feels the Town can exercise eminent domain when a property is taken through the lien process, which would allow the Town to issue a warranty deed instead of a quitclaim deed.

The meeting ended at 8:20 PM.


SUMNER SELECTPERSONS DECEMBER 27, 2005

The meeting began at 5:00 PM.

Attending: Selectpersons Thomas Standard, Mark Silber, and Clifford McNeil, Clerk/Treasurer Susan Runes, CEO Sidney Abbott, Secretary Cynthia Norton, George Twine of the Advertiser Democrat and resident Stephen Peters.

The minutes of December 13, 2005 and Warrant #12 were received and approved.

Reports and Forms:

The General Assistance Quarterly Report was signed. There were no claims.

Tree Growth certification was approved for Christopher and Tammy Cerrato on Map R7, Lot 22C.

McNeil submitted a copy of his planned mobile home park expansion. This falls under Site Plan Review and the Planning Board.

Road Report: Keach will be sending out letters advising property owners that it is illegal to plow into the roadway.

New Business: Options for dealing with fuel shortages and power outages were discussed. McNeil feels that the GA process is adequate to assist those who need fuel and that a storage tank is not needed at the Office. The situation will be monitored and storage plans may be devised. It was decided to send out a questionnaire to the community asking for particular needs they might have in an emergency situation and also if they might be able to assist their neighbors. The goal is set up neighborhood response teams and to develop a plan to deal with extended power outages, severe cold or snowstorms, or possible epidemics. The fire department and snowmobile and ATV clubs will be part of the planning. This will be discussed further at the January 10 meeting. Dr. Ingrid Eriksson will attend to discuss the effects of a bird flu epidemic in Sumner.

McNeil moved to elect Silber to look into the idea of setting up the financial systems at the Office to allow people to pay with credit and debit cards and to report back. Standard seconded the motion. So voted.

Correspondence:

Silber took the information on the Maine Historical Grant Program and the Northeast Municipal Forum magazine.

Buckfield Town Manager Glen Holmes sent a copy of the Regionalization Meeting Notes from December 14.

Runes gave the Board the new Bond Bank schedule for advance budget planning for equipment such as a new fire truck or a backhoe.

Also received were MMWAC meeting notice and activity report, Bureau of Labor safety checklist and MMA Service Program information. MMWAC will keep its member communities informed about negotiations with Lewiston on the expanded landfill.

Other:

There will be a second Regionalization Meeting with Buckfield on January 18.

Standard wrote up a Road Status Report with suggested motions for a Town Meeting vote. This will be taken up at the January 24 meeting.

Standard reported that the old fire truck (1967 Chevy pumper) had been offered back to Buckfield, but had no response. The Office has received many calls about the truck. If the truck is valued at less than $1000, the Town can sell it without voter approval.

The meeting ended at 6:00 PM.