TOWN OF EAST MILLINOCKET
SELECTMEN'S MEETING MINUTES
TUESDAY JANUARY 03, 2012
4:00 P.M. 

PRESENT. Selectmen-Chairman Clint Linscott, James Jamo, Gary MacLeod, Mark Marston, Mark Scally, Administrative Assistant Shirley Tapley, Realtor Charlie Theriault, Citizens- Susan Brown, Valerie Cropley, Jim Federico, Louis Perreault,  Lincoln News Shelley Farrington. Meeting is recorded. 

1.   WARRANTS.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the warrants for payment through January 3, 2012. Carried 5-0.  Note:  The Town warrants are not completed at this time due to a problem with the electronic Maine State Retirement entry. The Selectmen agreed to return on Wednesday to sign the accounts payable warrants. 

2.  OPAL MYRICK.  Realtor Charlie Theriault was present to review the status of the sale listing for the Opal Myrick property. Theriault stated the property has been listed for approximately six months at $450,000 and that another approach should be considered at this time. Theriault stated that previous conversations with the Selectmen that the Board would just like to see the building go to a business that would allow the town to collect tax dollars and be utilized for a business use that is needed in this area. Theriault recommended that the Selectmen consider dropping the price to $1.00 to attract a business with a sound business plan. Selectman M. Scally suggested that the advertisement state that the town is interested in liquidating the property at the price of $1.00 contingent upon a sound business plan with an agreement of a fair tax base. Motion made and seconded to sign an updated Listing Agreement for an additional 6 months with Realtor Charlie Theriault of North Woods Real Estate and the future efforts to sell the property would be to list the Opal Myrick Property at One Dollar ($1.00) contingent upon the Selectmen agreeing with a sound business plan and one that would generate a fair tax base value from the property to the Town of East Millinocket.  Carried 5-0. 

3.   SELECTMEN'S MEETING MINUTES.  Motion made and seconded to approve the Selectmen's Meeting Minutes of December 19, 2011.  Carried with a spelling correction to the word rationale.  5-0.  

      Motion made and seconded to approve the Selectmen's Meeting Minutes of December 29, 2011 as written.   Carried 5-0. 

4.   AMBULANCE ADJUSTMENTS.  None. 

5.   PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT.  Chairman Linscott stated that the Town's Assessor Agent Bill VanTuinen had recently visited the property and has made a recommendation for an abatement of $4,000 less in valuation which amounts to $93.32 less in taxation for the 46 Spruce Street property. Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Application for Abatement of Property Taxes for 46 Spruce Street reducing the valuation from $33,800 to $29,800 for a total reduction of $4,000 in valuation or $93.32 in taxation. Carried 5-0. 

6.   CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Certificate of Appointment for Verne C. McMoarn as a Reserve Police Officer.    Carried 5-0. 

7.  MEDWAY AND EAST MILLINOCKET FIRE DEPARTMENTS.  The joint meeting of the two fire departments will be held on Monday January 9, 2012 at 6:00 pm at the East Millinocket Public Safety building.  Both fire departments are preparing a list of questions and concerns. There will be two Selectmen from each town attending the fire department workshop meeting as well. 

8.  REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES.  Selectman Mark Marston gave an update on the proposed Scenic Byway Medway Gateway Site concept. Photos of the Byway Site concept improvements are available for viewing at the town office.  

      The Kare meeting date will be announced soon. 

9.   CITIZEN'S COMMMENTS. The court action on 18 Elm Street property was discussed and it was stated that at the last court session held in December the Judge decided that he would do a field visit to measure height of fence at 18 Elm Street on/about 1/25/12. Valerie Cropley of 11 Elm Street was present and expressed her concerns and disappointments with this case.  Linscott clarified that the Town is taking action at this point through the court process and that is all that can be done at this time. 

      Citizen Jim Federico stated he recently installed a portable garage and that he did go through the process and got a building permit for the garage. J. Federico stated that his concern is that in April when the Assessor is assessing properties in East Millinocket, due to the fact that Federico got a building permit the garage would be assessed and taxed. Federico said it is a portable structure and should not be taxed. S. Tapley said she would have the Secretary flag Federico�s property tax card with a note for Assessor Bill VanTuinen to speak with Federico regarding the garage. 

      Louis Perreault stated he had concerns about calling in one person to sand and salt the roads since he felt one person being called in alone is a safety issue. A suggestion was made that if only one person comes in to plow the Police Officer on duty should be made aware of that so that the Officer could check on the plow truck driver periodically. The Selectmen also stated that the Utility Person Richard Allen be added to the call list in the sixth position for call ins with the Public Works department.  

10   OTHER.  S. Tapley explained that Maine Public Employers System offers an additional savings plan for town employees called Maine Start.  This is a separate plan from Maine State Retirement and there are no obligations required from the employer. Tapley stated a representative from Maine Pers will be available for a meeting if the Selectmen agree to offer the plan to explain the details of the savings plan on January 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. here at the town hall and encouraged all employees to attend the meeting for more information.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Supplemental Participation Agreement between the Town and the Retirement Services Trust Company with the town electing not to permit matching contributions.  Carried 5-0. 

      S. Tapley asked the Selectmen if an amount for employee raises should be built into the 2012/13 budget worksheets at this time since budget season is upon us. The Selectmen discussed and agreed to take the wait and see approach saying if at the end of the budget process and the bottom line budget is ok then they will consider potential raises if at all possible for the municipal employees.  The Selectmen would also like to see what takes place with the school budgets as well before making any commitments. 

      M. Marston stated he would like the Board to think about Fireworks since the sale and use of fireworks is now legal in the State of Maine unless there is an ordinance placing restrictions on the use or sale of fireworks.  The Selectmen would like involvement from the Fire Chief and Police Chief at this time. 

11.  DOLBY LANDFILL.  Motion made and seconded to meet in executive session pursuant to 1 MRSA SEC 405 (6) (C) to discuss negotiations regarding the Dolby Landfill maintenance proposal to the State of Maine.  Carried 5-0.     IN: 4:55 P.M.    OUT: 5:12 P.M.

Action.  Chairman Linscott stated there is no action since the town is waiting for a response from the State of Maine on the current offer. 

12.  ADJOURNMENT.  5:15 P.M.