TOWN OF EAST MILLINOCKET
 SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY JUNE 21, 2010
4:00 P.M.

 

PRESENT.  Selectmen-Chairman Mark Scally, James Federico, Gary MacLeod, Mark Marston, Administrative Assistant Shirley Tapley, Daniel Lawson, The Lincoln News Shelley Farrington. The meeting is recorded. 

1.   ALLIANCE FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING.  Daniel Lawson of the Alliance for American Manufacturing was present to speak with the Selectmen to ask for support for the paper trade case.  Lawson explained that China and Indonesia has captured almost 30 percent of our market coated paper products which is double the amount from the previous year. Lawson said both the Chinese and Indonesian governments have unfair trade practices and that trade laws need to be enforced. Lawson asked the Selectmen sign the Resolution prepared by the Alliance for American Manufacturing stating the Town expresses supports for enforcement of trade laws and support for the domestic coated paper industry and its workers who have been injured by unfair trade practices by foreign producers.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Resolution in Support of the Paper Trade Case.  Carried 4-0. 

2.  WARRANTS.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the warrants through June 21, 2010 for payment.
Carried  4-0. 

3.  VETERAN’S MEMORIAL.  Donald Morin stopped by to update the Selectmen on the collapsed wall at the veteran’s memorial site. Morin said the retaining wall is just about back in place and that drainage pipes and stones will be installed to help eliminate this from happening again.   The water fountain was also discussed and Morin said it is a still a work in progress. Morin said if all else fails a flower planter could be done instead of the fountain. Mark Scally suggested a reflective pool instead of the fountain.  The Selectmen thanked Morin and his crew for the quick response to repairing the wall. 

4.   SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES.  Motion made and seconded to approve the Selectmen’s meeting minutes of June 7, 2010 as written.     Carried 4-0. 

5.   AMBULANCE ADJUSTMENTS.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Ambulance Adjustments in the amount of $1,908.15.          Carried 4-0.  No uncollectible. 

6.   CERTIFICATE OF APPOINTMENT.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Certificate of Appointment for Robert Mather Jr. as a Planning Board Member. Carried 4-0. 

7.  KATAHDIN PAPER COMPANY.  Chairman Scally reported to the Board a summary of a phone conversation he had with Comptroller Ray Heath at Katahdin Paper Company regarding the KPC 2009 property abatement request.  Scally said that Heath would like to set up a meeting with one or two Selectmen to discuss moving forward. Scally said when he asked Heath why the abatement request was given to the town without any discussion beforehand his answer was there wasn’t time.  Scally said Heath said they would consider dropping the        abatement and moving forward and that the company has not made any money in five years.  Scally said he pointed out to Heath that the Selectmen are not about to regurgitate money that the town has already accepted from KPC and that this abatement would bring the town to its knees. Scally said he felt if the Board of Selectmen just out and out refused any conversations with KPC it would not reflect well of the Board and that public discussions should be done. Selectmen Jim Federico agreed with Scally and said he felt that moving forward the full   Board should be present in a public meeting with KPC.  Motion made and seconded to meet with Katahdin Paper Company Representatives in a public meeting with the full Board of Selectmen present. Carried 4-0.  Note: the full Board of Selectmen said they should all be able to attend the regular selectmen’s meeting of July 26, 2010 at 4:00 p.m. This date will be passed along to KPC reps. 

8.  COMMITTEE REPORTS.  Mark Marston said there is a School Board Meeting this Thursday to discuss the possible renovations needed if Opal Myrick moved to Schenck.  Marston said a second meeting will be held to discuss the gym floor. 

9.  CITIZEN’S COMMENTS.  Mark Marston said Christine Whitmer asked if there were any names suggested for the park across the Street. Marston said if she got some ideas to come to a meeting to suggest them. 

Mark Scally said Leroy Michaud asked about the old school bell being donated to the town and placed in the park across the street. The Selectmen’s hope is that the owner will make the decision to donate the bell back to the town and that they will continue with the efforts to try and make it happen.  Scally said Leroy Michaud would like to see the bell ring on the first day of school each year. 

10. OTHER.  The next Selectmen’s Meeting will be in three weeks –July 12, 2010.  The Town office is closed July 5th in observance of the 4th of July holiday.

Tapley said that Bill VanTuinen office will begin the revaluation of properties this week. Members of VanTuinen’s staff will begin knocking on doors to assess interiors and exteriors. If anyone has any questions or concerns feel free to call this office or the police dept. Notifications of this process will be in the Lincoln

News and will also be on the town website.  The Assessors do have a badge showing that they are Assessors and a letter from this office stating their role.

Tapley said that Fred Heath has requested the use of the Park and/or the Gazebo for a band concert by the Dirigo Wind Band. In case of rain they asked for use of the town hall auditorium. The date requested is for the evening of July 21, 2010, with no exact time given at this point. The Selectmen approved the request to use the Gazebo Park or the Town Hall Auditorium for July 21, 2010 for the Band Concert by Dirigo Wind Band.

Gary MacLeod stated that there has been a complaint about the house located at 16 Cedar Street-on the corner of Cedar and Church Street. MacLeod said this house is a definite health hazard since there are rats and stray cats in the house.  MacLeod said the house is in very poor condition and that the lawn is not maintained. The Selectmen agreed that this is a health issue and instructed Tapley to refer this property to the Code Enforcement Office and that they want this matter handled immediately.

Selectman MacLeod said he has concerns regarding the repairs needed to the banquet room gas stove.  MacLeod said that these types of stoves are designed to take punishment and that the stove is not that old.  MacLeod said that he feels there needs to better tracking for maintenance of the stove since stoves of this type should not be having these kinds of problems.  Both Selectmen M. Scally and J. Federico said the stove is used by renters of the town hall and the recreation department and that problems should be reported immediately so that    the stove can be repaired quickly and those accountable for problems with the stove be held responsible. Better control and inspections of the stove should be done after each use.  The maintenance person and the recreation department will be informed that better maintenance controls should be in place for the banquet room stove. At this time the stove is out or order and will not be used until the repairs are done by Dead River. 

11.  ADJOURNMENT.   4:45 P.M.