TOWN OF EAST MILLINOCKET
SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY  MARCH 1, 2010
4:00 P.M. 

PRESENT.  Selectmen-Chairman Mark Scally, James Federico, Gary MacLeod, Mark Marston, Administrative Assistant Shirley Tapley, Rec Director Frank Clukey, Rec Committee Member Alfred Theriault, Donald Morin, Ralph Tapley, Chamber of Commerce Reps-Jennifer Olsen, Vaughn Bouchard, Brian Wiley, Citizen Louis Perreault, Lincoln News Shelley Farrington. Meeting is recorded. 

1.  2010/2011 BUDGETS. OTHER AGENCIES, CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS, SPECIAL PROJECTS,COUNTY TAX, DEBT SERVICE,  EMPLOYER FUNDS,  PLANNING BOARD, CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, PROTECTIVE SERVICES, TOWN CELEBRATION, CDBG. 

OTHER AGENCIES.  The Selectmen agreed to submit the Other Agency Request as requested for the annual Town Meeting and encouraged representation from the Agencies at the annual town meeting to explain their request.  Donald Morin and Ralph Tapley of the Veteran’s Committee explained the request for $1,000 this year would be used for numerous projects such as the re-designing the             water fountain, rope railing for the steps, bench platforms, and repairs to drainage for an area of the stones at the Veteran’s Memorial.  Morin said they would like to build the account to $10,000 over the next few years so that another stone tablet can be purchased eventually.  Katahdin Area Chamber Representatives Jen Olsen,Vaughn Bouchard and Brian Wiley were present to explain the request for $2,000 for the area Chamber of Commerce. Jen Olsen said that East Millinocket Chamber membership consist of twelve businesses.  Olsen said the Chamber is about 80% self sufficient and that through the membership and fundraising they are able to pay the bills and that when the Towns contribute it helps keep the membership cost low. Vaugn Bouchard, Chamber Treasurer said the 2010 budget is roughly $92,000 of which less than half is membership income so there is a ways to go before reaching the budget goal.  M. Marston asked what the Chamber does for East Millinocket besides providing the tents for the town celebration. Brian Wiley said that the Chamber promotes the area since East Millinocket is the pathway into the region.  Advertising the local events on the Chamber website which is also linked to the Town’s website.  Jen Olsen said that scholarships are given out to the local schools as well. Shelley Farrington asked if one more request for appropriation could be submitted from the Katahdin Region Transition Team. This Team provides a food cupboard, called Kevin’s Cupboard which Good Shepherd supplies to for the area and also provided 2,300 summer lunches last summer through the Recreation department. Farrington said the Transition Team also purchased yearbooks and caps and gowns for Schenck High School students that could not afford them. The Selectmen tabled the approval of the Other Agency budget due to the pending request that may come in from the Katahdin Region Transition Team. Budgets will be finalized with the Budget Committee and Selectmen at the March 15, 2010 meeting.  

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS. The Selectmen discussed Capital Improvements requests.  M. Scally stated that the Public Works Department submitted a request for $38,500 and that $20,000 of the requested amount is for the town’s share of the Hazard Mitigation grant for the Western Avenue storm water drainage project. Scally said due to in-kind work on the project the full amount of $20,000 may not be needed but that in order to receive the grant the funds need to be committed.  The other request of $18,500 is for the reserve account for equipment replacement.  Mark Marston said the Budget Committee was looking at cutting the $18,500 to half since the reserve account would be used to fund a new pick up truck for the department.  M. Scally said he felt that it may be time to look at the town truck policy and questioned how many miles are put on in this town and how many are used for commuting. Scally said if the town is going to be in the business of buying pick up trucks then tighter control of usage of the trucks may be needed. Scally said he sees the reserve account used when a large piece of equipment such as a loader is needed.  J. Federico said that he would not be in favor of approving any of the $18,500 since this is a tough year.  Federico said that the Selectmen have refused wage increase for employees and other items requested from other departments. Federico said this is not the year to be approving capital improvements and if there is money left from the grant match those funds will go into the reserve account. After discussing further the Selectmen felt that since departments were told to hold the line this year that they would approve the $20,000 but not the $18,500 this year.  Motion made and seconded to approve the 2010/2011 Capital Improvements budget in the amount of $22,500.    Carried 4-0. 

LAST YEARS BUDGET       $6,500

THIS YEARS BUDGET       $22,500

DOLLAR INCREASE          $16,000

   PERCENT INCREASE          246.2 %  

SPECIAL PROJECTS.  Additional funding is needed for the legal account for the GLHA abatement. Mark Marston said he would like to see the Flag account moved to Special Projects from the Town Celebration budget account and would also suggest adding a Flower account in the amount of $200 to the Special Projects account.  Motion made and seconded to approve the 2010/2011  

Special Projects budget adding $500 for American Flags and $200 for Flowers approving the total amount of $84,900.  Carried 4-0. 

 LAST YEARS BUDGET       $151,700

 THIS YEARS BUDGET           $84,900

  DOLLAR (DECREASE)        ($66,800)

 PERCENT (DECREASE)        -44.0% 

COUNTY TAX.  There is an increase to the line as set by the State of Maine. Tapley explained that the proposed $227,326 amount is the estimated amount based on the State of Maine 2010 valuation of the town at $208,050,000.  Motion made reluctantly by Jim Federico and seconded to approve the 2010/2011 County Tax budget in the amount of $227,326.  Carried 4-0. 

LAST YEARS BUDGET     $218,325

THIS YEARS BUDGET       $227,326

DOLLAR INCREASE             $9,001

PERCENT INCREASE              4.1% 

DEBT SERVICE. This debt service is payment of the sewer bond which began in 2003 for a term of 20 years. This will be paid off in 2023.  Motioned and seconded to approve $56,357 for 2010/2011 Debt Service Budget. Carried 4-0. 

LAST YEARS BUDGET     $56,371

THIS YEARS BUDGET      $56,357

DOLLAR (DECREASE)           (14)

PERCENT (DECREASE)           0% 

EMPLOYER FUNDS.  These accounts are driven by payroll and the Police Union contract.   Motion made and seconded to approve the 2010/2011Employer Funds budget in the amount of $299,490.  Carried 4-0. 

LAST YEARS BUDGET     $286,035

THIS YEARS BUDGET      $299,490

DOLLAR INCREASE          $13,455

PERCENT INCREASE            4.7%

CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.  S. Tapley said revenues were down and there is an anticipated 3% wage increase for the Code Enforcement Officer. The Selectmen said they did not feel that a 3% wage increase should be approved for the Code Enforcement position since non union and union town employees were not being given any raises this year. Tapley read the Contract Service Agreement for the code enforcement position which states the Millinocket Town Council sets the increases for this position since it is a Millinocket employee. Tapley said this is a contract service which runs from July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2010. The Selectmen agreed that since the contract is up for   renewal this year it is time to re-negotiate the contract.  The Selectmen approved the Code Enforcement Officers Budget with no wage increase amending the Stipend account with a 3% decrease from $6,998 to $6,794. The 2010/2011 Code Enforcement Officer budget was motioned and approved by Selectmen in the amended amount of $6,679.00. Carried 4-0.  It was noted that the Recreation     Contract employee has a 3% raise budgeted for 2010/2011 but that the raise is paid by the Town of Millinocket not East Millinocket. 

LAST YEARS BUDGET     $6,569

THIS YEARS BUDGET      $6,679

DOLLAR INCREASE            $110

PERCENT INCREASE            1.7% 

PLANNING BOARD. Only 4 members, each are paid $100.00. The Selectmen motioned and approved the budget at $500.00. Carried 4-0. 

LAST YEARS BUDGET     $500

THIS YEARS BUDGET      $500

NO CHANGE 

PROTECTIVE SERVICES.  The Selectmen voiced their disapproval of the Street Lights in town stating that they did not think the Bangor Hydro servicing of the street lights was where it should be especially with what the town pays for this service. The Police Department do a Street light check and submit the lights that are out to Bangor Hydro. The repair process for the lights is poor and it was suggested that a letter be written to Bangor Hydro with a copy to the Attorney General office and the PUC stating the town is being billed for Street lights        services and are not receiving it due to outages. Mark Scally said a tally of the lights that are out should be done again to address this matter. Overall the Protective Services account has decreased due to a decrease in the workers comp account. Motion made and seconded to approve the 2010/2011 Protective Service budget in the amount of $221,200.  Carried 4-0.

LAST YEARS BUDGET    $228,000

THIS YEARS BUDGET     $221,200

DOLLAR DECREASE        ($6,800)

PERCENT DECREASE          -3.0% 

TOWN CELEBRATION.  East Millinocket Summerfest is being planned for July 8, 9, 10, 11, 2010. The Selectmen motioned and approved the amount of $10,000 towards the 2010/2011 Budget for town celebration and agreed to Mark Marston’s request to move the Flag account to the Special Project budget. Carried 4-0.                                           

 LAST YEARS BUDGET     $10,000

 THIS YEARS BUDGET       $10,000

No Change 

SHELL BUILDING/CDBG.   DECD has extended the repayment of this grant twice and a general obligation agreement was signed last March by the Selectmen setting up a repayment schedule of $30,000 for the next five year.  If a business does fill the Shell Building and jobs are created then the repayment will not be needed any longer.  Motion made and seconded to approve the 2010/2011 budget for repayment of the CDBG Grant in the amount of $30,000.  Carried 4-0. 

NEW BUDGET     $30,000 

Mark Marston said the Budget Committee would like to thank S. Tapley for the Budget Summary which explains each budget in detail. Mark Scally said it saves a lot of time at the meeting since it answers questions they may have. 

2.   RECREATION DEPARTMENT.  Recreation Director Frank Clukey was present to update the status of the request to purchase a new copier. Clukey said the Millinocket Town Council approved last Thursday to contribute out of this years current budget, $2,185.90 if the other two towns are willing to approve their share for a new copier.  The Town of Medway Board of Selectmen approved to put the amount into the next years budget which will be decided at the June 2010 Medway Town Meeting. Mark Marston asked for clarification on the next step for this request.  M. Scally said that the matter will be revisited if and when all three Town’s have the funding in place.

 3.   WARRANTS.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the warrants through March 1, 2010 for payment. Carried 4-0.

4.   SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES.  Motion made and seconded to approve the Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes of February 22, 2010 as written.      Carried 4-0. 

5.   AMBULANCE ADJUSTMENTS.  Motion made and seconded to approve the Ambulance Adjustments in the amount of $7,165.43.  Carried 4-0.  No    uncollectible.  

6.   REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES.  Mark Marston reported on the Great Maine Forest/Treasured Landscapes/All Lands Initiative.  

7.   CITIZEN’S COMMENTS.  Chairman Scally thanked Selectman Mark Marston for speaking on behalf of the Board of Selectmen at the Schenck Basketball Reception Saturday evening. Scally said the Boys basketball team winning the State Championship was not only a morale boost for the Town of East Millinocket but it was a morale boost for the whole area. Scally said he has heard many positive comments from area citizens who are very proud of the team and their performance in Augusta.  

      Selectman Gary MacLeod said the Father/Daughter dance hosted by the recreation department was very well attended, about 265 people attended and it was a good event. 

8.   OTHER.  S. Tapley asked the Selectmen if they wished to change anything to the updated version of the No Smoking policy for the Town.  The Selectmen said it was fine and would sign it next week.     

      S. Tapley said she will get quotes for lettering the new front door with Town Office information. 

      S. Tapley said that Recreation Director Frank Clukey said that he will work with the towns Webmaster, Ray Fraser regarding online registrations for recreation programs.  Once he has something to report he will meet with the Selectmen at that time. 

9.   ADJOURNMENT.  5:10 P.M.