TOWN OF EAST MILLINOCKET
SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2008
4:00 P. M.

PRESENT. Selectmen-Chairman Mark Scally, James Federico, Larry MacKenzie, Gary MacLeod, Mark Marston, Administrative Assistant Shirley Tapley, Bill VanTuinen, Chuck Jordan, Kelly Willigar, Debbie Grass, Cathy King The Lincoln News Shelley Farrington-recorded meeting, The Katahdin Times  David White.   

      1.   HOT TOP PAVING PROJECTS.  The Selectmen met with Public Works Director Danny Violette to discuss the hot top projects for this year. Violette said he has received information that asphalt prices may decrease in the spring of 2009. Due to this prediction Violette asked the Board to consider waiting to complete the hot top projects until the spring of 2009 since hot top could go from $120 a ton to $80.00 per ton. The hot top work is usually done in September or October but by waiting Violette said he hopes to stretch the $60,000 budgeted amount farther. The Streets that are scheduled for work are Middle Street, lower end of North Street and North Street by the swimming pool and down Birch Street. Violette said patching is currently being done around town and that the Municipal walkway will be done soon. Violette said that he will patch in front of the Library as well. The Selectmen agreed to Violette’s request to delay the hot top projects until the spring of 2009 based on Violette’s information    regarding the potential decrease in asphalt prices in the spring.   

2.   WARRANTS.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the warrants through September 22, 2008 for payment. Carried 5-0. 

3.   SELECTMEN’S MEETING MINUTES.  Motion made and seconded to approve the Selectmen’s meeting minutes of September 08, 2009 with correction as noted. Carried 5-0.  Note-Correction to minutes to state injection of Epinephrine was given not Epi-pen was given.

4.   AMBULANCE ADJUSTMENTS and UNCOLLECTABLE.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Ambulance Adjustments in the amount of $6,698.55.   
Carried 5-0.  No uncollectible. 

5.   TRAVEL REQUEST.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Travel  Request for training for Frank Stratton and Blaine Mclaughlin toHampden on September 30^th at a cost of $106.00 and to Bangor on October 23^rd at a cost of $16.00.  Carried 5-0. 

6.   REPORT OF THE COMMITTEES.  Kelly Willigar and Debbie Grass met with the Selectmen to discuss future town celebrations. Grass said that next year the region will begin events with Millinocket’s July 4^th celebration, next would be East Millinocket’s event, then the Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Harley Davidson Hog Rally the week of July 19^th and that Medway will hold the Canoe Festival shortly after that. Willigar asked the Selectmen what they would like for a celebration next year. Some ideas included coming up with a theme for the event, to have a big name act or a tribute band.  Grass said she would like to see the Board consider a stipend for Kelly Willigar since Willigar does a lot of work on these celebrations.  Mark Marston said a stipend has been mentioned before but nothing ever came of it.  All Selectmen agreed that a stipend should be issued to both Willigar and Grass for their many hours of work for the Town and said that at budget time a stipend amount will be discussed and that it should be made retro to this past years celebration.  Mark Scally challenged all Selectmen to become active and be a part of the next celebration. Jim Federico said he felt more should be raised for the next celebration and that if a big name is booked, admission should be charged to help with future events.  

      Selectman Mark Marston reported that the Regional Planning Committee meetings are moving ahead cautiously and that the agreements will be reviewed by an attorney.

      Marston also said he wanted to express his deep concern about the mill exodus especially since it could take 20 months to build biomass energy for the mill. Marston said he felt people will leave the area and that he is really worried. Marston said he felt if Brookfield does commit funds to the towns for economic development that he would like to see the Industrial Park advertised. 

7.   GREAT LAKES HYRDO AMERICA 2007 ABATEMENT REQUEST.  Assessor Bill Van Tuinen reviewed the Great Lakes Hydro America 2007 Abatement request with the Selectmen and explained the appeal process since the    Board of Selectmen denied the original abatement request.  Great Lakes Hydro America has filed the appeal with the State of Maine Property Tax Review Board in a timely manner and VanTuinen stated it will be considered in the next several months. VanTuinen stated there are four abatement requests which have been consolidated into one hearing since the abatements are all tied together. VanTuinen said the Appeal Board consist of fifteen members and that the fifteen are broken into committees of five each to include an Attorney-who is Chairman,             an Engineer, a Real Estate person, a Retired Assessor and a person on the public. The Board of Appeals also has an Attorney assigned by the State to advise the Appeal Board of State laws.       VanTuinen said each side is given ample time to present to the Appeal Board then questions and rebuttal finishing with summarizations and final presentations. This process can take quite a bit of time;       may not be held in consecutive days and it could take months to complete the whole process.

VanTuinen said there are many complex issues to this abatement process and asked if the Selectmen considered hiring an Attorney for the appeal process.    VanTuinen stated he has done many of these over the years some with legal assistance and some on his own.  VanTuinen said this is a big issue and there is a lot of valuation in dispute and if legal counsel is chosen he would like a firm that         works co-operatively as a team. Mark Scally asked VanTuinen for his recommendation regarding hiring an attorney. VanTuinen suggested Lee Bragg or Rob Crawford of Bernstein and Shur and said they are a high powered, expensive law firm with much expertise in tax matters.  VanTuinen said he would be happy to set up a meeting with Bragg and the Town if the Selectmen would like to meet       with Bragg.  At that meeting Bragg would discuss the legal matter and also quote the cost for the service to the town.  The town currently has $10,000 budgeted for the abatement process which could go very quickly. Van Tuinen said at budget time things were not known as far as how this process would need to go so something was put into the budget but that more than $10,000 will be needed.   How to fund the legal services will be looked into and discussed further.  Mark Marston said he felt it would be an injustice to the taxpayers of East Millinocket since this could amount to lost revenue over the years and that all needs to be done in this appeal case.  Marston said he felt the Board needed to be steadfast and continue with VanTuinen’s recommendations. VanTuinen stated that an executive session should be called in order to continue the discussion further. It was decided to finish the public portion of the meeting then motion for an executive session due to legal counsel. 

8.  CITIZEN’S COMMENTS.  Mark Scally said he had spoken with Pastor Adams regarding the need to organize a warming center for this winter. Scally said there will be a need to help people in this region and that there may be some funds available from the State to help these types of programs. The idea currently is to work with Recreation Director Frank Clukey of the Recreation department since the Rec. currently has a weekly Senior Citizen program which could be expanded to include others in need. Scally said perhaps East Millinocket could host a warming center for two days and Millinocket and Medway could consider a few days. It was suggested to discuss this with other towns in a joint meeting to see what could be done. Scally also challenged Board Members to consider making a meal for the warming centers.   

9.   LIQUOR LICENSE.  Motion made and seconded to approve and sign the Liquor License Renewal for Pam & Ivy’s located ay 61 Main Street. Carried    5-0.    

 10. OTHER.  Tapley asked the Selectmen if they wished to renew the Northeast Mechanical Contract for the annual service to the Municipal Building boiler. The contract has increased slightly from $2,010.41 to $2,116.22 or $105.81. A second quote was received from Mechanical Services in the amount of $3,460.00 which is $1,343. higher.  Chairman Scally stated Northeast Mechanical installed the Clever Brooks Boiler back in August of 1984 and have provided good service over the years. Since there is a cost savings the Selectmen agreed to renew the annual service contract with Northeast Mechanical Corporation in the amount of $2,116.22.     

      11. EXECUTIVE SESSION.   Motion made and seconded to enter into Executive Session pursuant to 1 M.R. S. A. § 405 (6) (E) to discuss legal issues relating to GLHA 2007 Abatement request with Assessor Bill VanTuinen and Chuck Jordan.  Carried 5-0. IN: 5:30 P.M.  OUT: 6:25 P.M.

            Action.  The decision was made to set up a meeting with Attorney Lee Bragg of Bernstein and Shur to discuss the legal issues regarding the Great Lakes Hydro America 2007 abatement request.                          The executive session meeting will be held on October 6, 2008 at 4:00 P.M. 

       12.  ADJOURNMENT.  6:26 P.M.