12.06.23 7pm

MINUTES FOR SELECT BOARD MEETING

Held on Wednesday, December 6, 2023 - 7:00PM at the Hollis Community Building

Attendees: Select Board Members - Mary Hoffman, Roger Hicks; Chief Chris Young; Select Board Office Asst. Bennet Flinner; Camera Operator Ken Knudsen. Guests - Joseph & Ann Benini; Community Clothing Closet Committee- Mona Meserve, Helen Blais, Diane Meserve, Lori Rodimak. Public:  Jim Boutin, Maynard Charron, Paul Mattor, Joanne Toone, Becky Bowley, Dan Yarumian, Nancy Ponzetti, Joseph Ponzetti.

Absent: Jack Rogala

1.   Meeting called to order at 7PM by Hoffman

2.   Spirit of America Group Award 2023 was presented to the members of the Hollis Community Clothing Closet Committee - Mona Meserve, Lori Rodimak, Helen Blais and Diane Meserve.

3.   Chris Young, Fire Chief presented a plaque for the dedication of their new Hollis Fire Engine 2 to Joseph Benini who has 27 years of service dedicated to Hollis and Buxton Fire and Rescue departments. 

4.   Old Business: 

               a. Minutes approval tabled for next meeting.

               b. Thank you to all of our sponsors for the Hollis Community Day 2023: Narragansett Number One Foundation, Poland Spring - Blue Triton Brands, Partners Bank, Gorham Savings Bank, Plummer's Ace Hardware, Plummer and Sons Shop n' Save, Hartt Transportation, Dead River Company, Risbara Brothers Construction, Paul Hanson Family, Chad Poitras Funeral Home, BANA Corporation, Bear Hill Electric, McCormick and Sons Trucking, Buxton Eye Center, Eagle Industries, Gorham Sand and Gravel, Dennett-Craig-Pate Funeral Home, Shaw Brothers Construction, Saco & Biddeford Savings, Hollis Animal Clinic, Moment's Peace Farm, Moody's Collision and Auto Body Repair, Dr. Robert Lundin, D.M.D. and Woodsome Feeds.

5.   New Business          

               a. Assessing Agent search – ad is posted on our Town website and MMA (memun.org)

               b. Mowing Bids 2024-25 –  Bid info will be posted on our website and in local papers. Bids will be due Jan. 17th.

               c. Policy Update – Holiday Schedule 2024 - Policy #2. 

               d. Payroll and Warrant Totals: Warrant last week $58,580, Warrant this week $135,875; Payroll last week $28,890, Payroll last week $14,343

               e.  Purchase Orders:

• #4326 to Central Maine Pyrotechnics for fire works display at Community Day 2024 not to exceed $4500 under Comm Day acct.
• #4327 to Ward Water for installation of new toilet in the Community Building not to exceed $1,600 under maintenance acct.
• #4329 to Hegarty Plumbing and Heating for new septic pump at Hollis Road Fire Station not to exceed $1,233 under FD acct.
• #4330 to Sharper Events and Tents for lights, tents, obstacle course, waterslide and candy machine for Community Day not to exceed $4,150 under Comm Day acct.

               f.  Correspondence –

• Public Notice received 11.29.23 by Blue Triton Brands - Poland Spring Bottling Plant regarding Maine DEP application to amend existing Hollis site location for additional trailer truck parking spaces, 2 entrance lanes with gates and one retail exit lane with a gate to provide additional staging area for truck traffic.
• Reminder to residents: Demo materials are not allowed to be placed in household trash for curbside pick-up – please arrange for dumpster to carry away or take them to a local dump.  Hollis Residents can use the Waterboro Transfer Station on Bennett Road – sticker is $25.00 and can be obtained at the transfer station. They are closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. They are open Wednesday & Thursday - Noon to 7:00pm, Friday & Saturday 9:00am to 5:00pm. Dumping fee info can be found on their website www.waterboro-me.net.
• The Wreaths Across America Program will be held on Saturday, Dec. 16th at 9AM at the Meetinghouse Hill Cemetery, 579 River Road in Hollis. We hope you can join us in honoring those who have served our country.
  • For those resident families who need help with Christmas presents this year, applications for the Hollis Christmas Fund are available on our website, at the Town Hall, or call Faith Plummer at 929-8552 ext. 17. They also take donations through "Giving Trees" displayed at the Town Hall, the River Tap and Grill restaurant and the Hollis Public Library.  We thank you all for your generosity in the spirit of giving.
  • Don’t miss our “Deck the Hauls” Holiday lights event this Friday, December 8th at 5PM here at the Town’s municipal complex. There are still time slots open for tickets and decorated or non-decorated vehicles, so join the fun! E-mail for more info at HollisDeckTheHauls@gmail.com or visit their Facebook page, just search “Deck The Hauls”
  • State Senator Henry Ingwersen will be available for Office Hours at the Hollis Community Building on Tuesday, December 12th from 10AM to Noon. Senator Ingwersen looks forward to meeting our Town's residents and to listen to any concerns or suggestions they may have.
  • If anyone is interested in joining the Broadcasting Team for the Town of Hollis, please e-mail Bennet Flinner at adminsecretary@hollismaine.org or call 929-8552 ext. 26. 
  • The Hollis Fire-Rescue Department is hiring a full-time Firefighter/EMS Provider. Apply online at www.hollismaine.org/fire-rescue or contact Chief Young at cyoung@hollisfd.org. 
  • Join Parks & Rec for a trip to Gardens Aglow at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens on Friday, December 15th. The tour bus leaves from the Community Building at 2:30PM. They will make a quick stop on the way for food, but feel free to pack your own meal. Cost is $55 per person and includes a round trip bus ticket and admission to Gardens Aglow. Seating is limited, so please call to reserve your spot at 207-929-5142.
  • Don’t forget to enroll for our Emergency Medical Subscription Plan for 2024. This service provides coverage for residents who are transported to the hospital by Hollis Fire-Rescue or a mutual aid provider within the Town of Hollis at no cost.  For more information, contact Bennet Flinner at 207-929-8552 ext. 26.

6.   Other Business: 

A bipartisan group of Hollis residents are interested in pursuing a 5 member Select Board with town manager form of government.  Maynard Charron gave an overview of what this group would like to achieve in creating and proposing an ordinance that changes the Town's form of government to a 5 member Select Board/Town Manager Form of Government. Would like transparency in the process and hold meetings at the Community Building as a committee with Select Board's support. It would give the Townspeople a chance to decide on an ordinance by vote, and several residents are willing to serve on the committee. Nancy Ponzetti and Joseph Ponzetti also voiced their support in forming this committee.  

On the motion of Hicks and Hoffman, the Select Board approved the formation of the 5-Member Select Board/Town Manager Form of Government Ordinance committee. Passed 2-1-0 (Rogala absent).

7.    Upcoming Town Committee and Board Meetings

• Planning Board workshop with Southern Maine Planning Commission on Wednesday, December 13th at 7PM
• Select Board meeting on Wednesday, December 20th at 7PM. There will be no Zoom (B. Flinner absent)

8.    Executive Session - none

9.    Public Comment - none

10.    Adjournment - On the motion of Hicks and Hoffman, the board adjourned at 7:40PM.

Minutes submitted by Bennet Flinner, Select Board Office Asst.

Minutes approved at 02/07/2024 Select Board Meeting. Passed 2-0-1 (Rogala absent).