7.27.16
SELECT BOARD FOR THE TOWN OF HOLLIS
Minutes for July 27, 2016, 5:00PM
Attendees: Select Board members: River Payne, Roger Hicks, Mike Seely, Sr.; Admin Assist: Bennet Flinner; County Commissioner: Marston Lovell; Residents: Nancy Conway, Vera Littlefield, Beverly Harris.
5:00PM – Untelevised discussion, public welcome
1. Community Clothing Closet Update: Mike expects to receive a 40-50 foot trailer for storage to arrive shortly. Once it has been put in place on the property, the move will begin. It was noted that there is no current budget for this committee but may receive allocations in the budget next year. This organization currently requires authorization to collect donations. The concrete slab next to the FD on the town's property can accommodate space for a 3-car garage and setbacks applicable are the same as the town's ordinance.
2. Community Building Update: River reports that the town has received 2 out of 3 sprinkler system quotes. She has spoken to and met with architects regarding design, including Caleb Johnson Architects (Biddeford) who has experience with the installation of sprinkler systems and commercial building design. The goals for completion of this project is November 1, to be ADA compliant and to get the town the most “bang for our buck.” The SB's role for this project is to gather as much information regarding design options for the community building, then present these options to the public.
3. Roads Update: Roger reports that Haley road is ground down, will begin cementing process next week, and then finish with paving. Current and future Maine DOT projects can be viewed online at http://www.maine.gov/mdot/projects/workplan/monthly/
4. IT Support Update: Bennet and Mike will meet in the next few days to compose e-mail regarding IT questions for NDS.
5. Policy #31: Treasurer's Disbursement of Warrants for Employee Wages and Benefits. Updated document signed by SB and given to Town Clerk.
6. MSAD 6 LD 1301 Update: Letter received from MSAD 6 reviewed regarding LD 1301. Process is currently still in discussion and awaiting next steps from the school board.
7. CAMA Contract – Deb Stitson, Assessor. Presented contract for revaluation project software, signed by the SB. Will put on 8.3.16 7PM agenda under P.O.'s.
8. Hollis Concerned Citizens Group: Question: Why is Pledge of Allegiance not recited at SB meetings? Answer: Although each SB member feels a different way about the Pledge, SB agrees that everyone has a choice of whether or not they want to recite it. They choose not to do so at the SB meetings at this time. Question: Why are there road signs covered in the area? Answer: Roger indicated it is likely temporary road signs for construction work. There are many upcoming projects on Rt 202, could stem from that. More information can be found on the Maine DOT website. Question: Why were the 7/20/16 minutes from last week not on the website this week? Answer from SB and Bennet Flinner, Admin Assistant- It has been very busy in the office and other projects had priority over minutes. Question: How much money was donated by Poland Spring for Pirate Fest? Answer: $2,000 donated went towards advertisement and printing costs for the event. More information can be provided by the chair Rande Gray. Other donations made by Poland Spring include 2 pallets of water to the Rec Dept, 1 pallet of water to the Hollis FD/EMS and they will be providing a trailer for the Community Clothing Closet to store their inventory. HCCG also requested an update about Poland Spring: Per Mike Seely, they are not in compliant with their current Conditional Use Permit: He reviewed the current permit with the CEO at their last meeting. He has requested Poland Spring to provide regular reports with more up to date information – last one received 2 years ago (2014). As for the traffic issues, handouts are given to every driver that are in several languages. The CEO has the most recent report and handout. They report they are within the permit for having 149 employees or under (currently reported to have less) and not over the traffic count. Question: How many hours is Roger working for the SB? Did he choose a charity to donate to? Answer: 7-15 hours weekly in and out of the office. He donates to many charities local and national. He has donated to St. Jude’s Hospitals, local school fundraisers for softball and football, $500 to the Hollis Elementary for their 5th grade educational trip to Boston, $300 to a local resident who was injured in a motorcycle accident, to name a few. Question: What is your job at Western Express? Answer: Roger is an inspector, inspects equipment, drivers, trailers at the different facilities run by Western Express in Kingfield, Poland, NH, etc. The trucks he inspects go to different stores such as Shaw's, Walmart, Poland Spring. Vera indicated that she finds Western Express trucks on roads that are not state roads. Roger replied that we can only enforce within the town's boundaries, we can't enforce our rules in different towns. The County Commissioner Marston Lovell added that it is a state controlled policy and that only the state can change the guidelines on how much the trucks can haul. The transporting industry has clout to haul heavy weight up north and off interstates for the paper industry, it is hard to change. HCCG indicated that the town voted to have 1 truck every 15 mins and it is now 1 every 2-3. Also said that the SB does nothing to help them with their issues with Poland Spring and that their reporting is self-monitored, so how can it be done in an unbiased way? Marston said that the SB is now monitoring it more closely and the public should let things work. Roger suggested a possibility of obtaining a traffic count from Maine DOT. He will look into that and also annual totals for accidents for Hollis. Question: Will Poland Spring have to go to the Planning Board for changes to their conditional use permit? Answer: If they need to update it, yes, but there has been no changes in it since 2005. They are on notice to comply with their current 2005 conditional use permit by the SB.
9. Marston Lovell, County Commissioner: Formally introduced himself and congratulated Mike Seely, Sr. on his election to the SB. Handed business cards to all of the residents that attended the meeting and gave them an overview of his district and the county budget.
10. Town Clerk Election Update: Martha provided dates and deadlines for warrant articles for the upcoming election. Public Hearing for Planning Board is 8/24/16, Signed warrant due: 8.31.16; Public Hearing for SB 9.7.16.
11. Executive Session pursuant to Title 1 M.R.S. 405 (6)(A) to discuss a personnel matter. Town Clerk opened the meeting at 6:55PM, meeting closed at 7:25PM.