09.15.21 7pm

Meeting date: 
Wednesday, September 15, 2021

MINUTES FOR TELEVISED MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING– Sept. 15, 2021, 7:00PM

Attendees: Select Board members - David McCubrey, John Rogala, Mary Hoffman; Town Clerk and General Assistance Administrator Martha Huff, Assessor Debra Stitson, Tax Collector Anna McClay; Fire Chief Chris Young; Code Enforcement Officer Tammy Munson, Select Board Office Asst Bennet Flinner; Camera Operator Ken Knudsen, Broadcasting Tech Tiffany Dean, Public members - Joshua Morse, Caroline Nickerson.

1.         Meeting called to order by McCubrey at 7:00pm.

2.         On the motion of McCubrey and Hoffman, the Select Board suspended the meeting and opened the Public Hearing on the Warrant Articles for the Sept. 29, 2021 Hollis Special Town Meeting. Passed 3-0.

McCubrey read the warrant in its entirety. Deb Stitson, Town Assessor explained the reasoning behind article 3 in moving the tax due date to December. Covid and software issues hindered the 2020 revaluation process in 2019-2020. To ensure the tax commitment can be completed, the Assessor asked the Tax Collector and Select Board to change the due date. There were no questions from the public. On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select Board closed the Public Hearing on the Warrant Articles for the Sept. 29, 2021 Hollis Special Town Meeting. Passed 3-0.

3.         On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select Board opened the Public Hearing on the MMA General Assistance Ordinance dated 2021 and the MMA General Assistance Model Ordinance Appendices Maximums (A-F and H) for the year October 1, 2021- September 30, 2022. Passed 3-0.  Martha Huff, General Assistance Administrator for Hollis gave a brief explanation of how General Assistance is defined by the State of Maine, the current maximums, household income requirements, etc. There is a new General Assistance Ordinance as of Oct. 21, 2021 in which terms and definitions were updated.Huff also explained that if a GA administrator denies a resident's request and applies at a different municipality and gets approved, the resident town is held fiscally responsible. There were no questions from the public. On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala the Select Board closed the Public Hearing on the MMA General Assistance Ordinance dated 2021 and the MMA General Assistance Model Ordinance Appendices Maximums (A-F and H) for the year October 1, 2021- September 30, 2022. Passed 3-0.

4.         On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select Board reopened the meeting. Passed 3-0

5.         On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select Board approved the Warrant Articles for the Sept. 29, 2021 Hollis Special Town Meeting. Passed 3-0.

6.         On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select Board approved the MMA General Assistance Ordinance dated 2021 and the MMA General Assistance Model Ordinance Appendices Maximums (A-F and H) for the year Oct. 1. 2021- Sept. 30, 2022. Passed 3-0.  It was clarified that this ordinance does not go to Town vote, it is only voted by the Select Board. 

7.       Unfinished Business

          a. Dayfarm Estates Fire Cistern – J. Waterhouse.  Chief Chris Young gave the background on the issue regarding this subdivision in which sprinkler systems were not installed and instead installed a 30K cistern tank. Young reports that it is incomplete: no protection for drafting pipes, it's the wrong height, no pad to hold a fire truck, it also has a leak and no water currently in it. Because it is incomplete, the town will not take ownership of the cistern. There have been several attempts by Chief Young and the Select Board requesting Mr. Waterhouse rectify the issue, to no avail. On the motion of Rogala and Hoffman, the Select Board agreed to begin legal action against Joshua Waterhouse regarding the fire cistern issues for Day Farm Estates. Passed 3-0.

          b.  Animal Control Officer search – Resumes due by Friday, Sept. 17th at 4pm

          c. Minutes for 09.01.21: On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select Board accepted the meeting minutes for 09/01/2021 as written. Passed 3-0.

8.       New Business

          a.  Payroll and Warrant Totals: Warrant last week - $433,868, Warrant this week - $353,829; Payroll last week - $32,893, Payroll this week - $13,031.

          b.  Purchase Orders:

  • #4060 Sebago Technics for Muddy Brook Road culvert engineering and inspection not to exceed $5,000 under TIF acct;
  • #4040 Training Technologies Int. Inc for Fire Dept Ropes course, Low Angle Rescue Operations class - 25 student, not to exceed $1,850 under FD acct;
  • #4063 RMDL for 5 days cutting brush on Town roads and chipper rental, not to exceed $10,000 under Highway acct;
  • #4062 RMDL for 2 days labor and equipment to ditch Muddy Brook Rd from Deerwander to Liberty Ln, not to exceed $6,000 under Highway acct; 
  • #4061 RMDL to replace 3 culverts total on Muddy Brook, Smith house and Victory Lane, not to exceed $10,000 under Highway acct;
  • #3808 Coastal T-shirts for Fall Soccer league shirts not to exceed $1,003 under Parks and Rec acct.

          c.  Correspondence                          

  • There will be a Finance Committee Public Hearing to review the Remote Participation Policy on Tuesday, Sept. 28th at 7PM at the Community Building.
  • A Flu Vaccine clinic will be held on Thursday, September 23, 2021 from 1:00PM to 2:00PM at the Buxton Town Hall, 185 Portland Rd in Buxton. It is FREE with proof of insurance. If you have any question regarding the type of vaccine, please contact the sponsor, MaineHealth Care at Home at 1-800-660-4867.
  • As part of the studies required for the Bar Mills Dam decommissioning project, the headpond will undergo a drawdown of 6 to 7 feet below the normal elevation from September 11 through September 19. The drawdown is necessary for worker safety and to collect flow data to support the decommissioning project. For more information, please go to www.barmills.brookfieldusprojects.com/. For questions, please email Maine.Inquries@brookfieldrenewable.com
  • There are vacancies on the Finance Committee and the Planning Board. Please contact the Select Board if you are interested in joining.

9.       Other Business

                 a. Roads Update: Muddy Brook Road is paved and open.

                 b. Be respectful on ATV trails: McCubrey reports recent complaints of people littering and abusing trails with their vehicles. The Select Board asks residents and users to be be respectful when using ATV trails and help the local clubs when you can.

                 c. Bean Street Cistern Tank: Per report received from Chief Chris Young 9/14/21, the cistern tank for Bean Street subdivision has met all requirements and has no objections to Town ownership. On the motion of Hoffman and Rogala, the Select board accepted and has taken ownership of the cistern tank for the Bean Street subdivision. Passed 3-0.  Tammy Munson, CEO reported to agree with Chief Young's report and recommendations for the Bean Street cistern, and the violations on the Dayfarm Estates fire cistern. 

                 d. Town Clerk Martha Huff reminded residents of the Special Town Meeting to be held next Wednesday, 09/29/21 and residents can register to vote the day of the election. Also reminded residents of the upcoming State Referendum Election November 2, 2021. She thanked the Hollis Town staff for propertly posting meeting notices.

10.       Upcoming Committee and Board Meetings

  • There will be a Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 16th at 5:30pm.
  • There will be a Planning Board Site Walk and Public Hearing regarding a Shoreland Zoning Permit Application at 315 East Old Alfred Road on Wednesday, Sept. 22nd at 6PM (Site Walk) and 7PM (Public Hearing). Public Hearing will also be held via Zoom.
  • There will be a Finance Committee Public Hearing on Tuesday, Sept. 28th at 7:00PM.
  • A Hollis Special Town Meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 29th at 7:15pm at the Community Building. The Registrar of Voters will be at the polls.
  • The next Select Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 6th at 7PM.

11.       Public Comment:  Bennet Flinner asked if the Special Town Meeting can be recorded since it is an election? The Board and Town Clerk indicated it can be recorded. Discussed recording the moderator, but not the vote/show of hands. It will be considered by the Select Board.

12.       Executive Session: None

13.       On the motion of Rogala and Hoffman, the Select Board adjourned the meeting at 7:55pm. Passed 3-0.

Minutes recorded by Bennet Flinner, Select Board Office Asst.