Minutes of the Fryeburg Board of Selectmen’s Meeting
January 17, 2008

The meeting was called to order at 6:00 pm. Ed Wilkey, Cliff Hall and David Knapp were in attendance. A quorum was declared.

PUBLIC FORUM

Jim Holt from Fryeburg Fish and Game wanted to let the selectmen know that the club wants to become more active. There are 155 members with 6 involved in different things. They are looking for a place to meet and put things up. They are interested in the town hall at Fryeburg Center and want to know if they can lease it or use the facility.

As with any town facility the selectmen have to have a discussion of the pros and cons. They would like to meet once a month and have hunter safety, bow hunter safety, snowmobile classes to be held there. It may not have to be leased because once we get activity around it other groups may want to use it too. We will look into this in a month or so. The fish and game would like to be in there by spring.

Eric Bloomberg was present and asked that the minutes of the past selectmen’s meeting be brought up to date on the web site as soon as possible. Mr. Knapp offered to make copies of the minutes to hand out to Mr. Bloomberg tonight. He also suggested that the selectmen post the ageda on the web site a lot earlier than it usually is. The town office in no longer e-mailing out agendas to people they will be put on the website.

Review and approval of the minutes of January 3, 2008.

This will be tabled until the next meeting of January 31, 2008.

Correspondence to the Board

We have received a letter from Mr. Rick Eastman regarding the proposal to sell the Western Maine Nursery property. In the proposal the 22 acres are being offered for $3.5 million dollars. This property could become town property, putting a well on it and getting it set up for distribution.

We also have an e-mail from the Planning Board requesting a joint meeting on the 29 th of January. Mr. Knapp sent an e-mail to Kathleeen Heggie to see what they want to meet about. We are waiting for clarification.

There is a letter from CMP that states they are going to continue to trim trees away from the power lines. Crews will be cutting brush and herbicide spraying. This will be posted on the website for the town and if people want to call for more information they can get the 800 number from the website.

Appontments: Planning Board for alternate, Jim Dutton and A O Lucy as a primary. Virginia Howe to the Board of Appeals as an alternate member and Jim St. Pierre to the Board of appeals, Bill Mosher to the Budget Committee. Mr. Wilkey made a motion to appoint the above listed persons and Cliff hall seconded the motion. The motion carried 3-0. We will send these people an e-mail or call and if they accept and they will be sworn in by the town clerk.

Managers Report

Phil is out on a medical leave for at least a couple of weeks or longer. The board will come in on Mondays to go thru messages and discuss weekly operations. The selectmen appreciate the help that they have received from the town office so far.

Treasurers Report

The auditor cannot come in on January 31 st. He is available on February 11 th. The selectmen would like him to come in on Feb. 11 th with a preference in the morning. The cash on hand as of Jan. 17, 2008 is $1.9 million dollars. The selectmen are still looking for a revenue breakdown. There is no news yet from the state on revenues.

NEW BUSINESS

Beano License for SnoGoers

Mr. Dave Richardson is here to speak for the snow-goers. The third of February out at Pete’s Garage they would like to hold a poker rally. It is a one day event. Mr. Ed Wilkey made a motion to approve the application and Cliff Hall seocnded the motion. The motion carried 3-0.

Announcement of Town Meeting Date

The Town Meeting date will be Saturday June 21 st. Elections will be held on Friday, June 20 th.

Road Commissioner Report on Menotomoy Road

Item tabled due to road commissioner’s absence. Other road department news: the wing and plow frame broke on one of the big trucks. A price of $4,200.00 to repair the damage and a price on a brand new plow isf $5,052.00. The road commissioner was authorized to proceed with the purchase of a new plow.

Airport Obstruction Removal Contract

This is Phase I. Last year a study was approved to determine needs relative to obstruction removal. A motion was made by Ed Wiley to approve the airport obstruction removal grant. Cliff Hall seconded the motion and the motion carried 3-0.

OLD BUSINESS

Review and Discussion of Letter to Fryeburg Water District

The Selectmen have drafted a letter to the Water District. Mr. Wilkey offered that he would rather not send the letter to the Water District because he feels that we are being too demanding in asking them to take the Fryeburg Water Company by emminet domain. A discussion about hydrant fees and the interests of the town as a whole was undertaken. Mr. Wilkey feels that emminet domain just ruins a town, and breaks friendships. Cliff Hall felt that emminet domain was a last resort. A representative from the Water District said that it is a regular annual meeting in which they will choose officers and present information related to the board’s concerns.

Route 302 Survey Submission

A cover letter has been prepared to go out along with a summary. We would like to table this to the next meeting so the board has a chance to review the letter. Motion to table was approved.

Nissen Building Lease review

On December 10 th we spoke regarding changes proposed to edit the lease of the Nissan Building. If we don’t intend to renew the lease they would like to know as soon as possible. It was $950.00 for the first seven months and the next seven was $1,000. A letter of enquiry was sent to Fryeburg Academy regarding this property as well. A counteroffer and further discussion with IBC may be appropriate. We’ll have Peter Malia communicate and get back to them.

Normandeau Contract Review

The Phase II study of Lovewell Pond cost is $10,000.00. That is in a designated fund that was donated to do the second phase of the Normandeau study. Ed Wilkey made a motion to accept the contract of the Normandeau Phase II study and it was seconded by Cliff Hall. The motion carried 3-0. The board authorized David Knapp to sign the contract, make a copy and put one in the file and send it back. A date for presentation to the public will also be determined.

Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Local Municipal Services

This allows us to apply for a grant if we show that we can make the delivery of our municipal services more efficient. David Knapp will take this home and make some phone calls. We will do a follow up on this on Jan. 31, 2008 at the next meeting

OTHER BUSINESS

Delinquent tax interest rate. The Maximum rate of interest allowed to charge on unpaid taxes for the fiscal year is 12% this is a reduction of 1%. We have approximately now $500,000 of unpaid taxes according to Mr. Knapp. However even that amount is small when compared to other towns and puts us atover 90% on our returns.

On Line Licenses. To license and do registrations on line will have to wait for at least one year. This also includes licensing dogs. Stickers for licensing will be sent out by the Town. If you do dog licensing on line the town gets more money, but then the town has to mail out the tags. W also have to wait a year in order to do credit cards. Electronic checks are cheaper. Should we budget for that equipment in fiscal 09?

The DOT has approved and marked the road speed limit in East Fryeburg in the vicinity of the flashing lights down to 45mph coming into town.

Billy Harriman requested to be on the Board of Appeals. The selectmen will send a letter out to tell him it has been filled and to see if he wants to get on another committee.

Discussion of Draft Budget Guidance/Timeline for FY 2009 . We will table this until January 31, 2008 meeting.

On January 28 th there will be a Manager’s Meeting.

On January 31 st there will be a regular Selectmen’s Meeting.

There will be a press conference on 2/13/08 at the Fryeburg Academy for the Maine Bike Coalition Rally in July. The selectmen will write a letter of support.

At the Route 113 corridor meeting they have decided to name the scenic by-way

The Pequawket Trail Scenic Byway.

Emily Fletcher came in today to see if we are still doing the manager meetings.

This can take place at a regular selectmen’s meeting at 6:00.

Mr. Ed Wilkey made a motion to go into executive session for a personnel matter. Mr. David Knapp seconded the motion and the motion carried 3-0.

Executive Session began at 8 PM. The board came out of executive session at 9:30 PM and adjourned without any further action.

Respectfully Submitted,

Virginia Manley

Recording Secretary

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