Regular Meeting (06-01-2020)
Selectmen Present: Jared Fitts, Douglas Small, Isaac Raymond and Daniel Frye
Absent: Suzan Rudnicki
Town Manager/CEO: Kevin Howell
Rec Secretary (Remote): Coreen Sylvester
Guests Present (Remote): Glennis McSorley and Toby Pelletier
7:30 PM: Jared Fitts called the meeting to order.
MINUTES: Dourlas Small made a motion to accept the minutes of May 11, 2020 as written Daniel Frye seconded. Three voted in favor. Jared Fitts abstained as he was not present for that meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Open Generator Bids: Selectmen received two bids for the old generator that has been at the elementary school for several years: Samuel Clement bid $1,000.00 and Ellery Batchelder Jr. bid $506.00. Jared Fitts made a motion to accept the $1,000.00 bid from Samuel Clement. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
Carmel Financial Status: The Town Manager gave a financial status update for Carmel and said we are in good condition. Our excise tax is on the upswing, we have had unexpected revenues from the sale of tax acquired property and Fire Department billing this year and we have received more revenue sharing than we had at this time last year.
Loon Cove Tax Acquired Property: There was discussion regarding the two tax acquired properties on Loon Cove (Etna Pond). After discussion, Jared Fitts made a motion to have the Town Manager get the bid package out this week and have bids due July 13, 2020. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
Rec Fields Maintenance: Kevin let the Board know that during this time when the rec fields are not being used, he has taken the opportunity to have extra maintenance done on fields one and two. The work that has been done will allow us to maintain the fields much better year after year and be ready for play in early spring.
Ruggles Cemetery Fence: Kevin said he asked Billy Cichocki of C.A. Newcomb & Sons Fence & Guardrail to look at the fence, and said Billy recommended taking the existing fence out and replacing it with a vinyl fence. If we leave the existing posts and attach the cedar pickets as previously discussed (see minutes of September 19, 2019), we would just be putting a bandaid on it. The vinyl fence will last many years, and he gave us a quote of $9,250.00 for 250 feet installed. After discussion, Douglas Small made a motion to have the vinyl fence installed. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
Grist Mill Bridge Rails: Kevin stated the Grist Mill Bridge railing has detached, and he has gotten a quote of $7,486.00 from C.A. Newcomb & Sons to recreate the existing rails on both sides and reattach them to the deck. Isaac Raymond made a motion to have the bridge rails repaired by C.A. Newcomb & Sons. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
Safety Lane Widening: The Town Manager explained the entrance from Route 2 onto Safety Lane is narrow and unsafe, and proposed replacing the culvert and widening the radius of the entrance at the same time. After discussion, Isaac Raymond made a motion to move forward with the design and get quotes. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
TOWN MGR/TAX COLLECTOR/CODE ENF OFFICER/RD COMM. REPORT:
- The Town Manager gave an update on roadwork that has been done, including road grading, calcium spreading and culvert repairs.
- Kevin let Selectmen know he and our attorney did an onsite inspection of Stephen Dunham’s junkyard, and at our next court date (June 16, 2020) the attorney is going to ask the judge to go look at it.
- Kevin stated he has cedar logs ready that he is donating for the town landing fence, and over the next few weeks he will be doing some upgrades to the site including installing a bench that Douglas Small donated.
- Kevin let the Board know Wayne Elston had signed an agreement to remove his father’s house after he passed away, and he is now working on finding a contractor to tear it down.
- There was discussion regarding our mutual aid agreement with neighboring towns. Kevin said Stetson no longer has a fire department and, with the Board’s approval, he would like to attend a Stetson Selectmen’s meeting to make sure where we stand with them. Selectmen had no objections.
NEW BUSINESS:
Quitclaim Deed for Thomas Hyson: Jared Fitts made a motion to sell the property at 182 Cook Road back to Thomas Hyson. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
LED Lighting: Kevin let the Board know the LED street light conversion is done.
Carmel Days Status: Kevin said we are not going to put Carmel Days on this year, but if things open up for large gatherings he may try to put something together on a smaller scale.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of May 18, 2020 in the amount of $6,093.16. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of May 26, 2020 in the amount of $5,861.72. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of June 1, 2020 in the amount of $5,900.74. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the accounts payable warrant of May 28, 2020 in the amount of $13,381.37. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: Isaac Raymond made a motion to accept the accounts payable warrant of June 1, 2020 in the amount of $67,989.75. Dan Frye seconded. Four voted in favor.
ADJOURNMENT: Jared Fitts made a motion to adjourn. Daniel Frye seconded. Four voted in favor. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 pm.