Regular Meeting (12-19-2016)
Selectmen Present: Suzan Rudnicki, Douglas Small, John Luce and Jared Fitts
Absent: Earlyn Bowers
Town Manager/CEO: Kevin Howell
Recording Secretary: Coreen Sylvester
Guests Present: Sheriff Troy Morton and Glennis McSorley
7:30PM: Suzan Rudnicki called the meeting to order.
MINUTES: John Luce made a motion to accept the minutes of December 5, 2016 as written. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
Marijuana Ordinance - Sheriff Troy Morton: Kevin Howell said he has spoken with Maine Municipal Association's legal department and learned it is okay for towns to enact an ordinance prohibiting retail sales and social clubs in their town. MMA has drafted an ordinance to prohibit retail sales/social clubs in a town, and Kevin recommended the Board certify the ordinance to go to Town Meeting. Kevin said he asked Sheriff Morton to come to the meeting to give his opinion on the matter. Kevin said this ordinance would fall under the Code Enforcement Officer's jurisdiction, and he has scheduled a public hearing on January 9, 2016 in the event that Selectmen approve bringing the ordinance before the Town.
Sheriff Morton said he believes there will be unforeseen circumstances due to the vote to legalize marijuana in Maine, and spoke in favor of adopting an ordinance to prohibit pot shops and social clubs. After discussion, John Luce made a motion to certify the proposed ordinance prohibiting retail marijuana shops and social clubs in Carmel. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
Public Hearings January 9, 2016: The Town Manager said he has scheduled public hearings for January 9th; the first at 6:30 pm with the Planning Board for changes to the Land Use/Zoning Ordinance, the second at 7:00 pm with Selectmen for the Post 2018 Municipal Solid Waste and the Marijuana Ordinance.
Proposed Changes to Land Use/Zoning Ordinance (Public hearing January 9, 2016): Kevin went over the proposed amendments to Carmel's Land Use/Zoning Ordinance including requiring new roads to be built to town road specifications, replacing "Inspector of Buildings" with "Code Enforcement Officer," changing minimum lot size to 1½ acres with 150' feet road frontage and enacting a separate Flood Plain Ordinance. John Luce made a motion to approve the Carmel Land Use/Zoning amendments. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
Post 2018 MSW Public Hearing (January 9, 2016): There was discussion regarding the Town continuing as a member of MRC (Municipal Review Committee) post April 2018. There was also discussion regarding recycling options.
Septic Sludge: Kevin Howell explained he found we had money budgeted for septic sludge and looked into what it was for. He spoke with D.E.P. and learned there is a statute that says towns must provide a place for septic sludge. The D.E.P. representative said she believes it is adequate for a town to say they accept having licensed non-hazardous waste transporters handle it; we are not required to budget for it.
Village Market: Kevin let the Board know the Village Market drainage problem is officially resolved. The water has been tested by the D.O.T. and is perfectly clean, and the appropriate permits were obtained from the State.
2015 Plumbing Inspector Fees: The Town Manager explained that Timothy Schoppe was our plumbing inspector in 2015, but has never given us a bill for his inspections. Kevin said it would be approximately $3,700.00, and the only account we would be able to pay it from would be contingency. Suzan Rudnicki made a motion for the Town Manager to pay Tim Schoppe the $3,700.00 owed out of the Contingency account for 2015 plumbing inspections. John Luce seconded. Four voted in favor.
Appointments: Kevin stated the first of every odd year we have to appoint a registrar for two years. Jared Fitts made a motion to appoint Cheryl Mitchell as registrar of voters for the Town of Carmel effective January 1, 2017 for the ensuing two years. John Luce seconded. Four voted in favor.
Jared Fitts made a motion to appoint Kevin Howell as Town Manager, Treasurer, Tax Collector, Road Commissioner, Deputy Registrar and Agent for the Overseers of the Poor for the Town of Carmel effective January 1, 2017 for the ensuing three years. Douglas Small seconded. Four voted in favor.
Newsletter: Kevin said the newsletter is at the printer's and has been put on the website and Facebook page today.
WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of December 12, 2016 in the amount of $4,449.31. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of December 19, 2016 in the amount of $4,822.83. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the accounts payable warrant of December 19, 2016 in the amount of $41,879.06. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor.
ADJOURNMENT: Suzan Rudnicki made a motion to adjourn. Jared Fitts seconded. Four voted in favor. Meeting adjourned at 9:17 pm.