Regular Meeting (08-11-2014)
Selectmen Present: Suzan Rudnicki, John Luce, Joseph Pelletier, Douglas Small and Earlyn Bowers
Town Manager: Tom Richmond
Recording Secretary: Coreen Sylvester
Guests Present: Michael Azevedo, Cassandra Dubose, Glennis McSorley, T.J. Trembley of Zone Radio, Fire Chief Walter Hall, Jason Urquhart, Timothy Hall, Kristen Hall, Robbin Lanpher, Irving Gray and Toby Pelletier
7:30 PM: Suzan Rudnicki called the meeting to order.
MINUTES: John Luce made a motion to accept the minutes of August 4, 2014 as written. Joseph Pelletier seconded. Five voted in favor.
NEW BUSINESS:
Michael Azevedo Grievance Hearing: Suzan Rudnicki made a motion to go into executive session to discuss a personnel matter, pursuant to 1MRSA §405(6)(A), and asked Michael Azevedo if he wanted to go into executive session. Mr. Azevedo stated he did not.
Suzan Rudnicki read the procedures for conducting the grievance hearing.
Mr. Azevedo stated his reason for being here was to find out why he was dismissed, as he had been Fire Chief for six years and three months and had never had any performance evaluations or been told he wasn’t doing a good job.
Mrs. Rudnicki asked if there were any witnesses who would like to speak on behalf of Mr. Azevedo. There were no responses.
Town Manager Tom Richmond read a letter he had written to Michael Azevedo, and read his statement of events leading up to and reasons for Mr. Azevedo’s dismissal. Mr. Azevedo responded to each issue of the statement individually.
Tom Richmond reiterated each of the points he had made in his statement.
Sue Rudnicki stated the Board is going to deliberate with no further comments from the public. Joe Pelletier expressed concern that Tom Richmond should have given Mr. Azevedo a copy of his (Tom’s) statement of reasons for terminating before tonight. John Luce agreed that procedures might not have been followed properly, although neither Joe nor John disagreed with Tom’s written statement.
Sue Rudnicki asked Michael Azevedo if he had provided the FEMA password to the Fire Department. Mr. Azevedo stated he had provided all passwords to Walter Hall in an email.
John Luce made a motion to uphold the Town Manager’s decision to relieve the Fire Chief of his duties, and to discuss proper procedures with the Town Manager. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Three voted in favor. Joe Pelletier and Douglas Small abstained.
Sue Rudnicki adjourned the grievance hearing at 8:12 pm.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: Earlyn Bowers made a motion to go into executive session pursuant to 1MRSA §405(6)(A) to discuss a personnel matter. John Luce seconded. Five voted in favor. Selectmen went into executive session at 8:15 pm. Selectmen reconvened in regular session at 8:30 pm. No action taken, informational only.
General Assistance Ordinance Hearing: Suzan Rudnicki opened the hearing to adopt the new
General Assistance Ordinance. Tom Richmond explained the Governor had made changes in the monthly overall income limit and changed food vouchers to weekly amounts instead of monthly amounts as of July 1, 2014. John Luce made a motion to adopt the new General Assistance Ordinance. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor. Hearing adjourned.
ROAD COMMISSIONER/TAX COLLECTOR/TOWN MANAGER REPORT:
- The Town Manager gave an update on the progress of the Haskell Road Bridge project. There have been delays due to all the rain we’ve had since they’ve had to wait for the water to go down, but they have not had to do as much blasting as expected.
- Tom stated Willie Dunton has been doing shoulder work with the skid steer, and in September we will have a tree truck and inmates for brush work.
- Tom let the Board know the Highland Cemetery construction is coming right along.
- Bobby Noyes of R&R Lumber had asked Tom to get some salt in so that he could start putting the winter sand up at a price of $8.25 per yard, but Tom said we cannot get any salt until September 1st. We joined with Penobscot County to get our salt this year, and the company who provides the salt will not sell it until September 1st.
- Joe Pelletier asked about roof specs. Tom said he hasn’t had a chance to write them, but he hopes to get to it soon.
WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the payroll warrant of August 11, 2014 in the amount of $4,340.61. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor.
WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the Full-time fireman’s payroll warrant of August 11, 2014 in the amount of $826.97. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor.
WARRANT: John Luce made a motion to accept the accounts payable warrant of August 11, 2014 in the amount of $149,868.09. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor.
ADJOURNMENT: Joe Pelletier made a motion to adjourn. Earlyn Bowers seconded. Five voted in favor. Meeting adjourned at 8:44 pm.