Board: Sabattus Selectmen

Met: Tuesday night

New fire chief appointed

Issue: Selectmen endorsed the Fire Department’s choice of Robert Scott as new fire chief. He replaces Don Therrien.

The scoop: Earlier this month, Fire Department members voted 14-10 in favor of EMA Director Scott, a former fire chief. Traditionally, selectmen rubber-stamp these elections. However, according to Selectman Mark Duquette, many residents supported keeping Therrien as chief, and selectmen were mixed on whom to support. About eight members of the Fire Department were present during the meeting, including Therrien and Scott. Selectmen decided to go into an hour-long executive session to interview the two candidates before making a decision in Scott’s favor.

No chair elected

The scoop: Selectmen voted to postpone the election of a new chairman until all members of the board are present. William Henshaw will continue as chairman until the next election.

Delinquent tax update

The issue: About $72,000 in taxes from 63 accounts is outstanding. One foreclosure is pending town attorney review.

There will be no Sabattus selectmen’s meeting April 3, in order to host the Sabattus Emergency Plan Workshop.

Board: Poland Selectmen

Met: Tuesday night

Town audit near completion

The issue: Selectmen reviewed the audit of the town’s financial records, which should be available to residents before April.

Plains Road construction

The issue: Selectmen awarded the Plains Road construction bid to A.H. Grover Inc., of Cumberland. The $435,000 project will include underground drainage and reconstruction about 1,800 feet from Cobb Road to Poland Corner Road. The project does not include adding a sidewalk for $24,000 or using granite instead of asphalt curbs for $59,000.

Warrant review extended

The scoop: Selectmen will continue the review of the town meeting warrant during its next scheduled meeting. The town meeting is Saturday, April 7. Elections are the following Friday.



Board: Lisbon Town Council

Met: Tuesday night

Issue: Councilors have agreed to spend $70,470 in 2006 of the fire department homeland security grant money for improvements at the fire station and a new heavy duty washing machine.

Scoop: Bids were awarded to Air Cleaning Specialists of Hanover, Massachusetts to install air-handlers, a system that removes vehicle exhaust fumes from buildings at a total cost of $64,600. Also, Nelson & Small of Portland was awarded the bid for a heavy duty washing machine to be used at the fire station to wash firemen’s turnout gear, on it’s low bid of $5,870.

Issue: Two proposed ordinance updates to bring town codes into compliance with town charter received a first reading and another was tabled.

Scoop: Councilors approved the proposed Ethics and Conflicts of Interest Ordinance and Update to the Lisbon Code Chapter 2-Administration Ordinance and scheduled public hearings on the changes for April 17. They tabled the proposed Tax Increment Financing Policy in order to make amendments.

Issue: What to do with the old high school building on Campus Avenue which last housed the Superintendent’s Office.

Scoop: A report by a committee that was appointed to look into the possible reuse of the two-story 7000 square foot brick building, circa 1905, was reviewed and will be discussed at the next meeting. Among several possible uses suggested was converting it into senior citizen housing.

Issue: Should the Public Papermill Trail be widened?

Scoop: No action was taken on a request by Donald Stein to widen the 4,400 foot trail which is currently plowed to a width of 5 feet.

Scoop: Following a public hearing, councilors approved Graziano’s application for renewal of its special entertainment and liquor license.

Upcoming: Public hearing to review the proposed school and town budget will be held at 6 p.m. on March 27 at Lisbon Community School.

Another will be held on May 22 and final budgets are expected to be approved no later than May 29.