Board: New Gloucester Selectmen

Met: Monday night

Issue: Selectmen adopt a policy setting the rate of pay and stipends for each member of New Gloucester Fire-Rescue Department.

The scoop: Volunteer fire and rescue personnel will be compensated per call and when on call during holidays and weekends. An annual stipend will be paid to deputy chiefs at $1,000; captains at $850; lieutenants at $600 and firefighters or emergency medical technicians at $400. Members will be paid at a per call basis from $8 per hour to $10.50 based on their positions.

Up next: The board will annually set the rate of compensation after the fire/rescue department budget adoption at annual town meetings.

Issue: Transfer Station attendant Jeff Pratt said he has noticed issues associated with the town’s bulky waste disposal policy and fee structure and needs input from selectmen

Scoop: Pratt said he suspects some residents bring large amounts of bulky waste – tires and bedding – to the Bald Hill Road facility for people who are not authorized to use the town’s transfer station. In 2005, the transfer station took in 813 tires compared to 4,983 tires this year since a $5 bulky waste permit was issued to residents.

Up next: Selectmen will limit the number of tires per trip to four and continue to brainstorm how to enforce limiting out of the ordinary volumes brought by roughly a dozen people.

Issue: After years of consideration, a Financial Management and Investment Policy was adopted to selectmen.

Scoop: The 16-page policy adopts standards to prevent fraud and conduct open government. The policy covers all transactions with the public, establishes a double entry bookkeeping system, daily cash up procedures, proofing of a previous day’s job and handling deposits. A petty cash policy is established while tax collection liens and foreclosure are managed. A large section deals with the town’s investment policies. A fixed asset policy is also included.

– By Ellie Fellers