Poland Board of Selectmen

Met: Tuesday

2005 Re-audit complete

Issue: Board members received a copy of the post-audit report from James George, the auditor appointed by the state to re-audit the town’s books from fiscal 2005.

Up next: After reviewing George’s results, the board will discuss the re-audit during a future meeting.

Hotel liquor license

The scoop: Selectmen approved extending the Poland Spring Hotel’s liquor license to cover six functions scheduled for this year, which otherwise would not have fallen under the license’s auspices. Town Manager Richard Chick said the license extension covers functions held on the hotel’s grounds, although not necessarily inside its walls or banquet rooms.

Agency liquor sales

Issue: The state’s liquor licensing bureau is weighing applications from two Poland retailers to become agency liquor stores. Board members took no action Tuesday regarding the applications. The names of the stores were not released.

Up next: The state Department of Public Safety will hold a public hearing on the proposed agency locations at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 21, at the Augusta Civic Center.

Ministerial Fund

Issue: Trustees for the Poland Ministerial Fund have asked that the town take over management of the trust. The fund dates back to Poland’s settlement, long before its municipal incorporation. A change in state regulations means that the cost of managing the fund would be prohibitive if it is not handed off to the town, said Town Manager Richard Chick. According to the trustees, revenue from the fund is to be used to defray operational costs of educating the town’s students. “There is a modest amount of money in it that the trustees have been nurturing for years,” Chick said.

Up next: Voters will have to vote to accept the fund during the next town meeting, likely to be in spring 2008.

Ramp litigation

The scoop: Selectmen Tuesday called off a legal suit against the contractor who, more than a year ago, failed to complete a handicap-accessible ramp to the town hall’s second floor. DCS Construction, of Chocorua, N.H., was awarded the ramp contract. When the contractor abandoned the project – and when it was discovered that the work already done did not meet building code requirements – the town began legal proceedings to recoup costs and get the job correctly done. However, the board has decided that enough time and money has been spent in the chase and voted to dismiss the suit. The ramp project is on indefinite hold.

Turner Board of Selectmen

Met: Monday

Town hall plans

Issue: Selectmen authorized architect Paul Augustine to continue tweaking the design of the proposed new town office building for a flat fee of $21,000. The building’s exterior features have been the subject of ongoing debate between town committees since plans were unveiled two years ago. “Only minor changes to the design-and-build proposal from earlier this year will be made,” said acting Town Manager Eva Leavitt.

Up next: Changes should take about 10 weeks. Then Augustine, who works for H.E. Callahan, the firm that designed the building, is to report back before the board.

Board accepts fuel bid

The scoop: Turner will stay with its current heating oil supplier, board members decided Monday. The town received bids from three different companies within a range of 25 miles; the best of them was from local supplier Murray Oil Co., with a total fuel and transportation price of $2.05 per gallon.

Assessing firm

The scoop: Board members decided to break from RJD Appraisal, which has done the town’s assessing for some time. No further action was taken, however, as the item was tabled until after the June 12 local election so the new board members would be in place to handle it.

Fire truck repairs

Issue: Repairs to Engine 1 will cost more than $1,900, which would bring the fire department’s equipment budget close to bust. Board members instead decided that the repairs should be funded from the town budget’s contingency account.

Real estate sale

The scoop: Board members have called off the sale of a piece of tax-acquired real estate because the proposed buyer – and her attorney – were taking too long to complete the sale. Leavitt, the acting town manager, said that the town offered the prospective buyer a municipal quit claim deed to the parcel, known as “the Hogan lot” on Pleasant Pond. But the buyer wanted too many concessions, Leavitt said, leading board members to kill the deal.

Public Works trailer

Issue: Selectmen authorized $14,223 to buy a 20-ton “tagalong” trailer for the Department of Public Works. The trailer will be purchased from Maine Trailer Sales in Auburn.

Sabattus Board of Selectmen

Met: Tuesday

School budget revote

Issue: Residents, board members and school administrators continue to argue over how much the town should spend on its schools budget.

Up next: A reconsideration of the Sabattus School Budget is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at the Sabattus Central School on Ball Park Road.

Manager search

The scoop: Board members were scheduled to meet with the favored candidate for the job of town manager to finalize employment details.

Cruiser damaged

The scoop: Police Chief Thomas Fales told selectmen that someone backed into a cruiser during Friday night’s patrol shift while it was parked, and then left the scene. Damage is estimated at $391.

Animal services

Issue: Town officials are considering a shared services agreement with Androscoggin County Humane Society. Animal Control Officer Jeffrey Cooper said he supports the agreement because of poor conditions at the municipal shelter and recent budget cuts.

Up next: More discussion is scheduled for next week’s board meeting.

Contact JT Leonard with local government news at 252-6040 or at [email protected].