Sabattus Board of Selectmen

Met: Tuesday

Marquis removed from EMA post

The Scoop: After convening for a 21-minute executive session, board members returned to public session and voted to remove Andre Marquis from his position as director of the town’s Emergency Management Agency. Town Manager Gregory Gill made the recommendation to dismiss Marquis.

More communications needed

Issue: Town Manager Gregory Gill said the town often does not get enough notice of when the school district needs to pay its bills. The result is that sometimes municipal officials don’t know when to transfer funds into school budget lines to cover the payments. State law mandates monthly payments, but Gill said that some towns make transfers every three months.

Up Next: Gill suggested that the town and school department auditors meet to get a general understanding of payment schedules. Budget Committee member Amedeo Lauria also suggested that the school district have a regular presence at selectmen’s meetings.

Nomination papers available

Issue: Budget Committee members no longer will be appointed but instead elected. Nomination papers can be obtained at the Town Office.

Presence needed at county level

The Scoop: Androscoggin County Budget Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Aug. 14, and Selectmen Guy Desjardins complained that Sabattus has never been represented. Amedeo Lauria said he would query the town’s Budget Committee members; anyone interested should contact the town manager for more information.

Duquette chosen as board VP

The Scoop: Sabattus’s Town Charter requires the board to have a vice-president. However, the next municipal election isn’t until November, so selectmen decided to choose a successor themselves. Mark Duquette was elected 4-0; Duquette himself abstained from voting.

Board OKs new ACO truck

The Scoop: Four area car dealerships submitted bids for a new animal control truck to be shared by Lisbon and Sabattus police departments. O’Connor Chevrolet in Augusta turned in the lowest bid of $15,523. Board members wondered whether the bid was for sale or lease of the truck, and voted conditionally to approve the bid pending an answer from their Lisbon counterparts.

Met: July 17

Board OKs new network server

The Scoop: Police Chief Thomas Fales recommended to board members that a new network server be purchased to replace the one at Town Hall that crashed several weeks ago. The town received three bids for the equipment, of which New England Networking Inc. of Auburn, was the lowest at $3,236.20. Board members unanimously approved the expenditure.

Shelter utilities disconnected

The Scoop: Board members decided to turn off the telephone, heat and electrical services at the town’s animal shelter, which is in need of extensive renovation.

The town’s facility has not been used since board members last spring signed a temporary agreement with the Androscoggin County Humane Society to house animals picked up by the town’s animal control officer.

More light to shine on streets

The Scoop: Selectmen unanimously approved installation of two new street lights, one above the intersection of Williams and Bowdoinham roads and the other where Bowdoinham Road crosses Sutherland and Ripley Hill roads.

Contact JT Leonard with local government news at 252-6040 or at shark79_1