Sabattus Board of Selectmen

Met: May 20

Public works spending

Issue: According to Town Manager Greg Gill, the Public Works Department exceeded its annual budget by $20,000 due to overtime.

The scoop: Chairman Mark Duquette clarified comments made during the previous meeting on May 5 when Director John Hyde reported that DPW workers mistakenly started working their spring schedule of four 10-hour days two weeks earlier than is allowed by their union contract. During that period workers were paid overtime after 40 weekly hours rather than daily after eight hours on the clock, as was suggested during the meeting, Duquette said.

Pump motor

The scoop: Board members approved a new pump motor for the transfer station’s compactor. The replacement pump is estimated to cost $1,872.50 plus labor. Selectmen awarded the contract to Stevens Electric and Pump Service and allotted $2,100 to pay for the motor and installation.

Plan updates

The scoop: Updating the town’s comprehensive plan likely will cost from $7,000 to $10,000, Town Manager Gill said. The cost depends on how much assistance the town requests from Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments staffers. The Update Committee held its first meeting on Thursday, May 22.

Anybody for veggies?

The scoop: Members of the town’s Wellness Committee received permission to plant and maintain a vegetable garden at town hall. Municipal staffers who agreed to participate in the wellness program will cultivate, harvest and ultimately ingest the produce that’s grown. Nineteen employees have signed up for the program and the garden.

Wrong gear

Issue: Fire Chief Robert Scott and his firefighters recently received permission to examine new turnout gear – flame-resistant coats, bibs, boots and helmets – from various providers before committing the town to a replacement contract. Two companies, Securitex and Globe, submitted gear for review. However, the quotes received by the town were not for the gear Scott had specified.

Up next: Selectmen voted to continue discussion at their next meeting on June 9.

For municipal news items, contact JT Leonard at 252-6040 or at [email protected].