Paris selectmen meeting

Nov. 14, 2016

Paris Town Office

Higher premiums

What happened: Town Manager Vic Hodgkins told selectmen Maine Municipal Association advised him the town’s health insurance premiums will increase in 2017 by 11.25 percent and 3 percent for dental.

What it means: Hodgkins expects another “very substantial increase” to the town’s workers’ compensation premiums in 2017 because of the poor experience rating for the town’s workers’ compensation insurance. He said there have been some issues with a couple of officers from the Police Department and other employees who were out on workers’ comp over the past year and a half. He expects the workers’ compensation premium will slowly decrease in 2018 and 2019, as long as there are fewer claims.

What’s next: Later this week Hodgkins will begin digging into the next fiscal year budget. 

Fireworks straw poll

What happened: Selectmen discussed the fireworks ordinance straw poll in which voters favored roughly 2-1 having town regulations.

What it means: In the straw poll during the Nov. 8 election, 438 voters said they’d support a fireworks ordinance in town, 202 did not want one and there were 16 blanks. The poll was the result of a large Fourth of July fireworks display on Oxford Street where some people were bothered by it and others enjoyed it.

What’s next: Selectmen will do more research into fireworks and revisit the issue in about a month.

Pellet bids

What happened: Selectmen unanimously approved the only bid for wood pellets to Police Chief Hartley “Skip” Mowatt for all 13 barrels for $715.

What it means: Mowatt paid $55 per barrel of the pellets left after the pellet boiler at Mildred M. Fox School broke.

What’s next: Mowatt will pay for half of the pellets now and the other half when he picks up the remainder of the barrels.

Vice chairman

What happened: Selectmen elected Scott Buffington as vice chairman.

What it means: Buffington will fill the position held by Janet Jamison who was named chairwoman after Mike Risica moved to Florida for work in October.

Upgrades

What happened: Hodgkins authorized an upgrade to the town’s network server and his work computer, and selectmen approved spending up to $4,553 on the upgrades.

What it means: The quote for the server update is $2,260 and the money will be spent from the town equipment/software fund, which has a balance of $4,553. He had a soft quote for the computer upgrade of between $600 and $800.

What’s next: Hodgkins will get a hard quote for the computer upgrade.

Liquor licenses

What happened: A hearing was held for a liquor license and special entertainment permit for X-Vault Pub & Provisions at 10 Market Square. Selectmen approved the two licenses, along with liquor license renewals for Market Square Restaurant and Maurice Restaurant.

What it means: The new restaurant and pub, located where the Smilin’ Moose operated, will be able to serve alcohol and host live entertainment to go with its traditional pub fare and fusion, California-inspired food. The liquor license renewals for the other two restaurants must be done annually.

What’s next: X-Vault Pub & Provisions should open in mid to late December.

Federal labor law

What happened: Selectmen voted 4-1 to bump Town Clerk Liz Knox’s salary to the federally mandated wage under the new labor law for salaried employees, which goes into effect Dec. 1.

What it means: Voting for the measure were Jamison and Selectmen Chris Summer, Kathy Richardson and Rusty Brackett. Voting against was Buffington, who wanted not to automatically bump her pay but instead monitor her hours to try to keep her at 40 a week and do a six-month trial period. With the vote, Knox will continue to work a normal week of her average 43 to 44 hours and not collect overtime.

Christmas lights

What happened: Hodgkins presented selectmen a “bare-bones” Christmas lights policy to govern Christmas decorations in the town. The board accepted the policy with a minor change.

What it means: The policy states decorations can go up the third Friday in November and will be taken down by the third Friday in January.

What’s next: Volunteers are needed to help put up the decorations in Moore Park on Friday, Nov. 25, ahead of the 5 p.m. Christmas lighting Saturday, Nov. 26, after the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas parade.

Financial workshop

What happened: Selectmen set a financial workshop with Hodgkins for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17.

What it means: The group will discuss the finances of the town to plan for the new fiscal year.

What’s next: Hodgkins will meet with the town’s auditor the day before Thanksgiving to discuss town financials.

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