GILEAD — In anticipation of the state coming to inspect the town’s transfer station, Town Clerk Patsy Cox said she was relieved that Highway Commissioner Fred Corriveau had agreed to take over the state-required transfer manager position.

“‘Ash in the barrel’ has been an ongoing issue,” said Cox. “The fire department has told him [Attendant Ed Jones] ‘no’ countless times. But then [the state inspector] came, Ed asked her, ‘can I have a fire?’ She said ‘yes’,” said a frustrated Cox.

Resident Caeri Buck said neighbors were concerned about what kind of materials were being burned.

Buck said she had made Jones, “a great book,” with tabbed contracts and other paperwork that needed to be filed throughout the year.

“It’s probably in the ash bin,” said Select Board Member Jon Howe.

McLain’s complaints

It was Select Board Chair Bob Ensslen’s first meeting and resident Lise McLain presented him an earful.

Her complaints were about the school board, the fire department and the town.

Referring to the MSAD 44 school administration not providing adequate school bus service, she said, “if you do not perform your fiduciary duties … we have a contract, we pay … they can be sued.”

“We are the first bus they cut,” said Buck.

McLain said her impression is that David Murphy (the Gilead school representative) is not on their side.

“We should get that money back,” added Buck.

“If they can’t keep enough people employed to drive busses, then they need to get trained themselves,” said Ensslen. “We need to address this again. We need to ask David Murphy to come in and explain this,” said Ensslen.

Buck said she asked for gas reimbursement and was told that she had to be transporting more children to be reimbursed.

Truck fire

McLain said she called 911 twice when her truck was on fire. “Later after the pickup is all burnt and worthless someone from Rumford showed up and just talked about it,” she said.

There was dangerous inclement weather and power outages, said Howe

Buck said she and her husband are the only two Gilead residents on the Fire Department.

“If there is no power we can’t get those [fire department] doors open and get our apparatus out the door,” said Buck.

McLain asked if they could contract with another town. Buck responded, “$250,000 will get you contracted with Bethel Fire …  Mutual aid is not guaranteed.”

School reimbursements

McLain said some people want to move into Gilead so their children can attend private school.

“We are going to have an influx of children,” she said.

“When did we say we were going to give them private school?” asked Ensslen.

“My taxes have nearly doubled in the last 12 years.” said Ensslen. “We are not paying for private school [for Gilead residents].”

Cox said because they are sending fewer children, Gilead’s portion of the school budget will go down by $13,000, but The Town budget overall went up and they will have to raise an additional $24,000 through property taxes.

Intention papers

Cox said she had received multiple emails from McLain that week. At Town Meeting McLain had been replaced on school board and told Cox people wishing to run for office should be required to sign intention papers. Cox said the paperwork confirmed that McLain’s school board term was over.

The Board decided to table a discussion of  requiring intention papers.

Town Meeting

With the town meeting requiring a nine-person-quorum and only about 19 people showing up, Cox suggested changing the town meeting day from Saturday night to a week night.  “It used to be, in the day, that we would have to have the cops here,” said Buck of the occasional revelry that went on because it was a Saturday night.

They decided to ask townspeople coming in to town office to pay their taxes what night worked best for them.

Other business

Firefighter Caeri Buck said it was her understanding that the Fire Department roof has been patched until the Spring and the contractor will add strapping and lay a new metal roof over it.  Asked for further elaboration, Buck said, “I’m not a contractor, nor am I a dude.”

Cox said on April 16 Federal Emergency Management Agency representatives are coming to look at the repaired North Road areas.

Buck will cover for Cox when she is on vacation in May.

Ensslen said he would like to keep citizens better informed by writing a quarterly newsletter that people would get from a news box at the transfer station.

They discussed finding someone new to mow and clean up the cemeteries so they are ready for Memorial Day.

“We have not seen or heard from Ivan,” said Cox of the previous landscaper.

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