NEW VINEYARD — The Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, Nov. 12, rather than Monday in observance of Veterans Day. Selectman Seth Webber was absent.

Selectmen were asked to generate ideas on how to use the remaining $15,000 of the town’s American Rescue Plan Act [ARPA] funds. The fund program was put into effect in March of 2021 to aid communities after COVID-19.

Town Clerk Michelle Beedy strongly urged that some of the money go toward updating maps of the town as they haven’t been updated since 2016 and many properties have changed. She said that they lost $3,000 last year when it didn’t happen and that they will lose that money again if it doesn’t happen before the end of the year. She also said that lawsuits could be a possible result in not pursuing the project.

Selectman Jeffrey Allen agreed that the task was time consuming but necessary. He recommended hiring someone to do it and setting a deadline for it to be completed. Beedy estimated the project would take two to three weeks. Selectman Lexi Daggett said that the map should show all updates since 2021 in order to be as accurate as possible without going all the way back to 2016. All agreed on this and agreed to look into hiring someone for the task.

Beedy also suggested replacing the chairs in Smith Hall as they were getting old, but Daggett refused saying that they were still functional and a historic part of the hall.

The Select Board also discussed the new contract for Dan Gilbert to fill the role of local plumbing inspector. There was some confusion as to whether the mileage mentioned in the contract would be charged to the town or the client and whether or not Gilbert will be an employee of the town on payroll or whether he will be working on a stipend. Allen and Daggett were going to wait until next meeting for Webber to weigh in, but ultimately they decided to sign the contract and double check his employee status with a lawyer.

In other news, the town office has not received any minutes from the Planning Board since the resignation of former Secretary Jamie McKecknie. Beedy said that the office used to receive the minutes at the end of each month, but that they are missing two months worth of minutes.

Allen argued that if people want to see the minutes, maybe they should contact the Planning Board rather than the town office since the Select Board has no power over them. Beedy responded that they have always been there and people expect them to be. She also said that the staff attorney at Maine Municipal Association said that due to the Maine Freedom of Access Act, original copies of documents need to be held in the town office for public access. Allen then agreed.

Allen said that the minutes should be in by the 30th of the month, and that they don’t have to be in depth.

In other news, Beedy brought up two phone calls she received. One was about a building that was close to falling into the river. The caller was concerned that chemicals might pollute the water if it got too close. Daggett said that she talked to the family who owned the house and that it was empty. Allen said that it would be easiest to take care of it now, but that there is no code against it and that they can’t enforce it. He said that even if it falls into the river, it’s a state issue, that he can make a suggestion, but can’t make him do anything.

Beedy recognized that problems could occur if actions are taken to excavate the house whether before or after it falls. She reminded selectmen of the dredging situation that occurred in Phillips that resulted in a hefty fine.

The other call was a complaint claiming that Alex Sillanpaa dumped rocks on her property and that she tries to keep the road accessible in case of fires. Sillanpaa denied the claim and said that he was contacted as well, but that he told her to call the police if she had an issue.

In a more positive note, Beedy announced that there will be a 15-foot Christmas tree coming to Smith Hall soon and that they have money for lights.