BETHEL — When the vote was a tie, selectmen let the audience choose the Wastewater Treatment Plant’s new logo. The three logos were designed by students in Jeff Bailey’s technology class at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, said Randy Autrey, operator at the Wastewater Treatment Plant at the Board of Selectmen meeting on January 5 at Town Office.

Bethel Select Board members in attendance, were Meryl Kelly, Patricia McCartney, Lori Swain, and Lloyd Sweetser. Member Frank Del Duca was absent. Also at the table were Town Manager Natalie Andrews and Town Clerk Darren Goyette.

Autrey enthusiastically praised Andrews, for having the idea of tapping high school students to do the design. He also credited Bailey, the teacher.

Autrey and Jeff Warden, WWTP director, went to the school to describe their jobs to the students.  The young designers had all kinds of ideas, including using bio bugs and poop emoji’s. One went even further, adding googly eyes to their poop emoji. Another student had drawn his logo before they even left class.

Autrey explained how the wastewater team fixed a problem together resulting in their department tagline of “better together.”  They told the students they wanted the design to show the environmental aspect of their jobs.

“We take everyone’s pollution.. from a goldfish to a hamster to you know what goes down through there…we deal with it down there,” he told the select board, “We wanted them to see a bigger picture of returning it to the river and being proud of the product that we produce… 98% pure water goes back to the river without bio bugs without any toxins. It’s an amazing thing to be able to take pollution, clean it and return it to the river. And these kids (who did the logo designs) latched onto it.”

Logan Graham was the winner. The two runners-up were Eugene Frost and Colby Devore. Graham’s logo will go on the WWTP trucks. “These kids were very proud of the work they did,” said Autrey.

To demonstrate the hazards, the employees at the plant encounter, the students also agreed to make public announcement videos that tell users, ‘don’t flush grease’, ‘don’t flush flushable wipes.’

“There’s no such thing as a flushable wipe,” said Autrey. “A $50,000. pump got jammed by a flushable wipe…we’ve also seen underwear plug a $50,000. pump…we see it all.”

School demolition

Board Chair Lloyd Sweetser opened an envelope with the only estimate the town received for the demolition of the Ethel Bisbee School on Philbrook Street. The bid, from Cross Excavation, of Bethel, was for $124,500. The town had budgeted around $70,000. The bid includes the cost of hiring a certified asbestos surveyor.

When the property was acquired by the Town from SAD-44 they were told that no hazardous waste existed but now the paperwork is missing. “So the Superintendent’s office couldn’t provide that paperwork?” asked Swain.

Citizen, Eric Borrin, suggested contacting the state, because they keep a list of properties where a permit would have been pulled and logged. Andrews will double check for paperwork.

Discussion between the board and audience members led to a determination that lead and asbestos may still exist at the Bisbee.

Lead for instance, can be covered and then be safe for occupancy, which may be what happened during the time the superintendent had his office at the school.

However, during demolition, lead and asbestos will be airborne and is hazardous, so an accurate determination of presence is important.

Swain made a motion, with Borrin’s help, for Andrews to determine the extent of prior hazardous waste removal. The motion included empowering the town manager to hire a hazardous material evaluator for up to $10,000. to do the survey, if necessary.

Other business

In other business,  select board approved an Entertainment Permit for the Bethel Inn.

Resident Scott Cole objected to the select board’s suggestion to go into executive session to discuss the appointment of Robert Duplisea Jr and RJD Appraisal Company as the Assessor’s Agent for the town. He said because the discussion concerned a contractor, not a town employee, executive session was illegal. Andrews cited 30A MRSA 2702 “resumes, applications, references and other documents prepared by applicants or by the town in a pre-hire examination or evaluation of applicants are confidential. The application, resume and letters and notes of reference not expressly submitted in confidence of the applicant hired become public records after the applicant is hired.”

The board decided not to hold executive session.

In another discussion, the board discussed the process of giving donations to non-profit and social service programs. One hundred registered voters’ signatures from Bethel are currently required to have a place on the warrant.

In her report, Andrews said that the airport lost power on 12/24 and the back up lighting went out, as well. She said the purchase of a generator is something they might want to explore. Andrews announced the elected officials’ webinar will be held via Zoom on January 19 from 4-7:30 p.m. The social media policy addition to the employees handbook has been completed. Andrews asked the select board to provide feedback.

Regarding the wastewater treatment plant: In the last storm they lost power and an employee went in and manually operated the machinery, the doors (paid for with grant money) have been ordered, and the clean water survey was submitted . It qualifies the town for grants, said Andrews

Town Clerk Darren Goyette, and Andrews have been revising the annual performance evaluation forms and the probationary review process.

“We have a new Deputy Clerk (Jessicca Grover) who is doing exceptionally well,” Goyette told them.