Government at a glance

Board: Minot Selectmen 

Met: Monday night 

Cost increases 

The Scoop: Town Administrator Arlan Saunders reported receiving a letter from Maine Municipal Association informing him that medical insurance rates will be going up 8 percent next year. He also reported that the town’s workers’ compensation insurance will experience an 11 percent surcharge on next year’s premium. 

Up next: Saunders will be making appropriate adjustments as he puts together the 2010 budget for salaries and insurances. 

School audit/deed

The Scoop: Selectmen have not heard from RSU 16 officials regarding who is conducting a final audit of Minot’s School Department accounts or what the time frame is for the audit. The board also has not heard from the RSU’s attorney regarding the quitclaim deed and bill of sale for the Minot Consolidated School. 

Up next: Board Chairmen Dean Campbell said he would look into both matters.

Ball field water

The Scoop: Road Foreman Scott Parker reported there was a great deal of difficulty shutting off the water to the ball field in the Old Minot Memorial Park for the season. While the crew managed to shut the water off, it turns out there is a bad ball valve involved.

Up next: Replacement of the bad ball valve will likely have to wait until spring and the new season.

Cable TV contract 

The Scoop: The draft for the contract with Time Warner has been revised again and returned to the cable company. 

Up Next: It appears, Saunders said, the board will have a contract ready for signing at its Dec. 14 meeting. 

Donations 

Issue: In addition to managing General Assistance, the town’s overseers of the poor also maintain an emergency heating fund and provide Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets.

The Scoop: Selectman Eda Tripp reported preparing and delivering the makings for Thanksgiving dinners to nine families. She also noted that some families don’t quite meet the criteria for General Assistance and it can be difficult, with the cold at this time of year, for some to manage. “We welcome donations of canned goods and checks. We’ll use what we have, do what we can to help folks,” Tripp said.

— Winslow Durgin