Selectmen's meeting - June 18, 2024

Meeting Date
2024-06-18
Board
Selectmen
Present
Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Kerry Casey, Jim Anderberg, Ed Lawless
  1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail.
  2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.
  3. Reviewed and signed Warrant #12 ($25,409.47).
  4. The selectboard met with the Broadband Committee to discuss hiring a manager for the broadband project.
  5. Meeting adjourned.

Selectmen's meeting - June 11, 2024

Meeting Date
2024-06-11
Board
Selectmen
Present
Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Laura Church, Mr. Manly, Stan Webster, Robert Weingarten
  1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail.
  2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.
  3. Mr. Manly and Stan Webster both inquired about property tax.
  4. Robert Weingarten reviewed his property taxes with the selectboard.
  5. Meeting adjourned.

Selectmen's meeting - June 4, 2024

Meeting Date
2024-06-04
Board
Selectmen
Present
Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Laura Church, Kerry Casey, Adam Bliss, Sterlin Paul, Josh Markham, Beth Trehu, John Rodrigue.
  1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail.
  2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.
  3. Reviewed and signed Warrant #11 ($18,683.40).
  4. The selectboard set the 2024 Mill Rate at 0.0084 this is a drastic decrease from the 0.02005 Mill Rate of 2023 (the increase in the Town wide evaluation decreased the Mill Rate). The slectboard, treasurer, and tax collector had a lengthy and difficult conversation discussing different Mill Rate options. A few points of the conversation are the Kennebec County Tax was increased by approximately 40% more than had been anticipated during the budgeting process. The projected budget for SAD 9 has increased more than projected (larger increase than in previous years). Two budget items were increased off the floor during the March Town Meeting. The 2024 budget had a projected 0% increase and the above three items have increased the 2024 budget. A lot of thought and hard work went into this conversation trying to keep taxes flat from last year as the new Town wide evaluations will go into effect this fiscal year. Unfortunately, the townspeople will see a small increase in taxes. Had the Town not done a reevaluation, the residents would still have seen an increase based on the above mentioned increases.
  5. The selectboard had a teams.microsoft meeting with an engineering firm and a grant writer to go over damages to the road and culverts during the two large storms that occurred over the last 12 months. The town is working on grants to help replace culverts and improve water crossing with hopes to prevent future storm issues.
  6. The Animal Control Officer (ACO) let the selectboard know of an issue between two residents on Kimball Pond Road. One Resident keeps making complaints about the other residents animals. The ACO informed the residents that there was not an animal issue.
  7. Meeting adjourned.

Selectmen's meeting - May 28, 2024

Meeting Date
2024-05-28
Board
Selectmen
Present
Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Laura Church, Kerry Casey, Whitney Baker, Beth Trehu, Brian Church
  1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail.
  2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.
  3. The selectboard worked on setting the 2024 Mill Rate and was unable to set the Mill Rate as the State of Maine has not provided the Tree Growth information which is needed to do so.
  4. The selectboard signed Broadband Warrant #1 ($491,368.55).
  5. Whitney Baker presented two new grants she feels the Town should apply for. #1) The Maine Stream Crossing application for up to $200,000.00 per application in which a Town can submit up to 3 applications. #2) The Maine Infrastructure Adaptation Fund. A town can apply for up to $4 million per application. A town can only have one application. The Infrastructure Adaptation could be more challenging as it has stricter regulations to meet and the Town may not meet those. Whitney will look into this Grant further and will get back to the selectboard. The selectboard agreed and will apply for the Stream Crossing Application for three stream crossings which are for the Jesse Ladd Road, the Trask Road, and the Kimball Pond Road.
  6. Beth Trehu updated the selectboard on The 30 Mile Watershed Association and the Stream Crossing Grants the Town has applied for.
  7. The Vienna Fire Chief, Chief Church, provided an update on the Fire Department’s expenditures on the 2024 budget.
  8. Meeting adjourned.

 

Selectmen's meeting - May 21, 2024

Meeting Date
2024-05-21
Board
Selectmen
Present
Jeff Rackliff, Laura Church, Kerry Casey, Brian Church, Ed Lawless, Jim Anderberg , Mark Ouellette , Michael Jones, Ed Lawless, Dan Goucher
  1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail.
  2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.
  3. Reviewed and signed Warrant #11 ($45,851.54).
  4. The selectboard continued to discuss the need to have the Town House painted. The paint is starting to chip off.
  5. The selectboard along with the Broadband Committee did a site visit at the Community Center in order to review the placement of the broadband hub. They discussed what a project manager would be able to do and how to help with the broadband project. They agreed a project manager is not yet needed, however the Town will contact a couple of managers and discuss the project to attain someone for the future.
  6. The Road Commissioner, Dan Goucher, discussed the current road conditions.
  7. The selectboard worked on property cards so the mill rate can be set next week.
  8. Meeting adjourned.