LEBANON MAINE
SELECTMEN'S MEETING 8/31/15
Part 1 of our Monday evening Selectmen's Meeting of 8/31/15 starts off with Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker, Deborah Dorey Wilson addressing the Board of Selectmen regarding the donations by Lebanon residents to secure a brand new flag pole for the Lebanon Fire and EMS Blaisdell Corner Station on Route 202.
For those of you who DON'T know, the flag pole at the station has been broken for quite some time and because it was a telescoping flag pole, repairs would have been quite costly. It was easier and cheaper to purchase a new, old fashioned, very reliable flag pole from Yankee Flagpole Company in Lyndeborough, NH and have it delivered and installed.
Wilson takes a moment to thank each person who donated toward the purchase and installation of the flag pole, and outlines the intent of the Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers to work with the Lebanon Fire and EMS station to help make the Blaisdell Corner station beautiful and a place that people of Lebanon can be proud of.
There will also be a rededication of the Blaisdell Corner Fire and EMS Station taking place on Saturday, October 3, 2015. Beginning at 10 am. There will be a flag dedication, and a rededication to service for the station. We've secured music and are hoping to have a community pot luck luncheon where everyone can meet some of your responders, Chief Daniel Meehan, and have the chance to enjoy others in our community.
Purchase Orders are presented to the Board and the purchase has now been authorized.
SEE Part 1 of the
Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting, Monday 8/31/15 HERE:
In part 2 of the Lebanon Selectmen's Meeting video, Selectmen's Assistant, Sue Collins, addresses the Board on issues to do with the Board's Assessing duties. According to Collins, the Board is nearing the completion of the town's assessing with only 98 properties left for them to visit before the job is finished.
Select Board Chairman Ben Thompson lets folks know that tax bills are going to come out late this time around as the number of properties they've had to view this year has been huge.
Resident Noah Tetreault arrives to speak to the Board regarding a piece of property he's looking to purchase in town. The property is in a Tree Growth Tax program at the time, and also has a Conservation Easement designation. Tetreault is wondering if there is a way to lessen the amount of the penalty on the property for removing it from the Tree Growth program, however, according to Selectman Thompson, there is not.
SEE PART 2 of the 8/31/15 Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting HERE:
In the third part of the 8/31/15 Selectman's Meeting video, Town Clerk, Mandy Grenier addresses the Board regarding town elections. According to Grenier, she has been in e mail correspondence with the Maine Secretary of State's Office who has told her that the current way the town's polling station at the Lebanon Elementary School is set up is "unlawful". Ms. Grenier has been working with the Secretary of State's Office to reconfigure the flow of voter traffic during town elections.
The new Lebanon Town Clerk also states that in the departing budget requests by former Town Clerk, Laura Bragg, there was an allowance for new voting booths. In speaking with Ms. Grenier, the current booths are not only difficult to set up, but they are also getting to be a bit dangerous and need replacing. Since a purchase of new booths was included in the Town Clerk's 2015-2016 budget amounts which were approved by the Town Meeting Vote on June 9th, Ms. Grenier has taken the time to research prices and has found a set of new voter booths for a little over $3,700. Less than the $5,000 budgeted for this expense.
Also discussed was the combining of the June Town Meeting Vote with the earlier MSAD60 School Budget Vote. The two elections are typically only weeks apart, and the Town of Lebanon has been paying for two separate elections.
Selectman Ben Thompson motions: To move the Annual Town Meeting to coincide with the Annual Maine SAD60 School Budget Vote. The motion was seconded by Selectman Heath and then the Board voted 3 in favor, 0 opposed, to move the Town Vote, thus saving taxpayer dollars and hopefully allowing for greater voter attendance for all town related issues.
Due to the questions regarding the flow of voter traffic at the Lebanon Elementary School, there were several options discussed regarding changing the entry and exit of voters to the polls for town elections. Selectman Thompson suggested checking in to the use of the Hanson School gym rather than the Lebanon Elementary School, Ms. Grenier will be viewing that building and contacting MSAD60 to see if changing the venue from one building to another might be an option.
WATCH the third portion of the Lebanon Maine Selectmen's Meeting Video from Monday, 8/31/15 HERE:
In part 4 of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video, Town Clerk Mandy Grenier returns momentarily to ask the Board of Selectmen if they had remembered to speak to the Lebanon Budget Committee regarding their scheduled vote on September 9, 2015, on whether or not to allow the spending necessary to take down the wall that currently separates the Board of Selectmen's Meeting Room and the Lebanon Code Enforcement Officer's room.
Lebanon Selectmen also discuss with Ms. Grenier the "missing" Town Report Books, two separate books for the Fiscal Year 1939-40. Grenier says that she has not located them at this time and agrees to check the Town's Vault, located at the Lebanon Elementary School.
SEE the FOURTH part of the Monday, 8/31/15 Lebanon Selectmen's Video HERE:
Part 5 of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting shows Lebanon Historical Society member Nancy Wyman as she addresses the Board regarding the Old Town Hall building on Center Road, asking for the Board to put the money for the remainder of the repairs of the building on the next Town Ballot.
Selectman Thompson explains to Ms. Wyman that the appropriate time to raise and appropriate funds is at the Annual Town Meeting Vote which will happen in the Spring of 2016.
Ms. Wyman continues, speaking to the Board regarding the fact that the year 2017 will be the Town's 250th Birthday, and showing the Board that the Town has traditionally given money for the Historical Society to host a celebration, citing specifically 1967 (150 years) and 1992 (200 years). Selectman Thompson states that the Lebanon Festival Committee has been actively saving money toward that goal, and mentions to Ms. Wyman that the town has already voted to fund the Festival Committee with $1,500 a year toward the Lebanon Festival. He also outlines some of the plans that are being made for the celebration of the Town's 250th Birthday, saying that the Festival Committee could always use more volunteers.
Lebanon Truth Seekers, Deborah Dorey Wilson addresses Ms. Wyman with regards to the fact that the Historical Society was asked to be a part of the recent 2015 Festival, and they declined, stating that they didn't want to take part, to which Wyman answers that the past festivals have not been profitable enough for the Historical Society.
Wyman, who says she is also been a part of the Town's Garden Club who recently refused to help with the weeding, planting and mulching of the flower beds at the Town Office, leaving Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers Sandy Adams to complete the job with her son, says that all the clubs that she's active in have been interested in participating, however, they found the Festival was more a "kids event".
Selectman Thompson stated that the people of Lebanon are families who are actively asking for things to do with their children and families.
Selectman Thompson says he will have Festival Committee Chairwoman, Rebekah Thompson contact Ms. Wyman on her interests.
WATCH the FIFTH part of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting Video of 8/31/15 HERE:
In the sixth part of the Selectmen's Meeting Video from Monday evening, 8/31/15, Resident Chris Gilpatrick addresses the Board on some issues regarding personnel disciplinary actions. Apparently Mr. Gilpatrick came to the Town Office to pay his taxes recently and was overcharged by over $500. The problem was not caught by Town Office personnel, or even by the Town Treasurer, but by Gilpatrick himself. And when he asked to have the problem straightened, he was told that it would be 2 weeks before he could get refunded the $500 overcharge, even though it was not his mistake.
Mr. Gilpatrick, and indeed all in the room, are questioning why the cash registers aren't reconciled to the bills at the ending of a day's receipts, and if, in fact, they are reconciled at all? Also questioned is whether or not the Selectmen were even aware that there had been a problem. Apparently, the overcharge had been mentioned, however Selectman Thompson was the only one who would say he was aware, while Selectmen Heath and Nadeau said that they had been unaware. ***Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers adds to this AFTER the fact the wonder on HOW three Selectmen MUST have signed the check for Mr. Gilpatrick's $500 refund and yet only ONE will say openly that he was award of the refund and why. Selectmen Heath and Nadeau must have just signed the $500 check without being aware of why they were shelling out $500.***
Mr. Gilpatrick demands to know, that if one Town Office Employee had previously been given a written verbal warning for "poor cash handling practices", why the employee responsible for his overcharge of his taxes was not similarly disciplined by the Board.
Selectman Thompson agrees with Chris Gilpatrick that the error should have been caught right away, however, this was an error and not a purposeful overcharge. Thompson also agrees that Gilpatrick should have received his refund of the overcharged amount sooner than 2 weeks time.
Mr. Gilpatrick continues to speak with Selectmen, this time on the issue of Town Employees being paid while driving private pick up trucks while working on Town projects. Gilpatrick states that recently, he saw a young Town Road Crew employee acting as a traffic flagger. He was using a truck owned by private contractor, Scott Gerrish. According to Gilpatrick, the young man in question was getting paid by the Town to act as a flagger, and all the while, Gerrish's truck was sitting, unused, and earning $55-$60 per hour of the Town's money. Gilpatrick further went on to question, if the Town Employee is driving a private contractor's truck while on Town Time, who is responsible for Workmen's Compensation insurance if the young man should be hurt on the job?
Select Board Chairman Ben Thompson addresses Mr. Gilpatrick stating that this would be something to be taken up with Road Commissioner Tom Torno. Thompson states that this is an ongoing issue and that Torno has failed to appear when scheduled or requested by the Board a total of 5 times since July 1, but that he can not act alone in requiring Torno to appear, that it must be an act of the entire Board and that he (Thompson) can not seem to get the cooperation of the other two seated Board members in bringing Torno into meeting.
Thompson also eludes to soil being delivered by trucks while on Town time being dropped for certain homeowners, stating that there are a lot of "favors" being done, and that this was another issue that he had wanted to address with the ever absent Torno.
Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker, Sandy Adams asks both Selectman Heath and Nadeau if they are willing to call the young Mr. Torno into the Selectmen's Meeting and address these issues with him, saying that allowing the Road Commissioner to continue on unchecked is not serving the Town taxpayers. Thompson answers that he wants Torno to appear, Nadeau has no answer, and Selectmen Royce Heath's answer? "I didn't cause his father to die," adding afterwards, "This sounds like a party, and like a hanging party, so my last answer to your questions is, NO COMMENT."
After this odd statement by Selectman Heath, Thompson says that in his thinking, Torno's constant claims of needing to be absent to "bring in the hay" are not cutting it. Selectman Nadeau finally agrees that Torno should be coming to the meetings, but is visibly upset.
Selectman Heath, after much discussion, says that he will "Talk to Tommy when I see him," and then after a bit more discussion says that he doesn't want to call Torno, "because it's late."
The final issue brought in front of the Board by resident Chris Gilpatrick, is the fact that although he mentioned the lack of performance by the company responsible for the mowing of the Town Cemeteries and Properties over 2 weeks ago, the Park and Ride, and several other locations in town, have yet to be mowed. In fact, states Gilpatrick, the Park and Ride has not been mowed all season.
In review, the Bid was given to J&S Masonry out of Brownfield Maine, even though there were two Lebanon based entities that bid for the job. The difference was that J&S Bid was the lower bid, coming in about $4K lower than the closest competitor from Lebanon.
Questions are asked as to who is responsible for keeping track of whether or not J&S is keeping up with their contract with the town. Selectman Thompson states that is the job of the Road Commissioner. Selectman Nadeau, after prompting by Mr. Gilpatrick, reads aloud the duties of J&S Masonry to the Town of Lebanon by contract awarded in their bid, which calls for the Town Properties, Town Office, and 28 Cemeteries in town to be mowed every 2 weeks as needed. It is also noted that Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker Sandy Adams complained several weeks ago that the Town Office lawn was being mowed, but that the weeds along the edges were waist high and in need of weed whacking, which was also part of the bid spec for the contract.
Selectman Thompson answers that each year it seems to be "getting better" but gets angry with residents who are aggravated by the payment of J&S Masonry when they are clearly not performing as contracted. Thompson challenges Deborah Dorey Wilson as to whether she has seen all the properties, and Ms. Wilson agrees that she will go walk the properties with him, even though it was not she who bid the job, but J&S Masonry. Thompson states that he is "getting perturbed" by the residents all questioning him on this, and that he suggests that residents allow the Board to call J&S Masonry, "before their business is bashed all over Facebook land".
I guess residents will have to wait a bit longer prior to getting any answers.
SEE Part 6 of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Video of 8/31/15 HERE:
The 7th and Final portion of the video of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting of Monday 8/31/15, show resident Chris Gilpatrick as he continues to question the Board regarding the Town's Mowing Contract. Watch with AMAZEMENT as Board members argue over WHO is going to have to place a follow up call with J&S Masonry. Selectman Nadeau does not want to do it, passing it off to Selectman Heath. Then watch while Selectman Heath tries desperately to pass the call off onto Select Board Chairman Thompson, like he does with everything else. However, this time, Thompson's not having it dumped in his lap, and an argument ensues, ending in Chairman Thompson telling Selectman Heath that it's time for him to be a "big boy" and make the phone call himself.
The conversation continues that if this is, indeed the Road Commissioner's job to oversee, according to Lebanon Maine Truth Seeker Sandy Adams, we'd like to know WHY the Board is refusing to have the young man into the meeting, reminding the Board that this has now been going on for weeks, and is unacceptable.
Selectman Nadeau takes that opportunity to head out of the meeting, and shortly after a heated conversation with Mr. Gilpatrick, Heath adjourns the meeting saying he isn't feeling well, and he too exits the building.
The remaining residents ask a few more questions of Chairman Thompson regarding Road Commissioner Torno, mostly regarding his salary while he is not putting any hours in for the town, but is, instead on remote locations cutting hay. According to Thompson, the long lost Lebanon Road Commissioner makes $615.38 per week, and is allotted an additional $50 a week for gasoline. There are no requirements for hours on the job, and he answers to the Board of Selectmen. IF they can get him out of the hayfield and into a meeting.
SEE the 7th and Final Portion of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting of 8/31/15 HERE:
