OPINION.... OPINION.. OPINION... Budget Committee Rejections of Several Town Budgets...OPINON...OPINION...OPINION

Please note that the following article is an OPINION piece. The opinion of LMTS editor, Deborah Dorey Wilson. While I must label this as OPINION, readers can rest assured that my opinion is an educated one, made after over a year of sitting in meetings of various boards and committees throughout the town. Please read this as my OPINION and use it to as a research guide to  help form your own opinion and choices. Thank You.

LMTS alerted our readers over two weeks ago to the fact that the Lebanon Budget Committee voted not to recommend budgets from several town departments to the town's voters.
It has been my intention to save this discussion for the Meet the Candidates Night, sponsored by Harrison Thorp of The Lebanon Voice, however, Mr. Thorp has announced that while other candidates will have a voice that evening (date still unannounced), he has chosen to leave out the members of the community seeking election for Budget Committee, so we apparently have some work to do prior to that date, where once again, LMTS will be left without a voice.
A Lebanon voice.
MY voice.
LMTS has an opinion on things as they are in the Lebanon town government. This post will attempt to address my concerns. Many in town government positions will see some of what I have to say as a slam against the members personally, however, I assure you, this is not about any one individual, their personal opinons, or character, but after a full year of sitting in town board and committee meetings, these are my thoughts and it is my right (and I feel my responsibility) to share them with our readers.
The board of three Selectmen are responsible for the day to day operations of the Town of Lebanon. If something should happen to one, the other two should be able to pick up the slack and the town should continue to operate seamlessly. Please keep this statement in mind, as it is important further on in this post.
Since this discussion is on the recent vote of the Budget Committee not to recommend various town budgets, it is the budgetary process that we will cover in this post.
Each year, the Town of Lebanon begins anew in the creation of budgets for all of it's town departments. The budget is the agreed upon dollar amount that each department is granted by the taxpayers to spend, via town election votes,  during the upcoming year.
In other towns across the state, the process begins with the Budget Committee.
As part of their job description, department heads are required to create and present their expenditures to the Budget Committee, who in turn, are charged with working with department heads to examine the numbers, suggest ways to save money, and aid in the examination of possible grants or other means of creative financing in order to aid the department head in moving things forward and into the future for their department and for the town. This requirement is missing in the job descriptions of Lebanon town department heads.
In short, the Budget Committee should act as an aid, a tool, both to the department heads, and to the Board of Selectmen, and finally, to the voters of the town in assuring that the members have examined every line item and understand them, and have done the research and work needed to try and keep those dollar amounts to a minimum. However, the Budget Committee must also weigh the importance of the town's needs and they should have a general working idea of material and application cost for each of the many things needed to secure a growing and thriving town with the ability to serve the residents, which is, the basic ideals behind having a town government.
Once the Budget Committee is satisfied that they have examined dollar amounts for each department, and have examined possible solutions to curtailing larger dollar expenditures, they should then pass the completed numbers on to the Board of Selectmen for examination and perhaps some further ideas and suggestions.
In Lebanon, this process is backward. Our town's department heads go first to the Selectmen. Some department heads show up with a spread sheet and preliminary budget, others come with a file folder full of receipts and estimates and a head full of ideas, and some others come with nothing but their winter jacket. This is not always the "fault" of the department head. While some department heads are wonderful at their job, they may have no idea on budget creation or what is needed to create a working budget. It has been LMTS' thought that perhaps a class or video available for department heads to utilize in the creation of their department budgets, created by some competent budget or financial professionals would be a good idea. One that LMTS has suggested, but has fallen on deaf ears due to LMTS lack of elected status.
Sitting in the Board of Selectmen's meetings during budget preparations, LMTS watched as Selectman Thompson spoke to each department head and marked his budget book. One by one, Thompson addressed line items and dollar amount while the other two Selectmen did not even use a calculator to check the numbers to ensure correct figures. In fact, what happened was that Thompson would figure the numbers and Heath and Nadeau would just record them in their budget books without the benefit of understanding how each number was created, or a double checking of figures.
The next step in Lebanon's budget process is for the department head to appear at a scheduled Budget Committee meeting. The purpose of presenting a budget to the Budget Committee should be for the department head and Budget Committee members to work on shaving a dollar here or there and boosting budgets for needed growth and sustenance for the town. However, since the department heads, generally speaking, don't create their budgets, they can't present them to a 9 member committee with any ideas or passion for the money they are requesting from tax payers. LMTS repeatedly hears from members of the Budget Committee regarding the incompetence of town department heads in "defending" their budget request. LMTS does not fault the department heads on this problem. How can anyone defend a budget that they did not create and many of them do not understand, or why should a department head have to defend anything to a committee that should be a tool to them in figuring out funding alternatives and methods of saving dollars prior to finalizing their presentation to the town voters?
This frustration is not the fault of the Budget Committee either.
Without any actual power within town government to effect a change in budgetary decisions, the Budget Committee has become little more than a self imposed judge, jury, and prosecutor rolled into one. They sit at a table and without benefit of any changes or decisions that have happened over the last year, they judge the numbers presented on paper without an iota of knowledge of average cost or manpower hours to effect the projects needed to further the town.
To Budget Committee's defense, if this Committee had competent Selectmen's meeting minutes to view with regards to changes made in town departments, they may have an easier time of it. If the Budget Committee held any power or any responsibility for research on pricing, average salaries within the State for various positions, or responsibility for researching materials pricing, they may understand more about the line items presented by each department head. LMTS would even go as far as to suggest subcommittees in charge of watching over department's expenditures over the course of the year, in order to understand where the dollars go, how they are spent, and the necessity versus the waste in each department. These subcommittees could then present competently to the larger committee body regarding average costs in other local area departments or the differences in costs of other supply companies that could be utilized at a savings, or with regards to more service for similar dollar values.
The Budget Committee questions and verbal attacks on department heads have created a feeling of fear and even loathing for the process within all of the town's department heads that leaves them unwilling, or perhaps even unable, to come in to a committee meeting and participate in a competent discussion of needs, ideas, growth, or change for their departments. Some department heads have spoken openly with regards to their feelings on the budgetary process within Lebanon, and there have been ongoing discussions regarding law suits to the demeaning statements made during those sessions, which have cost the town dollars in legal fees, Selectmen's wages to review the problems, and hard feelings with several former and current town employees.
Budget numbers in Lebanon are often judged with regards to town operations of the past rather than on the needs of a growing and changing town or project ideas, there are no suggestions on upcoming grant applications that could aid in keeping the numbers down, department heads are chastised, discussions on the size of men's testicles are commonplace, and department heads leave the Budget Committee table feeling as though they have been raped of any voice, respect, or recognition of accomplishments.
It is said that negativity breeds negativity, and LMTS finds a lack of respect and dignity within the town boards and committees for the Budget Committee, and the important role they should be fulfilling for residents, leaves us with no surprise that the Budget Committee reacts, in kind, in a negative manner, passing the negativity along to town employees and residents.
This year, it was discovered that the Budget Committee is actually acting in a questionable manner with regards to State Law, as there have been no bylaws ever presented as to the scope of work, guidelines or parameters under which the Budget Committee is to prepare for budget work, nor was there ever a legal vote to create the committee. In a speedy attempt to correct a need and create legality, Selectman Thompson, presented this problem to the currently seated committee and asked for their help in creating a set of Budget Committee bylaws to present to the voters of the Town of Lebanon on the May 10th ballot. Members Corinna Cole and Sean Bright and Chairman Jeri Basko did come to the meeting prepared to discuss and create a new set of Budget Committee bylaws and Selectman Thompson presented several sets of bylaws from other Maine towns. The discussion regarding bylaws for this committee were speedy and left some members of the committee's concerns and ideas left unfulfilled, and basically, what is being presented to voters, is a cut and paste version of several other town's bylaws The Budget Committee bylaw referendum was hastily created over the time period of 2 or 3 meetings, rather than a plan of action discussed and created by members of the committee after lengthy consideration, research and discussion.
LMTS finds this unacceptable.
The Budget Committee should be charged with hearing the budget needs of town departments as a first step. Members should work to research and identify grants and low interest loans in order to make ideas and plans of department heads work and come to fruition. Budget Committee members should cast aside personal feelings for department heads and as much as they would like department head to come to their meetings prepared, so the Budget Committee members should come prepared, having read the previous year's budget for each department, and armed with suggestions, available solutions to problems and an open mind on hearing department heads ideas for the future.
LMTS is unsure of who created the backwards position of the Budget Committee and Selectmen, but it is faulty at best. It is LMTS idea that the Budget Committee bylaws should be examined by every resident and that they should not be passed as currently written, but truly considered and worked on by a subcommittee of the Budget Committee, department heads and Selectmen, and presented as a complete and well thought out document rather than a hastily thrown together compilation of other towns' work. We also think that it would benefit the town of Lebanon to charge their Budget Committee members with the responsibility of aiding in the creation of competent budgets as a required first step, rather than sitting as a judiciary panel over the character and ideas of the town's department heads with no voice or responsibility. Giving this responsibility to a larger group of town residents ensures that there are several sets of eyes searching for possibilities for growth, grants, low interest loans, and ways to save the taxpayers dollars.
When considering the recent denial of recommendation by the Budget Committee on various town departments, LMTS has had several conversations with interested voters in Lebanon. Most people in town do not understand some of the relationships or dynamics at play in our Budget Committee as they currently sit.
With specific regard to the Fire and EMS budget, voters need to understand those who are voting against recommendation and their possible objections to the department's budget.
Blaine "Skip" Wood is the former Fire Department Chief. While Skip is to be applauded and respected for his years of service to the Town of Lebanon, one has to wonder why he would vote against the Fire Department budget request. Wood is an old school Fire Chief. He groomed and trained many of his department members to one day take his place in the leadership of the Lebanon Fire Department. Woods' number 2 man was the former Chief's choice to replace him upon his retirement. The Board of Selectmen chose differently and appointed Chief Daniel Meehan. No one can blame Wood for being disappointed in the Board's choices differing from his own, however, what seems "right" in the thoughts of a Fire Department, may not have been right in the thoughts of creating a combined Fire and EMS department for the town. No matter what the reasons behind the Board of Selectmen's choices at the time, LMTS is sure that the choices were made with thought and planning, and we remind voters that this should not come into play when considering budget choices for the current Fire and EMS department or their future needs in providing essential services to the town.
Nancy Neubert is the wife of the former second in command under Chief Wood. It has never been a secret that she supported Wood as Chief, and that her respect for him is still maintained, which is as it should be. This is no surprise to most Lebanon voters who have been paying attention over the past years, and Mrs. Neubert has served on the town's Budget Committee for years, to her defense, and has supported the Fire Department Budget and the Department's former requests for new equipment and new apparatus. Once again, we have to state that this respect and personal relationship with the former Chief should not carry over into Mrs. Neubert's discussions and decisions as a seated member of a Budget Committee and that this is not a personal attack of Mrs. Neubert, but an opportunity to open our eyes regarding possibilities for actions.
Laura Bragg is the former Lebanon Town Clerk. But what most people don't know is that Mrs. Bragg's brother is the husband of the former Chief's daughter. It was a large disappointment to many in town when Mrs. Bragg chose to leave her position as Lebanon Town Clerk and there were so many who spoke on her behalf and made accusations against the Board of Selectmen regarding her personal choice for departure. At the time of Mrs. Bragg's leaving the Town Office, LMTS also considered that it might have been a mistake to not fight harder for her to remain in her position. However, it should be considered that there is a relationship there, and that this relationship needs to be considered when establishing reasons behind denial of a current department budget.
Also entangled in the mention of relationships is the always outspoken Chris Gilpatrick Sr. It comes as no surprise to Lebanon voters that Gilpatrick has a relationship with the State Representative for Lebanon, that is common knowledge. That is not the relationship that has a possibility of playing itself out in the discussion of the Budget Committee's refusal of the Fire and EMS budget. The relationship to examine here is that Mrs. Neubert is very active on the town's Republican Committee, a Committee  that supports the State Representative with whom Gilpatrick has a personal relationship. While LMTS is sure that the State Representative is not in any way influencing the choice of the voters with regards to the Fire and EMS budget and that she has been hard at work at State level to institute many changes that have been beneficial to Lebanon, the relationship chain can not be ignored when stopping to question the Budget Committee's denial of recommendation.
There were others who denied the Fire and EMS budget as well, as outlined in both The Lebanon Voice's post, and in LMTS post with regards to the vote on recommendations of the Committee. It is important to note that member Corinna Cole (also a cousin of Chris Gilpatrick) abstained due to her daughters' participation in the Junior's program with the Department. It is LMTS opinion that members Bragg, Gilpatrick, Neubert and Wood should have followed Cole's lead and abstained from this vote due to their own relationships with the department (past or present) or with it's former members and administration, or if choosing to vote, these members should have disclosed these relationships to the public. Four members of a nine member Budget Committee only need one more member in order to become a quorum of the Board and a large voting block of representation to the public. I might also add that in speaking with other members of the Budget Committee, there were several seated members who were not aware of the relationships between the mentioned members of the committee, which denies these members a chance to ponder if the decisions are made through relationship loyalties or true concern over the budgets.
LMTS continues on with the budget discussion of the Road Commissioner and Highway Department. It is no secret that LMTS has been disappointed with some of the decisions with regards to the Highway Department expenditures. However, it also needs to be noted that Budget Committee member Gilpatrick is running for election of Road Commissioner, and that the very committee members mentioned above, were also the driving force behind the negative vote regarding the Highway Department budget. LMTS also sat in on that budget discussion and it was difficult to follow, at best, however, considering that Road Commissioner Torno did not create his own budget requests. In struggling to understand the Highway Department budget request, the Budget Committee received more answers from Selectman Thompson than they did from the Road Commissioner, and this is no disrespect, but more-so a question of Torno not understanding his department's budget. Selectman Thompson wrote the Highway Department budget, much as he has written just about every budget in town, therefore it was suitable that he should answer most of the questions regarding it rather than putting Torno in a position of trying to answer questions on a budget he had little hand in creating.  I'm sure that the current process is as frustrating for the Select Board Chairman as it is for the Road Commissioner and every member of the Budget Committee. Once again, let me remind you that this is not a slam on Selectman Thompson, Road Commissioner Torno or the Budget Committee,  but a statement of the events as observed by LMTS during town department and budget meetings.
Also at issue with the Budget Committee is the budget for the Lebanon Transfer Station. LMTS was not present at the Budget Committee meeting where Transfer Station head  Ronal Patch ( a former Lebanon Selectman) discussed (or didn't discuss) his budgetary needs. However, I did have the opportunity to speak with Mr. Patch regarding this Budget Committee meeting.
In the interest of the same disclosure I require of others, it is noted that LMTS Deborah Dorey Wilson is engaged to be married to Ronal Patch's cousin in the near future, however, LMTS usually refrains from discussion on the Transfer Station for just this reason. Ronal does not know his cousin well, due to family separations through divorce when LMTS fiancé was a very young boy. In the importance of my thoughts on the Transfer Station budget, we felt that the disclosure was important to note.
Historically, the Transfer Station holds a large piece of the town's attention. Entering into the property, things are clean, well organized, and orderly. Patch runs the Transfer Station with the employment of his wife, Lorraine, his brother Robert, and from time to time, his grandson Jordan as well as two other employees, one a neighbor of the Patch family. Upon LMTS first hearing of the relationships of Transfer Station employees, it was a surprise that the residents of Lebanon would have allowed such nepotism to occur, but in many visits to the Transfer Station, it is hard to find anything amiss or faulty with the day to day operations. It is also important to note in this section that it is the Selectmen of the town who have final approval on any and all town employees, and while Patch can recommend employment, he does not have the final decision, and that while the majority of the employees are in their 60s and 70s, there are no reports of injury or insurance claims from that department and turnover of employees, even among those not related, is almost non-existent.
In the year that we have been vigilant in eyeing the Transfer Station, we have seen that the Transfer Station is well run, with consideration to recycling, ideas on saving money when the opportunity arises, and ideas on boosting recycling efforts. When Patch appeared before the Budget Committee, discussion was directed toward the employment of family members and friends rather than the budgetary numbers. The demands for answers on Patch's character or employees are not the concern of the Budget Committee, and therefore, it is understandable that Patch refused comment. When the actual budget is examined, there is little waste, and any increases this year stem from the increases passed on to the town from Waste Management, the company that the town contracts with for the removal of Transfer Station waste. Negotiations with Waste Management or other waste disposal companies are not the responsibility or concern of the Transfer Station Department head. Patch does not sign the contract with this company, and although he has input, the Selectmen make the final decision on which company will be utilized.
Disclosure of relationships reminds town voters that there are two seated Selectmen, Heath and Nadeau, who were former Transfer Station employees, working under Mr. Patch.
In a final observance, LMTS would like to notice the many department heads of Lebanon Town Departments, who boldly attend Selectmen's meetings and Budget Committee meetings and attempt to provide some insight into the budgetary needs of their respective departments, and who leave year after year without their "wish list" and manage for another year to keep things together in order to provide services to the Town of Lebanon, a nod to Selectman Thompson and recognition of his many hours of work over the past year in creating these budgets, overseeing their expenditure, and questioning dollar amounts spent, a nod to the members of the Lebanon Budget Committee who see me as a personal adversary, when in fact, I support their efforts and understand their frustrations and a word of thanks to the people of Lebanon for considering carefully the items placed on your May 10 ballot and voting what you see, rather than what is being implied.

Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting, Monday 3/28/16

Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting

Monday, March 28, 2016

 

The Lebanon Maine Truth Seekers is not an official representative of the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen. The notes below are not an official record of the Town of Lebanon or any of their boards or committees, they are only the notes of LMTS resident sitting in on Board meetings. For the official minutes of these meetings, please see the Town of Lebanon Maine Official Town Website.

In light of statements made by individuals at the Lebanon Maine Board of Selectmen's Meeting, it is also important for us to write that we do not represent any one person, board or committee within the Town of Lebanon, Maine and that these are only our notes on the events, happenings and statements during that meeting.

 

Monday evening's meeting came to order and the Board participated in a conference call with the State of Maine OIT Department in Augusta, Maine with regards to a recent request for the Selectmen to authorize the communications department to erect a temporary communications tower at either the Town Office, or at the Lebanon Transfer Station. This tower would be for the express purpose of aiding in State Police (and other State agency) communications that are suffering due to the State's $53 million dollar purchase of a digital trunking radio system that has left many dead spots in the town of Lebanon, and in many towns throughout the State of Maine. During the call, it was decided that the Board would allow the Maine OIT Department to erect the requested tower at the Lebanon Transfer Station, although it was not decided exactly where the tower would be erected.

 

At 3:48 pm, Selectmen's Assistant, Sue Collins came into the meeting to discuss the printing of the Annual Town Report. Ms. Collins stated that the book is expected to be 80 pages, and that it would cost $842.00.

 

Mary Lane from Sewell Shores was present and video taping parts of the meeting. Selectman Heath was not happy that the video tape was being taken, and opened his briefcase and placed it on the table so that he could not be seen on the video tape. Although Ms. Lane asked him to remove the briefcase, Selectman Heath left it open on the table.

 

Selectmen's Assistant Collins discussed several assessing problems with the Board.

 

There was a discussion regarding a Tree Growth Tax Program application of Ms. Adelle Baldwin on the Chick Road (former property of Howard Chick). Ms. Baldwin was asking to place three separate parcels into the program, a total over 113.1 acres. A letter was presented from Ms. Baldwin's Forester.

 

Ms. Collins asked the Board if they had made any decision regarding the Custodial Bids that were opened on Thursday. Selectman Thompson stated that the issue was still "on hold". Although the Custodial Services have been put out to bid twice, the Board has taken no action yet.

 

4:00 pm came and went with no sign of Road Commissioner Torno who has missed 8 out of the last 10 scheduled appearances before the Board of Selectmen.

 

Ms. Collins stated that she had a "Rebuttal" to discuss with the Selectmen, handing them paperwork. Selectman Thompson asked Ms. Collins if she wanted to discuss the issue in Executive Session, and Ms. Collins stated that she did not. Selectman Thompson counseled Ms. Collins that if she chose not to enter Executive Session, that the "Rebuttal" she had just handed him, could be obtained by the public in a Right to Know request. Ms. Collins then asked for the Board to enter into Executive Session.

 

4:12 pm The Board entered into Executive Session for Personnel issues with Selectmen's Assistant, Sue Collins.

 

4:25 The Board exited Executive Session, stating that there had been no decision made during the session.

 

Selectman Thompson made a motion to accept an offer made by The United Way for a $200 donation, to be used for non-Liheap  qualifying help only. Selectman Nadeau seconded the motion and all were in favor.

 

The Board returned to discussions of Ms. Adelle Baldwin's request for three parcels of land to be entered into the Tree Growth Tax Program. It was said that Ms. Baldwin had requested all three parcels be accepted into the program, however, while parcels 51 and 58 (totaling 111 acres) seemed to be in order, parcel 51-A was having some deed problems and that deed had not yet been secured (2.1 acres).  The Board was willing to accept the 111 acres, and then consider the 2.1 acres of lot 51-A separately, with a note that the 2.1 acres on it's own would not be enough to qualify for the 10 acre minimum requirement for the Tree Growth program, the Board would consider it a contiguous part of the 111 acres at a later date. A letter will be sent to Ms. Baldwin regarding the Board's decision and they will follow up with her as to her wishes.

 

At 4:30 pm, the Board entered into Executive Session with Treasurer Jeanette Lemay and a representative from the Town Attorney's office stating Personnel Issues.  Lemay left the office at 4:42 pm, and the Board continued on in Executive Session with the Town Attorney stating Legal Counsel as the reason. The Attorney left the office at 4:48 pm, and Selectman Thompson stated that there had been no decisions made in any of the evening's Executive Sessions.

 

Selectman Thompson worked on his laptop and Selectman Heath reviewed AP for several minutes.

 

At 5:00 pm, Tracie Antolin of J&S Masonary of Brownfield Maine entered the meeting in order to sign the Cemetery Mowing Contract that was awarded to her company. Selectman Thompson had a discussion with Ms. Antolin regarding the additions of many cemeteries to the town's cemetery mowing list, sharing lists and maps with her that he had received from the Lebanon Historical Society. Thompson stated that Code Enforcement Officer Mike Beaulieu and former Selectman Paul Philbrick had done a lot of work in getting better descriptions on the locations of many of the smaller hidden cemeteries, and Ms. Antolin stated that sometimes she drove around for long periods of time looking for some of them, and that she had a hard time finding some of them.

Ms. Antolin noted that the bid specs provided for two mowings per month for June, July  and August, but she questioned whether the Board wanted her to complete a mowing prior to Memorial Day and then only do a single mowing in the month of August when the weather was warmer and the grass didn't require as much attention. Thompson agreed to the mowing prior to Memorial Day and then a single mowing in August.

Ms. Antolin stated that she had  noted at the cemetery at the corner of Gully Oven Road and Shapleigh Road, that there was a brush pile that was growing larger and beginning to encroach on the grave sites. She asked if the Lebanon Highway Crew could remove the brush prior to her mowing. Selectman Thompson stated that the Highway Department could remove the brush pile, but Selectman Heath stated that they had better ask Road Commissioner Torno prior to making that agreement.

Antolin spoke to the Board regarding places to get rid of brush and tree limbs, and Thompson stated he would find a place on the Highway Department property, and once again, Heath stated that Tommy would have to be involved in that discussion.

The mowing contract was signed, and Ms. Antolin stated that she would be beginning the Spring Cleanup in 2-3 weeks.

Selectman Thompson left the room in order to make copies of the mowing contract, and Deborah Dorey Wilson spoke to Ms. Antolin, stating the dates and times for the meeting of the Cemetery Committee and telling her that if there were cemeteries that she could not locate, she could feel free to come to a Cemetery Committee meeting with what information she had, and that the Committee would get out and attempt to locate the cemetery for her. Thompson had returned and added that the Historical Society and the American Legion would also be of help to her.

Mary McCarthy Lane, also a member of the Cemetery Committee spoke with Ms. Antolin with regards to many of the town's smaller cemeteries being listed on the website "Find-A-Grave" and shared the website address.

Selectman Thompson noticed that Ms. Lane had moved over and was seated at the end of the new meeting room table and asked Ms. Lane not to sit at the table. Ms. Lane moved into one of the chairs located at the back of the room for residents to sit in.

Ms. Antolin left the meeting at 5:18 pm.

 

The Board continued to work on paperwork, and Thompson made sure with the other 2 Selectmen, of their decision regarding the Baldwin property on the Chick Road. A decision was reached that a letter would be sent to Ms. Baldwin with their decision.

 

The Board went over a request from the Treasurer regarding continuity on time slips.

 

There was a discussion and signing of paperwork regarding an employee request for time off.

 

Selectman Thompson produced a copy of the town's new Personnel Policy, noting that one or two copies had been handed out prior to a couple of small errors that needed to be addressed. The Board discussed making these changes and agreed to do so. A new copy of the Personnel Policy will be printed and distributed to town employees.

 

Selectman Thompson stated that the Town Clerk, working with the Town Treasurer had done some budgetary line item shifts in order to purchase the Book Binding Equipment that is necessary for binding of town reports according to the State Law. Thompson handed the books over to Selectman Nadeau for a double check on amounts, however, Nadeau did not understand what Thompson was asking him to do, and in the end, Thompson just double checked the numbers himself.

 

Selectman Thompson read aloud, a letter from the Attorney General of the State of New Hampshire regarding Lebanon taking control of the care of Prospect Hill Cemetery. According to the letter, the town of Milton, NH needs to file a petition to change the trusts associated with the cemetery, and the town of Lebanon, ME needs to file for a Quiet Title and set up a trust account to hold the money associated with the many cemetery trusts.

*** LMTS finds that an action to quiet title is a lawsuit brought in a court having jurisdiction over property disputes, in order to establish a party's title to real property, or personal property having a title, of against anyone and everyone, and thus "quiet" any challenges or claims to the title.***

Also read, was a letter from the Town of Milton, offering to share the cost of legal fees for the quiet title process and transfer of trust accounts, 50/50, according to the estimated cost of $3,000.00. Milton asked that Lebanon begin this process within 45 days of receipt of the letter in order to ensure their cost sharing.

Selectman Thompson made a motion to allow Berstein Shur attorneys to begin the quiet title action on the property known as Prospect Hill Cemetery and accept the offer by Milton, NH Selectmen to pay 50% of the costs, stipulating a $1,500.00 / $1,500.00 split. The motion was seconded by Selectman Nadeau and all were in favor at 5:42 pm.

 

Selectman Thompson made an announcement that the Structural Engineer hired by the Lebanon Fire Department Inc. would be at Lebanon Fire and EMS Station 1 (Depot Road) at noon on Saturday, April 1, 2016. Selectman Nadeau wanted to know who was paying for the Structural Engineer, and it was explained to him that the Fire Dept. Inc was paying for those services. Selectman Heath asked who was going to be responsible for the repairs to the station, and Thompson stated that there were a lot of issues with that building and that they would have to wait and see what happened after the report from the Structural Engineer.

 

At 5:56 pm, Selectman Thompson received an e mail from Lebanon resident, Chip Harlow and read it aloud. Mr. Harlow was questioning the minutes from the March 23, 2016 Board of Selectmen's meeting, asking why the vote of the Selectmen regarding the upcoming referendum questions for the May 10 Town Election had not been posted on the town website as part of the official minutes, and reminding the Board that the voting results should be posted on the website in a timely manner according to State Law. There was little discussion on this matter, and Thompson sent a return e mail.

 

At 6:05 pm, Mary McCarthy Lane asked the Board if she could ask a few questions of them. It was agreed that she could, so Ms. Lane moved to the meeting room table, asking first if it were okay for her to sit there, and commenting on the fact that tax dollars paid for a table that she was not welcome to sit at, adding that she thought it was very rude that the Board had not allowed her to sit at the table earlier in the evening.

Lane had come prepared with a few questions regarding why the assessment of a log cabin would be different than that of a stick built home of similar size. Thompson explained the differences to Ms. Lane, mostly aesthetics related, but she asked the Board to provide the differences to her in writing. Thompson went and copied the information for Ms. Lane, amid objections from Selectman Heath.

Lane asked the Board if they were certified assessors within the State of Maine. While Heath and Nadeau are not certified, Thompson is a certified Maine Assessor. There was discussion that as a Board of Selectmen, the State of Maine does not require them to be certified Maine assessors, so the Board was acting well within their rights acting as the town's assessors. Thompson noted that Selectman Heath had also been taking several classes in Assessing.

Lane stated that she had seen Selectmen Nadeau and Heath out in her area during the past week. She stated that she had not known what they were doing, however, when she had approached Heath, he had been rude to her. The Boardroom erupted with an argument between Lane and Heath, with Heath stating that Lane had begun the aggression and that he had "tried to be nice". Ms. Lane was angry at this statement. Heath continued on lecturing Lane about being rude, and Lane getting more and more angry as he continued to defend his position. Selectman Heath left the room, and Ms. Lane asked Mr. Nadeau if he thought she had been rude to Selectman Heath, with Nadeau answering that he did not feel that she had been rude.

 

At this time, summer resident Dana Coull (also from Sewell Shores) spoke up, saying that he also had seen Selectmen Heath and Nadeau in his area in the past few days. Coull added that the select duo had been on his property, and taking photos, when they were supposed to be assessing the house next door to his. Heath stated that was part of why they were taking photographs, to ensure that they were using measurements and assessing the correct home. Coull asked if the photographs were going to be used on the town's website, and Selectman Heath stated that they would not, that they were only for use by the Selectmen who also serve as the town's assessors.

 

Resident Jennie McComish asked the Board if who would be responsible if the Selectmen were on private property and were bitten by a dog, or injured in some way. Selectman Thompson told Ms. McComish that the Board members did try to initiate contact with residents prior to going on their property. Thompson stated that his normal course of operation while assessing would be to knock on the door first to see if someone were home, introduce himself, and explain what he would be doing. Thompson stated that he did not enter onto property that was posted "No Tresspassing" without the owner's permission, stating that most people are fine with him doing his assessing duties, but if people would not allow him access, he would get a court order as the town's assessors to gain access to the property, adding that once he had a court order in place, he would then ask for indoor access and take photographs of the interior of the home as well as the exterior.

 

Resident Deborah Dorey Wilson questioned Selectman Thompson regarding taking photographs of the interior of homes. In past meetings, it had been discussed that the Board was not assessing properties at this time, based on anything other than exterior measurements, and Thompson agreed, that is the case. Wilson questioned why he would take photographs of the interior of the home, if he only used exterior measurements to assess, and Thompson stated that if he had to get a court order to gain access to a property, he would try to gain all the information he could to help them with future assessments, if a time should ever come when the Board might make interior amenities and upgrades part of the assessing process.

 

Mary Lane then added that a little over a year ago, she had arrived home one afternoon to find Selectman Heath on her back deck, and Selectman Philbrick in her yard. She stated that she had not known the men, and as she was alone, she had been frightened with two men on her property, one of them up on her back deck. Selectman Thompson stated that he did not know what Selectman Heath had been doing on her back deck, and Selectman Heath stated that he and Paul Philbrick had knocked on the front door, and when no one answered, he had been up on the back deck of Ms. Lane's property attempting to knock on the back door to see if anyone were home. Ms. Lane stated that maybe a few days prior to accessing people's for assessment purposes, a phone call, or note in the mailbox from the Board would be helpful. More angry words passed between Ms. Lane and Selectman Heath, and Ms. Lane asked Selectman Thompson why he was allowing Mr. Heath to be so rude to her. She then asked if the town had an Ethics Policy. Both Selectman Thompson and Deborah Dorey Wilson assured Selectman Heath that they had had nothing to do with Ms. Lane asking questions regarding an Ethics Policy, as Thompson has been requesting an Ethics policy since 2014, and Wilson has been asking about once a month for over a year. Wilson then asked the Board if they would be willing to have that conversation regarding Ethics, in light of the present conversation with Ms. Lane. Thompson stated that he would be willing, however, Selectman Nadeau stated that he would rather wait for a later date, and Selectman Heath stated that he had "No Comment".  Ms. Lane asked if she could get on the Board's agenda with regards to Ethics questions, and Selectman Thompson stated that she could. Although Wilson requested a date for this discussion, none was given.

 

Selectman Nadeau made the motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:35 pm, and all were in agreement.

 

Selectmen Nadeau and Heath left the building while Selectman Thompson remained, speaking to Ms. Lane, Ms. Wilson and Mr. Coull about assessing, the town's upcoming Public Hearing, and the proposed Recall Ordinance. Selectman Thompson was very informative and helped the three residents understand more details on the assessing updates within the town and his goals for catching assessments up to State Law over the next year, should he be reelected in May.

 

Everyone left the Town Office at 7:30 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selectmen and Budget Committee Votes on Referendum Questions for the May 10, 2016 Lebanon Ballot.

Selectmen's Official Referendum Ballot
Town of Lebanon, Maine
May 10, 2016

VOTED: That it be and is hereby ordered that the questions set forth below be placed on the ballot of the Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Lebanon to be held on May 10th, 2016 and that an attested copy of this order be placed on file with the Town Clerk of the Town of Lebanon.

REFERENDUM 1: Shall an ordinance entitled "Board of Appeals Ordinance for the Town of Lebanon, Maine" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend: Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 2: Shall an ordinance entitled "Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code Administrative Ordinance for the Town of Lebanon, Maine" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 3: Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Planning Board Establishment Ordinance" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 4: Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Budget Committee Establishment Ordinance" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 5: Shall an ordinance entitled "Town of Lebanon Recall Ordinance" be enacted?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 6: Shall the Town of Lebanon, Maine authorize the election of two (2) additional Selectmen positions on the 2016 Town Meeting Ballot with one (1) position expiring after a two year term in 2019, and the other position expiring after a three (3) year term in 2020 with both elected positions to continue as three (3) year terms with alternating schedules thereafter as existing elected Selectmen's positions, thus effectively creating a five (5) member Selectmen's Board, until revoked by Town Vote?

Selectmen Recommend: Yes 0  No 0  Abstain 3

REFERENDUM 7: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,500.00 to be used as a subsidy for the annual Lebanon Festival?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Nadeau, Heath)  No 0  Abstain 1 (Thompson)
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 6 ( Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard)
No 3 (Gilpatrick, Neubert, Wood)  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 8: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $1,680.00 for the fire hydrants in South Lebanon per contract?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 9: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $451,353.00 for the operation, upkeep and purchase of equipment and supplies for the Emergency Services Department?

The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Lebanon Fire and EMS Stations and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0 
No 7 ( Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood, )   
Abstain 2 (Basko, Cole)

REFERENDUM 10: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 to place in the Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of purchasing equipment for the Emergency Services Department?

The Emergency Services Department includes the Lebanon Fire and EMS Department, The Lebanon Fire and EMS Stations and the Lebanon Emergency Management Agency.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 6 ( Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Harris-Howard, Neubert, )
No 2 (Gilpatrick, Wood) 
Abstain 1  (Cole)

REFERENDUM 11: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate an annual payment not to exceed $99,869.00 for five (5) years for a new Fire Truck to replace a 1989 FMC Pumper, Engine 1, and to authorize the Selectmen to enter into a lease purchase agreement with a total cost not to exceed $499,345.00 over the term of the lease with a $1 buyout at the end of the lease?


Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2  No 1 (Nadeau)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 6 ( Basko, Bragg, Bright, Cole, Churchard, Harris-Howard )
No 2 (Gilpatrick, Neubert, Wood) 
Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 12: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $57,038.00 to cover the cost of Emergency Dispatching for the Emergency Services Department and for radio tower rental?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 13: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $793,768.00 for operation of the Highway Department??

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Heath, Nadeau)  No 1 (Thompson)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 4 (Bragg, Churchard, Cole, Neubert)
No 5 ( Basko, Bright, Gilpatrick,  Harris-Howard, Wood)
Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 14: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $370,788.00 for operation of the Lebanon Transfer Station??

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3   No 0   Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 9  Abstain 0


REFERENDUM 15: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $150,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of paving Town owned public roads??

The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 8  Abstain 1

REFERENDUM 16: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for necessary bridge repairs and replacement of town owned bridges?

 The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 17: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $22,199.00 to fund the No Spray Contract with Central Maine Power??

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9   No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 18: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Selectmen $12.00 per hour plus expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 0  No 0  Abstain 3
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 19: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to pay the Road Commissioner $32,000.00 salary plus expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 9  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 20: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $377,565.00 for government expenses for the town office including elections, and the Selectmen's wages and expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 21: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $21,730.00 for the operation of the Animal Control Officer and expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 22: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,872.00 for the combined department budgets of Code Enforcement Officer / Health Officer / 911 Director including expenses?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 3 (Basko, Churchard, Cole)  No 6 (Bragg, Bright, Gilpatrick, Harris-Howard, Neubert, Wood)    Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 23: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $10,000.00 to place in a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of contributing toward large scale repairs of municipal buildings or grounds totaling $10,000.00 or more?

 The spending of any funds from this account requires the approval of the Board of Selectmen. Capital Reserve Funds allow unused funds to roll from one fiscal year to the next, and may only legally be used for the purpose for which they have been voted.

 Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 8  No 1 (Gilpatrick)  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 24: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $48,000.00 for legal fees?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 8   No 1 (Gilpatrick)  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 25: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $50,000.00 for the contingency fund?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 26: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $189,253.00 for all insurances for the town?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0    Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 27: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $24,425.00 for General Assistance for residents in need?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 28: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $7,000.00 for the updating of tax maps?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 29: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $13,408.00 to support the following relief agencies according to the breakdown below?

York County Community Action                $4,005.00
Caring Unlimited                                         $1,809.00
So. Maine Agency on Aging                       $2,594.00
York County Shelter Programs, Inc.           $1,500.00
Counseling Services, Inc.                            $2,450.00
Kids Free to Grow                                          $250.00
Lebanon Community Learning Center           $300.00
American Red Cross                                       $500.00

Total                                                          $13,408.00

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 30: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $12,654.00 for the operation of the Planning Board and for dues to the Southern Maine Regional Planning and Development Commission?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9   No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 31: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the operation of the Conservation Commission?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 32: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $450.00 for the operation of the Appeals Board?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 8  No 0   Abstain 1 (Harris Howard)

REFERENDUM 33: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $750.00 for the operation of the Budget Committee?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9   No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 34: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $17,550.00 for the operation of the Martha Sawyer Community Library?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Heath, Nadeau)  No (Thompson)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 35: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $3,142.00 for the Lebanon Recreation Department?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Heath, Nadeau)  No 1 (Thompson)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 36: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $500.00 for the Memorial Day Ceremony and the decoration of Veteran's graves as mandated by the State of Maine State Law, 30-A 2901?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 37: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to raise and appropriate the sum of $32,000.00 for the restoration and maintenance of cemeteries throughout the town as mandated by Maine State Law, 13 MRSA 1101?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 2 (Thompson, Nadeau)  No 1 (Heath)  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 7 (Basko, Bragg, Bright, Churchard, Cole, Harris-Howard, Wood)    No 1 (Neubert)   Abstain 1 (Gilpatrick)

REFERENDUM 38: Shall the Town of Lebanon allow the Tax Collector to accept prepayment of taxes prior to the tax commitment date and to charge interest on unpaid taxes at the rate of 7% per annum, and to set the date when taxes are committed for the fiscal year 2016-17 (July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017) and payable as of October 15, 2016 and April 15, 2017?

Interest will be collected after October 15, 2016 and April 15, 2017 respective to billings due dates.

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 39: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to set an interest rate of 3% per State Law as the rate to be paid back to taxpayers who pay amounts in excess of amounts finally assessed and authorize any such interest paid or abatements granted to be charged against the annual overlay, which is not to exceed 5% of the total assessment as per State Law (MRSA 36, Chapter 105, 506-A)?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0  Abstain 0

REFERENDUM 40: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to authorize funding at last year's (2015-16) level for the General Government, Emergency Services, Codes Enforcement, Animal Control, Transfer Station and Highway Department whose new appropriation is not approved by this year's referendum vote, until such time that any new funding is authorized before the net tax commitment?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 0  No 8   Abstain 1 (Bright)

REFERENDUM 41: Shall the Town of Lebanon vote to appropriate all of the monies received from the State for snowmobiling registrations to the Lebanon Trail Riders Club for the maintenance of their system or network of snowmobile trails, on the condition that those trails are open in the snow season to the public for outdoor recreation purposes at no charge, and to conditions as to the municipal officers to enter into an agreement with the Club, under such terms and conditions as the municipal officers may deem advisable for that purpose?

Selectmen Recommend:  Yes 3  No 0  Abstain 0
Budget Committee Recommend  Yes 9  No 0   Abstain 0

Maine Honey Production Reportedly Up 25 Percent

Maine Honey Production Reportedly Up 25 Percent

The number of licensed beekeepers has almost tripled in the last decade and registered hive counts have jumped from 5,000 to nearly 10,000

AUGUSTA – USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) today reported that Maine honey production increased 25 percent in 2015. Maine state officials welcomed the news, while adding that the number of licensed beekeepers has almost tripled in the last decade and registered hive counts have jumped from 5,000 to more than 10,000. Despite a harsh winter in 2015, favorable weather conditions resulted in the increase in honey production.  

“The number of licensed beekeepers in Maine has almost tripled in the last decade and registered hive counts have jumped from 5,000 to nearly 10,000,” said Governor Paul R. LePage. “That, coupled with the news that honey production was up 25 percent last year, is yet another sign that Maine agriculture continues to make progress toward the goal of becoming the breadbasket of New England.”

“Maine Maple Sunday is this weekend, but with the transition to a new season, it is also important to note that Maine produces another all natural sweetener, honey,” said Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “Maine has taken a number of steps to promote growth in natural resource products and support small entrepreneurs, including beekeepers. Regarding production of honey, we are also pursuing strategies to protect pollinators, who are also vitally important to fruit and vegetable production. Last year, the DACF unveiled a Pollinator Protection Plan designed to reduce risks to pollinators in the state.”  

According to the records of State Apiarist Tony Jadczak, 975 resident beekeepers registered 9,789 hives in 2015 and 76,058 hives entered the state for crop pollination down from 83,00 in 2014. The increase in hobby beekeepers have contributed to the number of licensed beekeepers and the increase in honey production.

Maine Honey Statistics reported by NASS:

Honey production in 2015 from Maine producers with five or more colonies totaled 470 thousand pounds, up 25 percent from 2014, according to Gary Keough, State Statistician of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, New England Field Office. There were 10 thousand colonies producing honey in 2015, up 25 percent from 2014. Yield per colony averaged 47 pounds, unchanged from 2014. Honey prices increased during 2015 to 551 cents per pound, up 10 percent from 499 cents per pound in 2014. Producer honey stocks were 47 thousand pounds on December 15, 2015, up 15 percent from a year earlier.

NASS provides accurate, timely, and useful statistics in service to U.S. agriculture. The Honey Production report and all other NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov

Contact: Gary Keough: (603) 224-9639

For more information about the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, go to: www.maine.gov/dacf

WATCH FOR TICKS TO PREVENT LYME DISEASE

 

Watch for Ticks to Prevent Lyme Disease

Spring is here, so it’s time to think about the outdoors and proper protection against ticks. Maine had 1,171 cases of Lyme disease reported in 2015. May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month and we want to remind you the importance of daily tick checks and encourage the “tick watch” prevention strategy.

Ticks are primarily active in warmer months.  Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is caused by a bite from an infected deer tick (Ixodes scapularis).  In Maine, Lyme disease is most common in adults 65 and over and children between the ages of 5 and 15, but anyone can get the disease.  Individuals who work or play outside are more likely to be exposed to ticks. The most common and visible symptom of Lyme disease is a red bulls-eye rash that grows and appears within 3-30 days of exposure.  Other symptoms may include fevers, and joint or muscle pain.

Lyme disease is treatable and most individuals recover completely with a proper drugs. However, the easiest way to avoid the disease is prevention, using “No Ticks 4 ME”:

1)      Use caution in tick infested areas
2)      Wear protective clothing
3)      Use an EPA approved repellant
4)      Perform daily tick checks after any outdoor activity

A tick must be attached for a minimum of 24 hours before the infection can be passed on, further stressing the need for prompt and proper tick removal. If you are bitten by a tick, or work in a known tick habitat, watch for symptoms for up to 30 days, and call a healthcare provider if symptoms develop.

Deer ticks can transmit not only Lyme disease, but also two other tick-borne infections that are present in Maine: anaplasmosis and babesiosis. Babesiosis cases increased in 2015 and cases of Anaplasmosis remained steady.  The majority of tick-borne illnesses occur during the summer months when ticks and humans are active outdoors.

Remember that the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis) is the only tick that can transmit Lyme disease, but there are other species of ticks throughout the state. Tick identification references are available to order online at Maine CDC’s website. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick ID Lab offers free identification services and educational resources.

Additional information:

• Maine CDC has Lyme disease information available on our website at http://www.maine.gov/lyme   
• Lyme disease data is available through the Maine Tracking Network at http://www.maine.gov/lyme under Epidemiology Information on the left hand side of the page.
• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick ID Lab submission instructions can be found at http://extension.umaine.edu/ipm/tickid/
• To continue getting Lyme updates throughout May please like our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MaineCDC

An Interview with State Representative Karen Gerrish Regarding Requested Communications Towers in Lebanon.

After attending the March 14, 2016 Lebanon Board of Selectmen's meeting, several things were sticking in my gut that I just could not resolve within myself.

I'm tired, really tired, of sitting for hours in the Selectmen's Boardroom and having papers passed in front of me, asking questions, and not getting any answers.

If the Town Government doesn't know the answers, why don't they??

I kept thinking about those communication towers mentioned by Selectmen's Assistant, Sue Collins.

The Board of three Selectmen sat, much as I've seen many other committees do in Lebanon, asking one another questions that none of them had the answer to.

So today, Tuesday, March 15th, I reached out to our State Representative, Karen Gerrish, asking questions about these proposed communications towers that the Board of Selectmen seemed to put onto the back burner, even after hearing that they were requested to be placed on Town of Lebanon property in order to "aid State Police Communications".

That last part got me.

"To aid State Police Communications".

What exactly does that mean, and why do they need communication towers in Lebanon?

I had a nice chat with Representative Gerrish, and she gave  me quite a good history on the need for these communication towers. Do we have the time to play around and discuss whether they would look prettier on the Town Office property, or the Transfer Station property?? In my opinion NO. Do we have time for Selectman Nadeau to ask for details on how tall they would be, or what color they would be?? In my opinion, NO.

The truth of the matter, according to our State Representative, is that our town, our county, and indeed, the entire State of Maine, is having a problem with a new digital radio system, used by the State Police, called the Harris Radio, which within the State of Maine is called, MSCommNet. This digital trunking system is the new state radio network that has replaced most legacy systems, including those of the Maine State Police, Warden Service, State Forestry, Marine Patrol, Maine EMA, Department of Corrections, and some smaller state agencies.

Representative Gerrish took a moment to describe the differences between the Legacy system and the newer, less effective Harris Radio system, "This is an issue I have been working on since December. We are having a serious problem with the new digitized state police radio system. I have spoken to multiple troopers from around the state and it seems there are two separate issues; one the many dead spots (including spots in Lebanon) as well as the difficulty in speaking with other municipal and sheriff departments. The prior analog system allowed the trooper to continue to drive and then simply press a series of numbers on a pad to contact another agency such as the Sheriff's Dept, or say Sanford Police Dept. With the new system, the trooper has to find the agency somewhat like a radio station on a dial and when they do locate the agency they need to communicate with, they then lose their home base, in York County's case, Gray. The troopers tell me that they use their cell phones to communicate with other agencies."

The MSCommNet has been in use for about 5 years now in Maine, starting its use in the northernmost counties and working its way down to become fully operational in York County in early 2015. Researching many scanner-land open forums, scanner users love the new trunking system as they claim that the old legacy system was outdated, filled with static and difficult to tune. However, according to Gerrish, the State Police have had problems all across the state with "dead spots", several of which are right here in Lebanon.

While Gerrish believes that the proponents of this system are trying to focus on town by town problems, however, she has been taking reports and interviews of the problems with this system state wide, and following law suits in other areas of the country where Harris Radio digital trunking systems have been put into use.

The request for the additional towers in Lebanon comes as what seems like a band aid fix, or possibly an attempt to give a boost to State Police communications that could turn difficult or deadly if a trooper were caught within a radio dead spot. Since Troopers are out here protecting residents, a radio dead spot could mean the difference between life and death for a Trooper or a  Lebanon resident.

 

Listening to our State Representative relating her hard work on this project, including a night of "ride along" with Maine State Troopers during which two very dicey calls were answered right here in Lebanon, actually had me a bit nervous about the need for speed in erecting the digital towers to aid in State Police communications. LMTS doesn't feel we actually have time to sit around on our thumbs while Selectmen try and decide where the towers should be placed. Lebanon utilizes the State Police as our primary law enforcement agency. Being on the border of New Hampshire, puts Lebanon in a precarious situation with no law enforcement and on a direct route for drug trafficking. The ability of our State Police Troopers to communicate with one another and with dispatch is critical.

 

"The dead spots are a very serious issue and there are several here in Lebanon. When I went on my ride a long with the troopers last month there were several spots, particularly on the south side of town where multiple radio checks with Gray were made to no avail. The most serious that occurred that evening when the trooper was making an arrest inside a local store and had to have the cashier call 911 as yet again, his radio could not call out. It's unacceptable to have not only our troopers in harm's way like this while they are doing their job protecting us, but this is a serious public safety issue. It is not a matter of if, but when we will encounter a serious tragedy. The problem is not unique to Lebanon. You may recall back in January there was a violent home invasion in the town of Lyman. All three responding troopers sat in the driveway, unable to call out. " said Gerrish

Representative Gerrish promises to keep us all informed on her continuing work in Legislature, with the State Police and with the Governor regarding the MSCommNet system and the need for some hard looks on the $53 million radio system that is leaving State Troopers without the ability to communicate with one another, with dispatch, or with other agencies throughout the state or on the border.

 

At the end of our conversation, Rep. Gerrish talked about how glad she was to hear that State Agencies have given some thought to the communications problem, especially here in her hometown, but also reminding residents that this is not only a Lebanon problem, but one that exists in many of the smaller towns and communities in the State of Maine. "I am happy to hear the state has reached out to the Selectmen regarding the communications issues specific to Lebanon," Gerris stated, "In the meantime, I look forward to my ongoing talks with OIT (Office of Informational Technology), the Dept. of Public Safety as well as the administration dealing with this statewide issue. I have a meeting today on the matter and another one next week with the Governor."

Call your Selectmen and ask them to approve the MSCommNet temporary towers at either the Town Office or the Lebanon Transfer Station, as soon as possible. Enable our State Police and protect Lebanon residents!!