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1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Discussed the fact that the Cell Tower lawsuit hearing (Lawless vs. Town of Vienna) which had been scheduled for July 24, was postponed due to a scheduling issue.  No future date has been set at this time.
4. Selectmen signed the Winter Road Maintenance contract with Lenny Meader dba Meader Construction. This is a three year contract with a two year option.

The meeting convened at the Town House at 7:00 PM. Regular members present were Waine Whittier,  Alan Williams, Ed Lawless, and Creston Gaither. Also present were John, Peter, and Debbie Sebelius. Minutes of the June 24 meeting were read and accepted.

The Sebeliuses outlined the problems they have configuring their Parker Pond property (tax map 11 lots 71 & 45) so that the southerly parcel (lot 45) could be buildable within the shoreland zone. Creston recused himself from the Board during this discussion. He presented his 2012 & 2015 survey maps of the properties. The Board  addressed  the problem created by the 200 foot width requirement found in Section 15.A.(4). of the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (SZO), which parcel 'B,' the more southerly of the two, appears not to meet. The Board reviewed the said survey maps and pertinent sections of The SZO at length. It was noted that the shed shown on the plans near the pond on parcel 'A' is a pumphouse and thus is an accessory to an allowed use, the cottage on lot 'A.'

Alan suggested that part of lot 'A' could be considered an individual private campsite as per SZO provisions found in Section 15.E.

Waine suggested that the Board first determine whether the 2012 division of the original or "parent" parcel into parcels 'A' and 'B' was a legal division, in light of the provisions of Section 11 of the SZO.

Alan formally moved that the Board find that the 2012 division created 2 legal lots, parcel 'A' being "buildable" within the shoreland zone (the area within 250' from the pond), and 'B' being permissible within the shoreland zone as a private individual campsite under the aforesaid Sect. 15.E. The Board voted 3 - 0 to approve this motion.

The Board then discussed parcel 'A'. It was agreed that the aforesaid shed near the pond is non-conforming. It is believed to date from the 1950's. Waine then suggested that the shed can remain in place but that parcel 'A' could be reconfigured to bewould be limited to being considered a campsite within the shoreland zone. It was noted that the shed is probably not eligible for expansion as it is barely 25 feet from the pond.

Alan then moved that The Board find that reconfiguration of parcel 'B' to make it "buildable" within the shoreland zone (somewhat as per the aforesaid 2015 survey plan) and to thus make 'A' a private individual campsite within the shoreland zone (this being the reverse of the current situation according to the Board's earlier consensus) would be permissible. The Board voted 3 - 0 to approve this motion.
Waine noted that in making these findings  The Board is merely interpreting the SZO and not changing it.

The Sebeliuses were advised that a SZO permit would be required for any particular construction project within the shoreland zone.

Alan moved that Creston, as Secretary of the Board, be authorized to send the Sebeliuses a letter outlining these actions. This motion was approved 3 - 0.

Austin Harrell has e-mailed the Board stating that he has sent a formal letter of resignation from the Board to the Selectmen.


The meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.

 Creston Gaither, secretary

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Discussed the foreclosed property sales bid process with Mr. Russell and properties that he is interested in bidding on. Bids for all properties are due by 7:00 pm on August 4, 2015.
4. Bank Reconciliation Report was reviewed and signed.
5. Reviewed and signed Warrant 14 ($11,144.11)
6. Discussed land on the Varney Road that will have timber harvesting done. Also discussed the Varney Road and the end of the townʼs right of way. The land owner will work with the town to take care of any damage their trucking may cause.
7. Austin Harrell has submitted a letter of resignation from the Planning Board. The town will need a new Planning Board member.
8. Signed the local road assistance program paper work for the Maine Department of Transportation. The town will receive payment in the fall. Last year we received a little over $24,000 which went to the paving account.

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Discussed Kimball Pond pertaining to the size motor that would be allowed to operate on the pond.  The Pond Association would like to propose that nothing larger then a 10 H.P.  engine would be allowed. They were told that a petition can be circulated to have an article put on the town warrant for the March 2016 town meeting. The issue is that larger motor boats going on the pond can cause harm to the wild life and property. (One property owner is currently running a 150 Horse Power motor on the Pond.

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Reviewed and signed Warrant #13 ($83,322.69)
4. Selectmen confirmed that CPA Stephen T.  Hopkins is beginning the Town of Vienna audit for 2014.
5. Reviewed the Kennebec Emergency Mitigation plan survey. The Survey will be forwarded to the fire department for completion.
6. Finalized tax abatements.
7. Mike Rogers from Maine Revenue reviewed 2014 sales in Vienna for the Sales Ration Analysis. We are currently at 93% which allows us to use 100% when doing our taxes, exemptions, etc. 
8. The court is scheduled to hear the verbal arguments on the cell tower decision lawsuit – Lawless vs. Vienna.  This will be held at the Capital Judicial Center, Friday July 24th at 2:30 pm.

1.  Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Discussed looking for grants in regards to road work. The Klir beck Road will be receiving work to the ditches and replacement of two culverts along with rock dams and pools.
4. Talked with Peg Lang about brush cutting on the Cumner Road and the amount of brush that had been cut. The selectmen explained that we do not cut brush along a whole road but the most needed area due to the amount of money that is allowed for this. We also discussed the condition of the Bean Farm Road and the plan of grinding the road. In the next two years the road will receive gravel and be paved once the road is brought up in height. Currently the road is lower than the fields that run next to it. 
5. Discussed getting the selectmen minutes on the Vienna web more quickly. The selectmen also received a request to post an agenda for the upcoming weekʼs meeting.
6. The Town House committee is looking at changing the Kiosk in front of the Town House.  The sign may be moved next to the ramp to the Town House. The Committee is also looking at putting out a sign identifying the Town House.
7. Selectmen worked on and signed property abatements.
8. Selectmen signed the Authorization form for town employees to be able to purchase equipment from the State Surplus program.
9. It was reported that the state may possibly be increasing the Homestead exemptions from $10,000 to $15,000.

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Warrant # 12 ($128,958.47) was reviewed and signed.
4. Discussed the sand bid and mileage from the town pit to each of the biddersʼ pit. The mileage from the town sand pit to the Chesterville pit is 11.3 miles. The mileage to the Belgrade pit is 13.9 miles. Dave Steven and Meader construction were the two bidders. The selectmen decided it is better to go with the Meader Construction bid as it would save the town in the trucking expense. The winning bid was awarded to Meader for $4.40 per yard - the total being $11,000 for 2500.00 yards
5. Discussed the RSU #9 school budget vote. The budget failed in all but two towns in the school district. A revised budget will go back to the voters later in the summer.
6.  Reviewed Bank Reconciliation report.
7.  Selectmen reviewed the Towns 2015-2016 insurance policies from Kyes Insurance. The total cost is $500.00 more than last year. (2012-2013 - $8,389.00; 2013-2014 - $8,693.00, 2014-2015 - $7,958.00, 2015-2016 - $8,474.00).

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Selectmen opened bids for 2500 yards of sand. The town received two bids for the winter sand stock. Dave Steven bid $4.25 per yard, Meader Construction bid $4.40 per yard. The decision was put on hold until the mileage from each pit could be calculated. The decision will be made at the next selectmen meeting.

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. Selectmen received the 2015 tax commitment books from Annie Tibbetts.
4. Selectmen organized the paper work for the properties going up for bid.
5. Warrant # 11 ($23,590.66) was reviewed and signed.
6. Road Commissioner Goucher talked of the work that he has been doing to the roads. He has started grading the town roads. He has graded the Stream Road and pre graded the Davis and the Bessey Roads. He is pulling in the sides and grading out the middle of the roads. Selectmen discussed with Danny about putting up a new road sign - a “Dead End” sign at the base of the Davis Road.
7. Selectmen agreed that Jeff will make a return visit to the dam after the meeting and see if the Mill Pond has raised any with the recent rain fall.

1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
2. Read and accepted minutes from the previous meeting.
3. The selectmen met with the townʼs health officer Dr. Dan Onion. Dr. Onion reviewed the Health Communities of the Capital area report regarding Vienna. The report suggested that Vienna should develop bike ways and pedestrian walk ways. The report goes on to say that the town should promote the use of the Kennebec Highlands, BRCA, and the Parker Pond Headlands and the trails on the town website.
4. Dr. Onion also talked with the Selectmen about a project he is heading in the local area -  Neighbors Helping Neighbors. This is a project that will get volunteers to drive local people to appointments, shopping and other places. This will service the Vienna, Fayette, Mt.Vernon, Belgrade and Rome Areas. Dr. Onion went on to say that he is not and does not expect to ask the town for money to fund this project. If anyone has questions in regards to the Neighbors Helping Neighbors project they should contact Dr. Onion at 293-2076.
5. At the request of the Vienna Fire Department the Selectmen looked at the Mill Pond and Dam on the Kimball pond Road. The pond is lower than normal for this time of year. The selectmen determined the Dam is still in good condition and the low water is due to the lower rainfall this spring. The selectmen also looked at the dry hydrant located at the Mill Pond. The selectmen agreed that the hydrant appears to still have enough water covering the pipe. It was agreed to keep an eye on the situation and to revisit the Pond/Dam in the near future to see if the problem has changed.
6. The selectmen finalized the legal posting for the foreclosed properties that will be going up for bid. The listing will state the lot, location and minimum bid (taxes owed). The notice will be posted on the town web site and in local papers.
7. The selectmen reviewed and discussed the "Brief of the Defendant, Town of Vienna" in the Lawless v. Vienna case. This was prepared by the townʼs Attorney Stephen Langsdorf.
8. The Selectmen voted to adjourn this meeting until tomorrow, Wednesday 5/26/15 at 6:00 to commit the 2015 taxes.
9. The Selectmen then reconvened the meeting at 6:00 pm. The 2015 taxes were committed with a mil rate of .01815.