Selectmen's meeting

Meeting Date
2014-06-17
Board
Selectmen
Present
Dodi Thompson, Jeff Rackliff, Marti Gross, Brian Church, Annie Tibbetts

  1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
  2. Read and accepted minutes.
  3. Reviewed and signed warrant #12 ( $116,687.50)
  4. Chief Church reported that 70% of his budget has been spent. Almost $5000.00 of this was in pump test, state inspection and repairs made to Engine 80 and 81. Chief Church went on to say that it has been 6 years since the Fire Department increased its budget and sees it needing to be increased this next year. At this time it looks as if $5000.00 will need to be added to the Fire Department budget for the upcoming year. The Selectmen and Fire Chief will review this when the budget season begins. The Vienna Fire Department has a larger number of members and the department is conducting more training then in previous years. The forestry truck is almost finished waiting on two hose adapters. The Vienna Fire Department will be cleaning chimneys this fall, sign up sheets will be placed at the Vienna Post Office and Flying Pond Variety as time gets closer.
  5. There is a need for the Community Building parking lot to be sealed and lined this summer. Their was a discussion on possibly changing the parking layout. Further discussion on the subject is needed. Also the screens on two windows need to be replaced. The screens will be ordered.

Selectmen's meeting

Meeting Date
2014-06-10
Board
Selectmen
Present
Dodi Thompson, Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Stephen Langsdorf, Jim Anderberg
  1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
  2. Assessor John Sexton has made two onsite visits with property owners. In each case the current assessment for the buildings was reviewed and reduced. Selectment will grant abatements.
  3. Executive Session: Selectmen, Board of Appeals chairman Jim Anderberg and Attorney Stephen Langsdorf of Preti-Flaherty in Augusta to discuss the fact that the Cell Tower company is appealing the Planning Board denial of their Cell Tower application. Result: It has been established that the Town of Vienna does not have a legally authorized Board of Appeals – ours was established as an appointed committee around 1985 – by law it must be established by town charter or specific ordinance. Vienna has neither.
  4. Selectmen voted to hire Attorney Langsdorf to represent the town in this matter.He will contact the CTC concerning their appeal. In the absence of a town Board Appeals, the next step is Superior Court.
  5. Selectmen signed papers regarding Auditor Stephen Hopkins. He is working on the 2013 Town Audit.

Selectmen's meeting

Meeting Date
2014-06-03
Board
Selectmen
Present
Dodi Thompson, Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Brian Church, Marti Gross
  1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
  2. Read and accepted minutes.
  3. Reviewed and signed warrant #12 ( $69,154.50)
  4. Fire Chief Church updated the Selectmen on the restoration of the Forestry Truck. The new pump and polly tank are on the truck. The under carriage has been undercoated. The paint on the truck has been buffed. The Vienna Fire Department will use the forestry truck to respond to car accidents in the winter. It has four wheel drive and will be equipped with 300 gallons of water along with other equipment needed for car accidents. The restoration of the Forestry Truck has added another truck to the fleet which will help save the more expensive equipment and help extend the life of the two large firetrucks. The Forestry Truck should be ready for service by the end of June. Chief Church discussed with the Selectmen the possibility of adding a bay onto the left side of the Fire Department. The Fire Department feels this is needed in order to properly house the Forestry Truck as it will be holding water. This will prevent the water from freezing. Currently the Forestry Truck is removed from service, drained of water and stored outside the Fire Station for the winter season. Chief Church will talk with the planning board and get estimates for the construction of the third bay. The selectmen requested the department get three bids. The selectmen will review the cost at that time and discuss placing an article in the 2015 Town Meeting Warrant.
  5. The Fire Department is planning the annual Chicken BBQ for Sunday, July 27.
  6. Chief Church discussed the number and type of calls the fire department has responded to recently – locally and through Mutual Aid.
  7. The Community room is in need of replacing several of its fold up tables. The tables are used for public suppers and other community events. The Vienna Fire Department, Inc. is willing to pay half the cost of the tables. The other half will come from the Community Building account. Chief Church will research the best price for the tables. He will get back to the selectmen with the cost.
  8. The Town of Vienna has faxed and mailed the 2014 Homestead Exemption Report to the state. Our current valuation is still considered to be 100% for exemptions.
  9. The Selectmen signed an abatement for property that the Homestead Exemption was removed in error.
  10. The Selectmen discussed foreclosed properties and agreed to get a list together and to set a date for bids on the foreclosed properties for later in the year.

Selectmen's meeting

Meeting Date
2014-05-20
Board
Selectmen
Present
Dodi Thompson, Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Marti Gross, Annie Tibbetts
  1. Reviewed and discussed mail.
  2. Read and accepted minutes from previous meeting.
  3. Reviewed and signed Warrant #10.
  4. Discussed Abatement request from a town resident. Applications were mailed.
  5. Selectmen signed a quit claim deed, town clerk notarized.
  6. Discussed tree growth with a town resident.

Selectmen's meeting

Meeting Date
2014-05-13
Board
Selectmen
Present
Dodi Thompson, Chris Smith, Jeff Rackliff, Seth Landry, Luke Olson
  1. Reviewed and dispersed mail.
  2. Read and accepted minutes from previous meeting.
  3. Discussed lawn mowing contracts for municipal properties and the municipal cemetery. Also discussed spring clean-ups on each property. Luke Olson has both contracts for the 2014 season.
  4. Selectmen signed the Tax Commitment for 2014 with a mil rate of .01720. The 2013 rate was .01575. A major part of the increase is the school budget. (Please read the letter in a previous newsletter to help explain the RSU 9 budget increase).The school district will be mailing an informational flyer to all towns to explain the 2014-15 budget.Vienna’s portion is $643,352 for 2014-2015 (it was $558,962 for 2013-2014). County tax is $64,627.22, while Revenue Sharing has been reduced to $21,000.Total Vienna Tax Commitment for 2014 is $1,067,428.70.
  5. Discussed posted roads. Posted signs will be pulled later this week.