BOARD OF SELECTMEN, TOWN OF GEORGETOWN
Minutes for the Selectmen’s meeting Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 7:00pm
Geoffrey Birdsall called the meeting to order at 7 pm with Bill Plummer present.
Others in attendance: Rick Cliffe.
Public comment: none.
Items to be added to agenda (if approved by chair and board):
Maine DOT: meeting in Woolwich on Friday (new)
Plow contract (new)
Scheduled appointments: 7:15 CEO Jason Lang to discuss FEMA flood plain maps.
Minutes: On motion, Selectmen approved minutes of the meeting of August 12, 2014.
Review any bills, building permits, deeds and/or declarations. Action: Selectmen reviewed items.
Assessing Items Pending:
Preparation for tax bills: Pat Dow (works for BVT) was down to begin field work; all deeds have been
input..ongoing.
Correspondence:
ME Revenue: preliminary 2015 valuation and certified ratio ($473,650,000 and 101%), updated report.
ME Forest Service: 2014 Tree Growth Roster for completion.
ME Dept. of Conservation: volunteer fire assistance program funds available.
ME Dept. of Conservation: free disposal of banned, unusable pesticides; must register by Sept. 26 th.
Action: unless otherwise noted, items filed, recycled, posted or forwarded as appropriate.
Other Correspondence: none.
Minutes: Town Owned Property Management Board, June 24 and July 01.
Old Business:
Church Action: Mr. Plummer has spoken with Mr. Barabe and will get a group together to go over and assess.
Flood plain maps: Action: The Selectmen will hold an informational meeting on September 10 th at 7pm at the school for
residents to review. They encourage people that believe their property is affected to come in and review the maps !!
(See additional notes under scheduled appointments).
Continuing items:
Receipts for pumping: none.
Maine Waste Discharge License renewal application: Emison, Grant & Betlock, Lynn (01U-0476)
Maine Waste Discharge License approved applications: Fischer, Joseph (08R-022) and Wing, Gaynel (11R-053).
New business:
Request from Conservation Comm. to accept grant from State of Maine for Marsh Migration work, if it is offered. Action:
Mr. Birdsall explained that this grant would be used to publish the results of the Marsh Migration work the commission
has done. Mr. Plummer made a motion to accept any grant monies received which was seconded by Mr. Birdsall. Mary
will inform the Conservation Commission.
ADDED:
DOT meeting in Woolwich: there will be meeting in Woolwich on Friday to discuss the onramp from 127 to Rt 1
Southbound. Mary will get notes from Arrowsic Selectmen Sukey Heard, who is attending.
Snow plow contract: Mr. Plummer would like to have Mr. Savoie in a month prior to start of agreement to go over the
contract and expectations. Mary will request he come to the September 9 th meeting.
Other items / updates: Town audit Sept 2nd and 3rd; Mary in between here and Arrowsic on 4th and 5th.
Items for signature: none.
Scheduled Appointments: 7:15 with CEO Jason Lang to discuss flood plain maps.
Jason was in to discuss the meeting he had with Sue Baker (State of ME) and Chris Markesich (FEMA) regarding
the draft flood plain maps. Jon Goldstein also attended that meeting. Mr. Plummer met with them earlier in the day
and rode around checking known locations of problems and noted that the maps seemed to be right on. Jason noted
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his visit was informative. We have the preliminary maps for review and they will be finalized in early November.
From now until then they can be contested (and there is a process for contesting the FEMA findings). In January
FEMA will be releasing the final maps to the town. The State will draft our “amended” flood plain ordinance that
we must adopt. If the town does not adopt the new ordinance (by July 1, 2015) we will be suspended from the
National Flood Insurance Program. Jason then discussed improvements and that Sue Baker from the state is
concerned that we do not require permits for interior work. If a property is improved by over 49% of the value of
the structure it must be compliant with current flood plain elevation rules. Her suggestion is that we adopt an
ordinance that requires a permit for everything. Mr. Birdsall noted that legal counsel may need to be involved.
Jason noted that the new maps are much easier than the old ones. Jason will read up on the manual and help explain
it to residents.
Other items from the CEO:
Jason informed the board that:
The state (DHHS) has approved Ledge Island LLC (Sharp / Reed family - 07R-027) installing a holding tank and
that they must sign paperwork with the town regarding pumping, etc.
There may be an issue with a retaining wall installed on Four Wheel Drive and he is sending a letter to the owner
and will advise.
He has checked in with Joanne Klonowski about her horse and that she is within all guidelines and is being
proactive; he is also working with her on a shed for shavings, etc.
He also wanted the board to know that he had a conversation with Jon Hentz regarding people living up by Morrills
Corner. Mr. Plummer advised the board that Jack Williams, having been alerted to it, has already taken care of that
issue.
Public comment: none.
Executive session: Under 1MRSA §405.6f to discuss General Assistance matters (if needed); and 405.6a to discuss
personnel matters (if needed); and under 405.6f to discuss a legal matter (if needed). Action: Mr. Birdsall made a
motion to go into executive session at 7:55pm under 1MRSA §405.6a to discuss a personnel issue; seconded by Mr.
Plummer. Executive session was adjourned at 8pm with no action needed.
Adjournment: On motion, the Selectmen voted to adjourn at 8:02 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary F. McDonald
Asst. to the Selectmen
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