Selectmen’s Meeting, February 14, 2019

TOWN OF SEDGWICK
SELECTMEN’S MEETING
February 14, 2019

Opened the meeting and established a quorum present. Selectmen present: Ben Astbury, Bob Publicover, Michael Sheahan. Also present: Ciona Ulbrich, John Higgins, Clerk/treasurer Cindy Reilly, CEO Frank Tracy, Assistant Barbara Grindle.

Read and discussed changes and corrections in the minutes of the last meeting. Moved, seconded and voted 2-0 (Publicover abstained) for assistant to make the changes before posting to the website.

Reviewed and signed the treasurer’s warrant for $2,295.79; fire protection $370.78, general assistance $275, administration $382.72, animal control $185.29, motor vehicles $1009, fees $73.

CEO REPORT: Presented a written report, including the draft of a letter concerning the shoreland zoning issue within 250 feet of the shore. Had a good Planning Board meeting Tuesday, Sedgwick Storage’s new building approved and signed. Would like to revamp the site plan application.

NEW BUSINESS: Reviewed the lien list with treasurer. All have been foreclosed upon, There are some that need action. If payments are being made, they are at least trying to get caught up.
Continued discussion on the tax collection and signatory issue. Efforts have been made all year long to assist tax collector, Astbury feels that they have not been aggressive enough in addressing the inefficiencies. He will check with MMA to see what more can be done. MMA recommended that Selectmen not be signatories on the town financial accounts, should be someone that is bonded. The treasurer and tax collector deputize each other.

OLD BUSINESS: Signed a letter in support of the Snow’s Cove culvert work for the alewife fishery. Letters were signed by the 3-town alewife committee (Sedgwick, Brooksville, and Penobscot), the Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries, the Nature Conservancy’s Watershed Restoration, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust.
Astbury and Publicover attended a meeting of the Benjamin River project team held in the Town Office. There will be a 4 foot elevation on the bridge instead of a 2 foot. Discussed the detour barricade placement and decided to close Main Street to all except local traffic instead of at the corner of the triangle, which would cause problems when turning around.
Auditors will be coming to finish up.
A fire department member has been charged with assault. He will be given a leave of absence until the case is disposed of by the court.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Entered executive session at 6:21 p.m. to discuss a general assistance case. Out of executive session at 6:46 p.m.
Resumed the meeting. Moved, seconded and voted 3-0. Decision made: Reviewed the application and decided that we need proof that jobs have been applied for and where else help has been requested. Account #475 may receive help this month according to state regulations. Also would like to have notice that applicants need to see the selectmen in time to be put on the agenda. Requests would need to be in the office by Monday at 5 p.m. for current week or will go on next week’s agenda.

ADJOURN: There being no further business, moved, seconded and voted 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Grindle, Assistant