Selectmen’s Meeting, October 14, 2021

TOWN OF SEDGWICK

SELECTMEN’S MEETING

October 14, 2021

 

Opened the meeting and established a quorum present.  Selectmen present:  Ben Astbury, Bob Publicover, Michael Sheahan.  Also present:  CEO Duane Ford, Clerk/treasurer Cindy Reilly, Assistant Barbara Grindle, Christine diPretoro, Chris Baker (by phone Jerry Wetterskog, Jeffrey Roth).

 

Amended wording in the minutes of the last meeting.  Moved, seconded and voted 3-0 to accept them as amended.

 

Reviewed and signed the treasurer’s warrant for $136,517.81:  education $80,536.38; clearing-m/v $3,347.56; fees $155; property tax overpay $222.10; administration $360.96; sludge $60, town house $120, town office $80; street signs $91.56; fire protection $2,149.46; roads $20,039.25, town dock $20,039.25.

 

CEO REPORT:  Two power pole permits signed; one owner cautioned to keep away from Keefe’s Brook with any construction; checked erosion control on Black’s Pond; state putting a home on Reach Road up for sale, much interest in the septic system by potential buyers; received an application for an addition to the Ridge cell tower, will process it; DEP’s Jon Cullen will visit the site on Black’s Pond to try to find a solution for the landowner, will also check on the wildlife/migratory bird zoning with Inland Fisheries.

 

DISCUSSION ITEMS:  1)  Walter Binger:  Asking about a cannabis dispensary in Sedgwick.  He feels that it would benefit the town in several ways.  Publicover asked if it would be medical or recreational product. Binger feels that it probably would eventually be both.  Sheahan explained that when the regulations came down from the state, the town did not opt-in, therefore if a business were interested, it would need to be approved by the townspeople at a town meeting.  The state is the licensing authority, not the town, and the state would keep all taxes generated.  It still would need to be approved by the town.  Sedgwick does not have a moratorium and selectmen do not have a full sense of how the towns people feel about the commercial element of the subject.  CEO asked if he had a location in mind; he would, of course, prefer a well-traveled, roadside location if possible.

2)  Budget Season/Committee check-ins: Assistant will contact the committee members.

3)  Any Unresolved Business:  Astbury reminded everyone about the Special Town Meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Town House.  There will be a brief selectmen’s meeting at the town office at 6 p.m. and then will move up to the Town House.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS:  DiPretoro commented that she felt that the budget committee did a fair and balanced job last year and she appreciated their common sense.

Baker asked about the paving of Main Street a short time ago.  Astbury explained that the roads are on a 10-year plan and the road commissioner assesses them with that in mind.  If there is an emergency and changes to the plan are necessary, adjustments are made but the preference is to follow the plan.

 

ADJOURN:  There being no further business, moved, seconded and voted 3-0 to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Barbara Grindle, Assistant