Approved Minutes - Board of Selectmen - Town of Sweden, ME
March 27, 2007

(approved with clarification noted below)

Before the meeting was called to order the Selectmen went over warrants for payments submitted by Treasurer Fran Flint.

  Ted Harris called the meeting to order at 7:10 and the pledge was said. Present were Selectmen Ted Harris, Jim Willey and the recently elected William Jones. Also Presnet were Administrative Assistant Diane Curtis, Clerk Jane Gibbons, Road Commissioner John Clifford, Code Enforcement Officer Eric Gulbrandsen, and Winter Roads Contractor Rob Drew.

  Mr. Harris was elected Chairman of the Board for another year. 3-0. It was decided to split the allotted salary for the Selectmen equally among the three. 3-0. Mr. Harris gave out a list of town items that needed to be taken care of this year. Jane Gibbons asked that the work needed to bring the Town Meeting House up to Accessibility standards for voting be included. Mr. Harris stated that it would be under the item Building Maintenance.

  Tom Goodman of the Historical Society said that the current value of the CD at the Key Bank is $7336.02. It is due October 12, 2007. This money had been given to the town from the previous fund raising efforts of the Heritage Fund Committee, which is no long active. If money is withdrawn from the CD before its due date the penalty would be $74.43. Ted Harris moved that the CD be closed out, the penalty withdrawn from the total value of the fund, and a separate account be dedicated to the Center School House refurbishing. 3-0. Mr. Harris moved that Bob Dunning be authorized to do the initial work of making the building safe for use according to the estimate of $3130. 3-0

  The MMA casualty pool insurance and renewal is needing to be taken care of. It handles everything except worker's compensation insurance. Diane Curtis was asked to take care of this.

  There was a discussion of lien letters. Mr. Harris appointed a sub-committee of Diane Curtis, Bill Jones, Jane Gibbons, Fran Flint, and Ted Harris to meet to get a better understanding of the process. Diane Curtis was to call Fran and set up a meeting possibly on Tuesday afternoon between I and 3 when Jane and Fran have office hours together. It has been determined that it is the Selectmen who need to state that the oldest taxes are paid first. This is done at the direction of the Treasurer and must be requested by her. (see note below)

  Trull Brook Bridge Repair - Bids are to be sought. They will be opened at the March 8 Selectmen's meeting. Jim Willey presented a draft of the wording of the announcement. Bill Jones will send them to the Conway Sun, The Portland Press Herald, The Bridgton News and Sun Journal. The ads will run for one week.

Mr. Harris stressed the need to develop a road plan. Jim Willey will chair the committee. John Clifford, Warren Noble and Rob Drew will be asked to serve. They are to prioritize the allocations of the summer roads account and any other related road accounts.

There will be a court hearing on April 12, 2009 at 9 a.m. at the Bridgton Court House with respect to the property at 1134 Knights Hill Road. Mr. Harris reported that Judy Smith the former wife of Mr. Jewett, said the surviving children were willing to give a quit claim deed to the town. The Tenants claim that they have an ownership letter from Mr. Jewell.

Cemetery maintenance was discussed Mr. Willey reported that last year they had hired Wayne Chapman of Bridgton, but the cemeteries had not been moved on a regular basis. He was charging $30. per cemetery per mowing. Volunteers Mary Sohl, Lucky Clark, Sue Black and Jim Willey had mowed and clean-up some of the cemeteries. Jim Willey was to ask the person who does the roadside mowing if he is interested in the job.

Hazardous Waste pick-up and metal pick-up days were discussed. Jim Willey will call Steve Adams to see whom to contact for these pick-ups. It is hope these can take place in mid-June.

MEMC regulations were discussed. This has to do with workmen's compensation. A safety plan is needed. Bill Jones took the documents for reading.

The Selectmen signed the documents for the May 1 School District vote on repairs to New Suncook School. Mr. Harris would like to know what the Town of Sweden's portion would be of the $1,654,734 bond issue. Mr. Harris will call the School Administrative District office to see if this information can be known before the election.

Meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m.

Jane Gibbons, clerk

Note (see above): Although the italicized text describes one method for ensuring that oldest taxes are paid first, it is not necessarily the only method.