Minutes Board of Selectmen Meeting

Town of Sweden

February 12. 2008

Meeting was opened at 6:59 by Selectman Harris with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present were SAD 72 Superintendent Gary MacDonald, Selectmen Harris, Willey, and Jones, Carroll Murphy of the Budget Committee, DJ Curtis Administrative Assistant and Jane Gibbons, Clerk, Wolfgang Duve.

Gary MacDonald expressed appreciation for the job the Sweden Road Crew does on clearing roads. School will again be called off for a snow day on the next day. He reported on the school consolidation progress. Meetings held throughout the summer revealed that consolidation would not be educationally or financially advantages due to our spread out geographical area which would be 700 square miles if consolidated. When the plan was submitted to the state they said the proposal did not meet their criteria. In December an alternate plan was submitted. This was accepted with request for more information.

They have worked hard on cost reduction across transportation, facilities, and special education. The District had already cut costs significantly. They are preparing as lean a budget as they can. The Evaluation subsidy from the state will be less. Savings from consolidation would not materialize for 2 or 3 years down the pike. There will need to be a budget election unless the legislature changes this rule. It would come too late to be combined with the State Elections referendum. The Brownfield School will be disposed of either given to the town of Brownfield or sold. The Snow school has safety issues. However the State will not be taking applications. They are changing the application process.

Minutes were approved of the Feb. 5 meeting.

DJ Curtis had the warrant for the Town Meeting ready to be signed. The Town report does not have a report from the County Sheriff and the School report.

The Planning Board and Fire Station Building Committee have been asked to present information on March 8 at a community informational meeting.

Knights Hill Road Compliance Issue. The Judge stated that his order conveys the property to the town. When Judith Smith signs the deed, then it can be conveyed and be recorded. Then the town can move to eviction. A hearing is scheduled for March 26 in Bridgton.

Wolfgang Duve said that resurveying the Fire Station lot in an exchange with Scot Valley would cost $350. The Lawyer and recording the exchange might come to $6-700.

Eric Gulbrandsen’s certification as a CEO has lapsed. It is hoped that it will come through before the end of the month

Ms Gibbons gave the Selectmen 7 letters for their signatures. The dog owners have not registered their dogs.

Meeting was adjourned at 8 p.m.

Jane Gibbons, Clerk