Corrections (underlined text) made 1/10/09

Minutes Board of Selectpersons

Sweden, Maine

7:00 p.m. January 6, 2009

Present: Selectpersons Willey, Jones and Ridlon, Fire Chief Warren Noble, Admin. Assistant DJ Curtis, Clerk Jane Gibbons. The meeting was opened at 7 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Willey reported that he would be meeting with the Budget Committee on 7 p.m. on Jan. 15th.

There was no one from the Tax Committee. Mr. Jones and Mr. Willey had met with Tax Collector Flint concerning the liens. Mrs. Flint has stated that she would devote 2 weeks toward completing the lien discharge process. It appears that there may be approximately 29 liens that need to be dealt with and 22 were on properties that had been sold.

DJ Curtis presented a draft of the Annual Town Warrant articles for the Annual Town Meeting. The need to ask the townspeople to exceed the LD1 limit was discussed. In 2008, not all expenses were appropriated. Winter Road and Rubbish money was taken from surplus and not taxed. The Town hoped were above normal expenses and did not want to add the additional burden to taxpayers. It is because of this, that LD1 must be raised again this year, to cover the expenses taken from surplus last year. It is estimated that the town will exceed the LD1 limit by approximately $36,000.

The need to take additional monies from surplus to cover the Winter Road shortfalls for 2008 was also discussed. It was decided to place this article before the 2009 budget articles.

The proposed budget represents an increase of 14.3% in taxation equal to about $150.00 of increased taxpayer $100,000 valuation.

Fire Chief Noble presented the budget of $25,869.00 for 2009 for the Fire Department. Some cut might be made if the outdoor toilet is eliminated.

Mr. Willey reported that he had been informed by the builder of the Office building that snow should not be on the cement siding. The cement does not hold moisture. Mr. Noble and Ms. Curtis will try to get estimates on snow removal around the building.

Minutes of the Dec. 9 were approved (3-0). Minutes of the Dec. 23rd meeting were approved (3-0).

Mr. Jones reported on Internet service. His estimates from Wildblue and Hughsnet each came to approximately $1,200 for the first year. It was decided to include this in town charges. Software for anti-virus would be needed.

Mr. Noble discussed establishing a fund for the Fire Building and emphasized the need for Long-range planning.

Meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Jane Gibbons, Clerk