Minutes Board of Selectpersons, Sweden, Maine May 5, 2009

Present were the 3 Selectpersons: James Willey, William Jones and Alberta Ridlon, Admin. Assistant DJ Curtis, Tax Committee representative Ken Forde, Fire Chief Warren Noble, Clerk Jane Gibbons. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance at 6 p.m.

Two bids have been received for the Cemetery mowing from Clark's Caretaking and Blain Chapman. Mr. Chapman's bid for $1,580 was the low bid. He will mow near the 1st of June, July and August. Mr. Willey moved to award the job to Wayne Chapman. (3-0)

The Lovell Selectmen were having a meeting tonight. Mr. Willey will attend their meeting to discuss rubbish and recycling with the town of Lovell.

Mrs. Ridlon had attended a SAD # 72 meeting about their budget. The projection was that the school district budget would be 16 million. There might be Stimulus Package money to help alleviate this by $244,400. Sweden's valuation has risen significantly by 8.65% to $89 million. Average attendance has been 60.5 students from Sweden, a 5.2% increase. There will be a school board meeting on May 21st and an election in town on May 28 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Town Office.

Mrs. Curtis gave the selectmen the insurance application to sign. She mentioned that there was a bill before the legislature to allow non- residents to vote.

Roads: Mr. Willey has compiled a list with mileage of the town roads for a Winter Road contract bid. He will bring it to the next Selectmen's meeting. An ad will be run in the Bridgton News and possibly the Norway Advertiser and Conway Sun. Mrs. Ridlon mentioned that there was a bad bump caused by an exposed culvert on Black Mountain Road. Mr. Noble mentioned that there is a culvert on Hardscrabble Road opposite the Gun shop in which trees have grown up.

Mr. Forde pressed for action on lien discharges and sending out 30 day notices. Mrs. Flint has stated that the 30 day notices will go out by May 15th. Mr. Forde asked to see the accountant's letter of recommendation to the Selectmen. DJ will find a copy.

Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District will be surveying Saco River Watershed area in Sweden. Cards are available at the Town Office for residents who wish to refuse access to their land.

Attorney Pratt had warned that there was a proposal to allow Towns to pay legal bids. Mr. Willey sought permission from the Board to allow him to contact the Town Attorney, Mr. Pratt, to ask about putting properties up to bid. He has received a number of inquiries about the Knight Hill Road Property. It was suggested that at the same time notice is put in the papers about auctioning that property, that the 100 foot by 100 foot land-locked property off of Knights Hill Road be also be put up for bid. There is another property on Knights Hill Road that the town does not currently own which is deemed a fire hazard. The roof has collapsed on a building there. Seeking information from the attorney was granted. (3-0)

The minutes of the April 28th Selectperson's Board have been approved. (2-0 Mr. Willey abstained.)

Jane Gibbons, Clerk