Please remember that we have not approved the minutes of the June 2 meeting.

Minutes Board of Selectpersons

Sweden, Maine

June 9, 2009

Present were James Willey, William Jones, Alberta Ridlon, DJ Curtis, John Smith, Assessor's agent John O'Donnell, and briefly Warren Noble and Frances Flint. The meeting was opened with the Pledge of Allegiance,

Mr. O'Donnell has been working on the town's assessing since the 1970s. Initially it was mapping and the first assessing field work. Later it has expanded and there has been a significant increase in the amount of time their company has put into Sweden. They have been giving a lot more service to Sweden then is warranted by the $5,000 they are paid. Their company lost money on Sweden in 2008. The extra time has been caused by more inquiries from the office, appeals and tax reviews, and a significant increase in the information they must provide the State. Some of the inquiries from the office are stated too vaguely and appear to be frivolous. Inquiries from the Planning Board relative to shore land values and requesting that subdivisions be put on the tax maps have been made recently and would require extra time. He requested that when tax payers make inquiries that they be asked to bring proof such as a survey to prove acreage details. This year the tree growth applications will take 3 times the normal time as Davis Kimball has submitted 24 additional tree growth applications. There has been an increase in the number of abatements. They request that we raise our remuneration to them to $7500 in 2010. They have not asked for an increase in the last 8 years. Mr. Willey stated that if the planning board makes requests they ought to be billed. Mr. O'Donnell stated that he would have a computer disk with spread sheet made available to the town for our office use. We can add a column to identify changes in addresses and ownership. He will teach us how to research which properties have been included and where they have been included so that we can find who owns each property that is shown on the maps. He stressed the need for understanding between the town office and his office to cut down on requests for more services.

DJ said the final papers for the bridge loan were not ready yet.

Mrs. Ridlon reported that she had gone through the list of liens and needed to check in the tax books to determine which properties had had the taxes paid for the various years. There appear to be over a hundred properties to investigate.

Requests from the Fire Department were made for the Town Hall for a Craft Fair on July 11th and for a car wash on Saturday, June 20th. Ms. Gibbons pointed out that the Historical Society meets on June 20th and might be using the town hall and/or the brick school house. The Fire Department was asked to coordinate with Mr. Lyman. The Craft Fair was approved.

Mr. Jones has been researching the history of the one acre land-bound lot off of Knights Hill Road. He has not been able to find a deed stating that the town owns the property. It is believed that the lot was taken over by the town in the 1970s. It was decided to advertise only for the property at 1132 Knights Hill Road at this time.

There will be a dedication of the Memorial bench outside the Town Hall on Saturday, June 13th at 10 a.m. with a color guard and prayers by the minister of the Sweden Community Church. The central part of the town has been decorated with flags.

Mr. Jones had left the meeting early to attend the Lovell Town Meeting where a decision was to be made concerning Sweden using their trash and recycling facility. After the meeting was adjourned he returned to say that the Lovell Town meeting voted to accept Sweden's use and a contract will be signed soon.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:50. Jane Gibbons, Clerk