| Joanne Cole |
Fire Rescue will get its command vehicle and exteriors at the Town Hall Complex will get their stain and paint, following votes at Monday’s Select Board meeting. Surfacing as a new concern were higher-than-budgeted replacement tires for the Transfer Station loader.
At the October 16 meeting, the board also heard a status report on the Cable TV franchise agreement with Charter/Spectrum, discussed a draft policy for Parks and Recreation’s special revenue account, and heard from Planner Kathy Tombarelli about studies proposed for the Town’s Upper Village parcels.
Updates. There was word from Manager Bill Kerbin of upcoming filming in New Gloucester from October 29 to 31 for the show “The Other Way” on TLC, mostly on private property but possibly including a drone over the Fairgrounds.
Kerbin also said he’d received several complaints about target practice at the Town pit on Morse Road and noted the possibility of liability issues. Board members commented that the pit has been used for shooting for a long time and noted that the public has the right to access to the property. They’ll take up the topic at a future meeting.
Fire Rescue Chief Craig Bouchard asked residents to call 911 for service calls like fire alarms malfunctioning, trees on wires, or checking carbon monoxide monitors, not the department’s business number. The business line can’t always be answered and is more appropriate for general information calls, he said.
Bouchard also encouraged residents to sign up for free installation of smoke alarms with 10-year batteries, a Fire Rescue initiative with the Red Cross and BLING (Building Livability in New Gloucester). They can do as many as 30 homes; nine families had signed up so far, he said. Don’t hold back “because you think someone is more deserving than you,” Bouchard said. Installations and safety checks will take place on November 12, and spots can be reserved by emailing BLING: blingnewgloucester@gmail.com.
“Trunk or Treat” comes to the Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 28, Tammy Donovan reminded listeners. To sign up to attend (it’s free but registering helps planning) or to donate treats–sent directly to Parks & Rec’s via their Amazon wish list–go to the GNG Rec website at this link.
Fire Rescue command vehicle. At the previous meeting, the board opened bids for a new Fire Rescue vehicle. Two were received: one was $62,980 and the other had a base price of $77,285. Voters had approved $60,000 for the purchase.
Chief Craig Bouchard told the board that he and Town Manager Bill Kerbin recommended purchasing the low-bid 2022 Ford Expedition at $62,980 and using $2,980 in ARPA funds to close the funding gap.
As reasons to act now rather than wait through the upcoming capital budgeting cycle (CIP), Bouchard cited the “volatile market” for vehicles and escalating prices ahead because of the auto workers’ strike. Vice-Chair Tammy Donovan wanted to honor the CIP process but noted that it’s also “expensive,” in the sense that prices rise during the months between departments’ capital requests—happening now—and town meeting in May, and after that, finally out to bid.
Bouchard agreed. This re-bid showed the phenomenon, he suggested. Previously, they had received three bids; this time only two, one of which was $85,000. “And that’s right now,” he cautioned. Waiting through another months-long budget cycle could add $20,000-30,000 to the price, versus the additional $2,980 now, he said.
Donovan expressed concern that taxpayers had approved only $60,000 for the purchase. But taxpayers would still only be paying $60,000 if ARPA funds were used to cover the gap, member Dustin Ward argued. ARPA is “money that was given to us,” he said, which the board has authority to spend. They did just that recently, to fund emergency fire engine repairs.
Ward’s argument appeared to persuade Donovan, leading to a 3-1 vote to purchase the command vehicle using $2,980 in ARPA funds. Opposed was Chair Paul Larrivee, who cited process and policy and this not rising to the level of an emergency.
Paint and Stain at the Town Hall Complex. At their October 2 meeting, the board had opened bids for Town Hall Complex exterior paint and stain but had concerns about the wide divergence in prices, from the low at $69,900 to a high of $145,000. The approved budget for the work is $90,000.
Between meetings, Public Works Director Ted Shane had scouted references on low bidder Pescinski Paint of Tilton, New Hampshire. Two towns didn’t return his calls, but Shane heard positives about Pescinski’s work from the town manager in Northwood, New Hampshire.
Reassured, the board awarded the contract to Pescinski (4-0; Stephen Hathorne was absent). The Town will supply the paint and do clapboard replacement and other repairs. If the weather cooperates, painting might begin this fall with the Community Building, Shane said. The deadline for finishing the full job is June 1. Shane has his eye on project completion in time for the Town’s 250th celebrations.
Tires for Transfer Station loader. Underscoring the point about rising prices, Ted Shane came to ask for board approval for new tires for the Transfer Station loader. $12,000 was budgeted but quotes received that day came in higher, necessitating board approval.
As Shane explained, the loader tires are solid, filled with foam, and don’t puncture rolling over steel and metal. There’s only one supplier-filler in the state. The changeover alone accounts for $9,000 of the $17,741 quote he was recommending. A lesser alternative was priced around $14,000.
Shane thought he could find the extra money in the Transfer Station budget; the issue was obtaining board approval to bypass the Town’s purchasing policy calling for a competitive bid in the circumstances. Shane wanted to act quickly. Six weeks lead time is needed for the tires and install, and he does not want a loader with bald tires operating in snow.
The four board members present were divided. The item will come back at the November 7, giving the board time to review the quotes and consider funding sources.
Update on Cable TV franchise agreement. The Town’s current cable TV franchise agreement with Charter/Spectrum expires on December 31, with no replacement in sight. Tony Plante of the Greater Portland Council of Governments updated the board on attempts to informally negotiate informally new agreements with Charter/Spectrum on behalf of fifteen communities, including New Gloucester. But Charter/Spectrum has not been responsive, and those efforts have stalled, Plante said.
GPCOG’s Plante was reassuring that cable service and fee payments to the Town will continue, despite the expiration of the agreement. Charter will continue to operate under the existing agreement, he said, as has been the case in other communities whose agreements have already expired. It’s not in Charter’s interest to pull the plug, Plante said; Charter will return to the table “at some point” and put new agreements in place. A bill pending in the Legislature that, if passed, would strengthen municipalities’ hand with cable providers might help encourage those conversations.
Studies of Upper Village parcels; former salt and sand shed. Planner Kathy Tombarelli shared progress on evaluating the Town-owned parcels in the Upper Village. The goal is to “know what we have”: determine the areas that are buildable and any constraints on developing the property, which will shed light on the value of the property and potential uses. Tombarelli is in the process of obtaining quotes for local soil experts to conduct studies and wetlands delineations.
A related question involves the removal – or not – of the former salt and sand shed at 1036 Lewiston Road. Is the parcel worth more, or less, with the now-boarded-up structure on it? That’s a question for later. For now, Public Works Director Ted Shane said he’s submitting a capital request to have it removed, in case that’s the direction the board wants to take.
Parks and Rec special revenue account policy. The board had a preliminary discussion of a policy for Parks and Recreation’s special revenue account. The voter-approved fund collects fees from participants and uses them to cover program expenses. Net profits are allowed to roll over year-to-year so that Parks and Rec can self-fund its recreation offerings without taxpayer dollars.
Under the proposed policy, a portion of the net profits would go into the department’s capital reserve account for big-ticket items or projects. In the draft, 10 percent of profits was proposed as the capital reserve set-aside, but Vice Chair Tammy Donovan suggested “up to 10 percent” instead, since wages for a new assistant director will be coming from the special revenue account.
Director Sarah Rodriguez told the board that the Parks and Recreation Committee also had helpful comments on the draft. She’ll bring back a revised version to the board.
Environmental Resources Committee climate resiliency work. The board had a workshop with the Environmental Resources Committee to discuss the climate resilience partnership initiative ERC has been working on. The state-funded program offers the prospect of grant funding for community-specific projects by participating towns.
Dustin Ward summed up the workshop with ERC earlier that evening as “a great discussion.” ERC will return to the board with a draft resolution for New Gloucester to sign on and become eligible for project funding.
As always, there was more. View the October 16, 2023, Select Board meeting video at this link. Find Select Board information and links to agendas, documents and minutes at this link.
