At their August 21 meeting, the Select Board is expected to set the tax rate for the coming year, hear an update on plans for bathrooms at the Fairgrounds, and hear recommendations for the purchase of a Fire Rescue command vehicle.
They will also hear from Town Planner Kathy Tombarelli about next steps regarding the Upper Village plan, discuss their latest draft appointment guidelines and application for town boards and committees, and open bids for painting/staining of Town Hall Complex buildings. Also on the agenda: reviewing revised bylaws for the Library Board of Trustees and filling a vacancy on the MSAD 15 board. Find the full agenda packet at this link.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Meetinghouse and will be broadcast on local cable and live-streamed on Castus at this link. It will follow a board workshop with former charter commissioners on the provisions of the Town’s new charter. The workshop starts at 6 p.m. at the Meetinghouse. It will not be broadcast or live-streamed.
Mil rate for FY24. The board will meet as town assessors to set the mil rate and complete the tax commitment for FY24. A tax rate calculation sheet prepared by assessors’ agent John E. O’Donnell & Associates outlines a minimum rate of $14.28 per thousand of valuation and a maximum rate of $15. The current mil rate is $13.80. Find the tax-related documents at pp. 5-8 of the agenda packet.
Fire Rescue Command Vehicle. Bids for a new Fire Rescue command vehicle were opened at the board’s last meeting. Now Chief Craig Bouchard returns with his recommendation for award. Spoiler alert: It’s Commander Fleet Corp’s 2023 Ford Expedition, at an updated price of $59,993.50. The voter-approved budget for the purchase is $60,000. Find Chief Bouchard’s memo and the vehicle specs at pp. 40-42.
Bathrooms at the Fairgrounds. A memorandum from Parks and Recreation Director Sara Rodriguez with materials from Terradyn Consultants lays out a possible design and location for a bathrooms/storage building at the Fairgrounds on Bald Hill Road to jumpstart board discussion. The concept drawings show a building with multiple stalls, sinks and a water fountain, located near the pavilion and playground (pp. 52-54).
Upper Village next steps. New Town Planner Kathy Tombarelli has been getting up to speed on the Upper Village Master Plan from 2014, the Upper Village area today, including Town-owned parcels, and prospects for commercial or residential development. Tombarelli is seeking guidance from the board on how to proceed. Read her memo at pp. 55-56.
Board and Committee application and selection process. The board has revised its guidelines for appointments town boards and committees, as well as the application residents complete; all are up for discussion. Find the current drafts, and a revised committee meeting schedule, at pp. 57-66.
Appointment to MSAD 15 School Board. Laura Jane Sturgis recently resigned from the MSAD 15 board. Under Maine law, the Select Board appoints someone to serve until the next municipal election, June 2024. The board set August 16 as the deadline for applications, and Adam Copp and Connie Justice applied to be appointed (pp. 35-39).
Revised bylaws for the Library Board of Trustees. The Trustees have proposed two Youth Trustee positions for high school students. The board will consider the Trustees’ revised bylaws with these new roles (pp. 47-51).
There’s much more, including three liquor license applications. Find the full August 21, 2023, agenda packet at this link, including an update from Town Manager Bill Kerbin, including the resignations of Deputy Clerk Nancy Campbell and Dave Parsons of the Transfer Station and upcoming interviews for the Assistant Librarian position.
Public comments can be submitted by email before 10 am on Monday, August 21, to townmanager@newgloucester.com and smyers@newgloucester.com. If you want your comment read aloud, please indicate that in the subject line.
Find Select Board agendas, related documents and meeting minutes at this link.
— Joanne Cole
