| Joanne Cole |
The Select Board approved closing a section of Intervale Road/Route 231 on Halloween night for safer trick-or-treating in the Lower Village, looked ahead to the budget, and heard an upbeat report on Parks and Recreation’s finances at their October 2 meeting. Bids opened for a new Fire Rescue command vehicle were less cheery.
Partial road closure of Route 231 on Halloween. A split board approved closing a section of Intervale Road/Route 231 from 5 to 8 p.m. on Halloween for safer trick-or-treating in the Lower Village. Board approval is only the starting point, however. Closure is contingent on consultation with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and approval by MDOT.
The Lower Village’s closely clustered houses, many with decorations, displays, or jack-o-lanterns, and its well-deserved reputation for “good candy” make it a prime Halloween destination. About 300 trick-or-treaters—plus accompanying adults—turn out each year, according to informed sources. [X bags @ 135 pieces per bag, minus unwanted, leftover Butterfingers.] Add darkness, limited road shoulders, and speeding cars and trucks.
Parks and Recreation Director Sarah Rodriguez said the evening has “the look of a town event” and that prior traffic-calming efforts, with warning signs, volunteer flaggers and trucks with flashing lights, have had limited effect on speeders, she said. This year, the shoulders are even more washed out than in the past, Rodriguez said, hence the need for a new plan.
The proposed safety plan, developed jointly by Fire Rescue and Parks and Rec, focuses on through traffic. Route 231 would be closed from the Lower Village intersection to the top of the hill, roughly 324 Intervale Road. Vehicles heading southbound from Route 100 and the Upper Village would be re-routed onto Rowe Station Road and then Cobbs Bridge Road.
Route 231 would be closed beyond Estes Road, giving southbound drivers a last chance to turn around. Detoured traffic would turn left to return onto 231 at the intersection by the Village Store.
Traffic coming up from the Intervale would be diverted left onto Gloucester Hill Road and Church Road to reach Route 100. The result would be a one-way loop on Cobbs Bridge Road and Gloucester Hill Road, Chief Craig Bouchard said, that “slows everything down.” Signage announcing the closure would go up the week before.
Member Stephen Hathorne said he’s seen the Halloween crowds firsthand and wants everyone to be safe and have a good time, but he was a no. “This is not a town function,” Hathorne said. “This should not be involving tax dollars. I’m sorry.” Chief Craig Bouchard said fewer Fire Rescue personnel would be needed for this plan than if 231 remained fully open.
Vice Chair Tammy Donovan commended Bouchard and Rodriguez on the plan but was concerned about the closure inconveniencing the residents. She thought the Lower Village neighbors should organize a safety committee if this is something they like and want, and should “police it themselves.”
For Chair Paul Larrivee, “safety is the huge thing,” particularly since “the shoulders are gone” this year, due to heavy rains. He called the festivities “a great community-building event” for Fire Rescue and Parks and Rec. They hand out candy, glow sticks and such at Town Hall. Affected homeowners on the route would be understanding, Larrivee thought. “It’s three hours for a community event.”
The board approved the plan 3-2 (Donovan and Hathorne opposed). Next stops: Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office and MDOT.
Budget parameters. The board discussed ‘budget parameters’ for the FY25 municipal budget, now in the works. The parameters represent boundaries for departments and the manager as they develop their budget requests. Last year’s parameters had departmental operating budgets capped at a five percent increase (less utilities), and pay raises limited to three percent.
This year, board member Dustin Ward wanted to start with the running list of needs the board has discussed, rather than with a percentage. Needs include funds to move planning for the Upper Village forward–possibly including removal of the old salt and sand shed–new positions in the Library and the Town Office, support to implement the Comp Plan, for volunteer appreciation, and more.
“If we could start with the larger vision and go from there,” instead of working the other way around, “that would be helpful,” Ward said. Colleen Strickler questioned the idea of caps on departments. “If we limit what they ask for, we’re not going to know what they need,” she said.
Adding to the questions, Town Manager Bill Kerbin noted that the pay scale he’s working on—based on a review of compensation for comparable staff positions in other towns—would exceed three percent and involve new hires and current staff alike. Tammy Donovan wanted to be sure Kerbin takes benefits into account–total compensation–and perhaps investigates other health insurance options to bring costs down.
The budget devil was in the details. Increased costs for Public Works’ salt and sand needs alone could take all of their allowed five percent, Tammy Donovan noted – a single line item. Use the Overages account? Ward said. Increase the Contingency budget? Manager Bill Kerbin suggested. Have a separate warrant article for salt? Stephen Hathorne asked.
In the end, the landing spot was to have the same five percent limit for departments and three percent for pay as last year as guidance for the manager, but with a window open for new positions, unusual expenses, and Dustin Ward’s list of specific items. A restriction against “excessive use” of the Undesignated Fund Balance was also kept. Stephen Hathorne opposed the motion, wanting a three percent cap on departments.
Bylaws for Boards and Committees; limits for board and committee members. The board decided to continue its revision of the Bylaws for Boards and Committees after hearing suggestions offered during public comment. The Bylaws set out rules for the conduct and location of meetings, for notices and agendas, quorums and member attendance, public comment, and more.
A proposal for term limits for board and committee members and about serving on multiple boards failed to gain traction. The idea originated in board workshops, Dustin Ward noted. Tammy Donovan and Stephen Hathorne quickly said they were not interested. “I don’t want to put time on a volunteer,” Donovan said. “I don’t either,” said Strickler, “but I would like us to make sure we have new voices and not have the same people forever.”
Stephen Hathorne countered that term limits already exist: terms are three years long. After the three years, “It’s up to us,” he said, meaning the board decides whom to appoint. Strickler pointed out that when the Select Board did exactly that, they were accused of “removing” Brian Shedlarski, when he was not re-appointed to the Budget Committee after his term ended. Instead, Julie Fralich, not already serving on other committees, was appointed. That, in turn, led others on multiple committees to resign in order to be appointed to the one they preferred, Strickler said.
Conversation turned to the need for a legal opinion from the town attorney as to whether a committee member is entitled to automatic reappointment, a question Chair Paul Larrivee has previously raised. Stephen Hathorne wanted to be sure any legal request distinguishes between removal in the middle of a term and non-reappointment after the term has ended.
Fire Rescue command vehicle. The winding road to a new Fire Rescue command vehicle will wind a little farther: the two bids opened at the October 2 meeting came in over the $60,000 budget. A 2022 Ford Expedition from Commander Fleet came in at a base bid of $62,980, and a 2023 Chevy Tahoe from 10-75 Emergency Vehicles, of New Jersey, at a base bid of $77,285.
The board asked Chief Craig Bouchard to checks the bids for compliance with the specs before any decision is made about whether to use ARPA funds to close the gap or perhaps send the command vehicle into the Capital Improvement Program process now getting under way for the FY25 budget.
Paint and stain for Town Hall Complex. Bids were opened last meeting for painting and staining the exteriors of five buildings in the Town Hall Complex. Public Works Director Ted Shane couldn’t attend this meeting, but he sent a written recommendation to award the work to low bidder Pescinski Paint of Tilton, New Hampshire. Its $69,900 offer is under the $90,000 budget.
Other bidders had clocked in at $98,000 and $145,000. Noting the wide gap in prices—one bid double the lowest—board members were reluctant to proceed without a conversation with Shane and perhaps a check on Pescinski’s references.
Parks & Rec finances. Parks and Recreation Director Sarah Rodriguez shared a detailed, upbeat financial report, at the board’s request. Highlights included the profitability of its Kids Club before-and-after-school program, now housed at Dunn School. For the 22-23 school year, Kids Club generated a profit of $36,423, Rodriguez said. There were $89,926 in revenues–fees paid by participating families–and $53,503 in expenses for staff wages, FICA, supplies, and the like.
The summer camp program also yielded a profit: $4,560 after expenses. Programs shared with Gray netted another $14,000 for New Gloucester Rec, Rodriguez said. Asked by board member Dustin Ward what the numbers signified to her as she looks ahead, Rodriguez replied that it shows “our programming is strong” and the model is working. “Our summer programming and our programming where we’re helping parents get to work is really, really important to this community.” Illustrating the point, Rodriguez recalled a week in summer when nearly 300 kids were in GNG programs.
When an assistant director comes on board, programs will grow further, Rodriguez thinks. The wages for the new position will come from Parks and Rec’s special revenue fund, currently at $144,000, she confirmed. The fund allows for program participants’ fees to roll over and stay with Parks and Rec, rather than being returned to the town’s general Undesignated Fund Balance. The conversation reminded the board that they never finalized a policy concerning the special revenue fund. That’s now ahead.
Other items; updates – more than usual:
— Jessica Farwell was appointed to the 250th Celebration Committee, and Michael Brakey to the Environmental Resources Committee;
— Manager Bill Kerbin announced and welcomed several new hires: Eleanor Marsh as Assistant Librarian, Jason Miller as Transfer Station attendant, and Teresa Grenier as Deputy Clerk.
— The new Public Safety Advisory Group will have their first meeting on October 17, Kerbin said. They will discuss traffic concerns at the Lower Village intersection, at Route 100 and Route 231, and on Outlet Road and the Morse Road town pit. The meeting will not be public, Kerbin told NGX; he will offer updates at Select Board meetings. Public Works Director Ted Shane and Fire Rescue Chief Craig Bouchard, along with Kerbin, comprise the advisory group so far; residents have not yet been chosen, he said.
— Trunk or Treat returns to the Fairgrounds on Saturday, October 28, from 2 to 4 p.m., Parks & Rec liaison Tammy Donovan said. The event is free, but they’d appreciate a head count for planning. To register or volunteer to decorate a trunk or donate candy, click this link or find the GNG Rec page on Facebook.
— The Cable TV Committee is working on hybrid meetings and technology, according to liaison Colleen Strickler. Earlier, resident Connie Justice had offered to donate laptops and lend technical support. Hybrid meetings allow in-person and remote participation. A policy was drafted and reviewed under a prior manager.
— Chief Craig Bouchard announced Fire Rescue’s Open House and BBQ on Saturday, October 14, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fire Rescue is partnering with the Red Cross and BLING (Building Livability in New Gloucester) on a free smoke alarm installation program. Community members can sign up at the Open House to get one (10-year-battery!) or to help install them on November 12. Pineland Farms Natural Meats is also a new partner on food for the BBQ. Hot dogs, burgers, and chicken will be offered this year, Bouchard said.
As always, there was much more. View the October 2, 2023, Select Board meeting video at this link. Find Select Board information and links to agendas, documents and minutes at this link.
