A substantial agenda awaits the Select Board at its March 18, 2024 meeting. Key items include review of the draft warrant with the board’s budget recommendations for the May 6 Town Meeting, a Climate Resiliency grant proposal from the Environmental Resources Committee, and options for repairs to the Library roof.
Also on the agenda: a draft agreement to install a fire suppression dry hydrant on land owned by Sabbathday Shores on Sabbathday Road, a revised Personnel Policy, the license for six months’ worth of Bingo at the Amvets, and more.
Find the full agenda and supporting information at this link. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Meetinghouse and will be broadcast on local cable and livestreamed at this link.
Draft Town Meeting warrant, budget articles. Approval of the Annual Town Meeting warrant—in effect, the agenda—entails finalizing the board’s budget recommendations for the upcoming fiscal year. The board typically revisits its own preliminary numbers in light of the views expressed by the public and the recommendations of the Finance Committee, which wrapped up its work last week. Find the board’s preliminary budget recommendations for FY 25 alongside those of the Finance Committee at pp.85-100.
ERC Climate Resiliency grant proposal. Over several months, the Environmental Resources Committee has worked with regional partners to develop a proposal for a grant from the State to help the community prepare and develop priorities for the impacts of climate change. The resulting grant proposal requests $47,000 from the State’s Community Resiliency Partnership program to undertake a vulnerability assessment: climate impacts on critical infrastructure, assets, communities and ecosystems. It also seeks support for community engagement activities throughout the process.
New Gloucester would partner with the Greater Portland Council of Governments for planning, data collection, mapping and other technical assistance, as well as collaborate with Pineland Farms and the Sabbathday Lake Shaker community. Read ERC’s proposal at pp. 8-18.
Repairs to the Library roof. The board will consider options for repairs to the Library roof. Contractors’ proposals are in the agenda packet and include pricing with and without replacing the bell tower. Review the roofing companies’ quotes at pp.19-22.
Revised Town Personnel Policy. The board will consider a revised Personnel Policy for the Town and its employees. The proposed Policy updates, clarifies and adds provisions to comply with current laws, including around pregnancy and post-childbirth.
The Policy also includes provisions that appear to be new or different concerning religious accommodations, an anti-retaliation policy, a policy concerning displays on town property, and media/public relations, among others. Find the complete proposed Personnel Policy at pp.37-84.
Dry hydrant near Sabbathday Shores for fire suppression. A proposed agreement would provide a water source for firefighting around the southern end of Sabbathday Lake. The proposed dry hydrant would be installed on land owned by Sabbathday Shores on Sabbathday Road across from the former Grange Hall. Read the particulars at pp.25-32.
Find the full March 18, 2024, Select Board meeting agenda at this link.
Public comments can be submitted by email before 10 am on Monday, March 18, 2024, to townmanager@newgloucester.com and smyers@newgloucester.com. If you want your written comment read aloud, please indicate that in the subject line.
Find contact information for Select Board members and links to meeting agendas, minutes and related documents at this link.
— Joanne Cole
