Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — The Limestone Selectpeople met on Jan. 7 to discuss old business, including an update on the status of a full time police officer position; new business including the approval of a fleet safety program and a safety disciplinary system, sign warrant for the referendum vote for school regionalization, review the existing dispatch service contract for police and fire with Aroostook County, and the approval of the contract with the Central Aroostook Humane Society; reports from the Town Manager and other elected officials, listen to any public comments or statements. The Limestone Police Department received eight applications for a new full time position, which Police Chief Stacey Mahan discussed with the Selectmen.
The Selectpeople approved a Fleet Safety Program through their current auto insurance company pending questions about the impact the program would have on town employees who take vehicles home after hours. According to the Selectpeople, the Transportation and Recreation Departments are the only departments who currently take vehicles home after hours.
The Selectpeople also signed a warrant to approve the vote for school regionalization 22. They also approved the new town contract with the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
“We were contracted from July 1, 2008 to December 31, 2008 with Caribou Pet Rescue, and services were great there,” said Limestone Town Manager Donna Bernier. Limestone previously had a contract with Central Aroostook Humane Society, and was granted another contract with the same applicable fee.
It was mentioned how nice it was for Limestone to be contracted with Caribou Pet Rescue, since strays will now have to be driven an increased distance to Presque Isle.
Bernier opened her manager’s report by introducing the newest edition to the Town of Limestone employees, Larry Stammen, from North Dakota.
“I’m glad to be here,” Stammen said, “and I hope that pretty soon, everyone else will feel the same way,” which evoked laughter from Selectpeople and spectators alike.
“The Limestone Water and Sewer District (LWSD) has previously signed an agreement with the Loring Development Authority (LDA),” said Bernier, “At one of our meetings, it was discussed regarding this agreement that the LDA will be increasing the number of people on their board of trustees from three to five. One of those two additional people would be a representative from the board of Selectpeople, and the other would be a representative of the LDA,” she added.
The Selectpeople nominated Walter Elliott to represent the board.
It was also mentioned in the manager’s report that a driver for the Town of Limestone may be retiring in the upcoming months, and the Selectpeople discussed how to fill the position once the individual has retired.
The Selectpeople, Bernier, and Stammen discussed budget issues in depth, regarding a lack of funds to pay the current code enforcement officer. Though the code enforcement officer currently operates on-call, not enough money was allocated for the hours her position demanded. Bernier expressed that she did request to the officer that she operate on a more on-call status, but the code officer expressed that she was not interested in operating on such a schedule.
Another item included in the manager’s report regarded a vacancy on the planning board, where the town neglected to reappoint Richard Edgecomb at the time when the rest of the reappointments were made. The Selectpeople voted to reappoint Edgecomb to the planning board.
Salt pile concerns were also discussed, regarding individuals helping themselves to a pile of salt and sand on town property. The planning board agreed that something needed to be done to eliminate town liability for anyone taking from the pile.
The manager’s report also addressed a potential referendum vote in November on the reduction of excise tax that the town can collect.
“I tried to calculate what our loss might be, and it would be close to $100,000 in excise tax if, in fact, that referendum tax goes through,” Bernier said. “It would effect us because we would be budgeting our 2009-2010 year right now; if this went through in November for the referendum, it would go into effect sometime early January, effecting half of our fiscal year,” she concluded.
Chief Mahan updated the Selectpeople on the status of the new police vehicle, and one selectperson expressed that he personally felt that the new SUV should only be used when conditions dictated its necessity. Chief Mahan agreed with this, stating his desire to make this vehicle last.
The issues regarding the 30 miles of snowmobile trails in Limestone was also discussed; due to a lack of volunteers for trail grooming, members of the Caswell Snowmobile Club and Fort Fairfield Snowmobile Club are going to pick up the slack in the areas closest to them, and the Limestone Snowmobile Club is going to continue to groom trails in town.
The next Selectperson meeting is scheduled for tonight, at 6:30 at the Municipal Building Conference Room.
