BOARD OF SELECTMEN/BOARD OF ASSESSORS MEETING MINUTES December 20, :30 pm

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1 BOARD OF SELECTMEN/BOARD OF ASSESSORS MEETING MINUTES December 20, :30 pm Call to Order Chair Wright called the meeting to order at 6:30pm. I. Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance Board Members Present: Chair Thomas Wright, Vice Chair Edward Ganiere (6:50pm), Selectman Rebecca England, Selectman Mark Pendergast and Selectman Joshua Plante. Staff Members Present: Town Manager Stephen Eldridge, Finance Director Maureen Finger, Community Development Director John Stoll and Town Clerk Patricia Murray. II. MINUTES a. Minutes from BOS regular meeting November 15, 2016 and December 6, 2016 Motion: Chair Wright moved to accept the November 15, 2016 minutes as written. Selectman Pendergast seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 4-0 Motion: Vice Chair Ganiere moved to accept the December 6, 2016 minutes as written. Selectman England seconded the motion. The motion carried: 2-0 with Chair Wright, and Selectmen Pendergast and Plante abstaining. III. FIRST PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. Frank Underwood spoke. He stated he realizes that the Board needs a quorum in order to take any actions but committee reports could still be reported. Town Manager Eldridge replied a meeting cannot be held without a quorum. IV. PUBLIC HEARING a. Brownfield Grant Chair Wright opened the public hearing. Mr. John Stoll, Director of Planning and Community Development, and Rip Patten, Credere Associates, were present. Mr. Stoll gave an update of the Phase 2 progress. He stated it was slowed down because additional funding need to be secured. The Town has since been awarded an additional $200,000 grant from Southern Maine Regional Planning. Phase 2 will commence. The next grant application will be applied for Map U4 Lot 130 on the corner of Jordan and Sullivan Streets; aka the Blue Sort Building. The application deadline is Thursday. This grant will be used for asbestos remediation in the second phase of the project which will address the buildings on the Northern side of Prime Tanning. Page 1 of 6 BOS Meeting Minutes December 20, 2016

2 Mr. Rip Patten, presented. The grant is from the Environmental Protection Agency. He gave an overview of grants received previously for Brownfield clean up. This is the fourth year of Brownfield grant applications through EPA. The latest grant will help keep the project going forward. The Blue Sort building site has urban fills i.e. arsenic, PAHs and lead. The scope of work does not cover removing this building since there is no direct link to an environmental issue within the building. If the grant is successful this will be revisited. Chair Wright clarified that the grant would have a 20% match and Fund of Jupiter would be tapped for the match. Selectman Pendergast asked about the field across the street. Mr. Patten replied that they are not aware of any contaminants on that field. Chair Wright stated this lot had a residential house on it and was not used for tanning. Discussion ensued regarding money/cost of project. Currently, there is a $100,000 shortfall. EnviroVantage should be back on site in January with a completion date of April. Discussion regarding the contract with Fund of Jupiter ensued. Town Manager Eldridge stated the attorneys are talking and a conference call will be scheduled. Chair Wright stated the Town will continue the cleanup and spend all the grant money and if, at that point, nothing is being done, the property could be reassessed. There being no comments from the members of the public, the Chair closed the public hearing. V. REPORTS OF COMMITTEES a. BCTV Committee Town Manager Eldridge stated they are still working on the franchise agreement. The current agreement expires June 30, b. Envision Berwick Commission (EBC) Pat and Paul Boisvert thanked the community for supporting and volunteering at the ice rink. The rink is located on the green space at the Prime Tanning site. The lighting is adequate for night skating. Parking is currently in public lots. Ms. Boisvert warned of not stepping on the liner with skates; a carpet has been supplied for entering and exiting the rink. Fires are not permitted. Helmets/protective gear is advised. Help with maintenance is needed. Mr. Boisvert noted 2/3 of the rink is ready for skating now. Mr. Frank Underwood spoke. At an EBC meeting a discussion about monies used out of the EBC line item to pay for wastewater characterization. He stated the committee never voted to authorize the $2000 for that work but the money was taken from the account. At the last EBC meeting they voted to ask the Town to take that money from the $40,000 Fund of Jupiter money. He asked the BOS to direct EBC to take the money out of the account if the money will not be replaced. Mr. Underwood noted that with the passing of the articles for the TIF District and the impact fee, EBC began discussions. He stated before those discussions get too far they would like guidance from the BOS. The Recreation survey is out. The AARP presentation was held. EBC s next meeting is January 12 th. VI. APPOINTMENTS/PRESENTATIONS/OTHER GUESTS a. Re-appointment of John England to Planning Board Page 2 of 6 BOS Meeting Minutes December 20, 2016

3 Motion: Vice Chair Ganiere moved to reappoint John England to the Planning Board. Selectman Pendergast seconded the motion. The motion carried: 4-0 with Rebecca England abstaining. b. Re-appointment of Sean Winston to Planning Board Motion: Vice Chair Ganiere moved to reappoint Sean Winston to the Planning Board. Selectman Pendergast seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5-0 VII. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Pay as You Throw Program/Recycling Committee Town Manager Eldridge stated the committee met. Committee member Peg Wheeler brought the group up to date with prior committee discussions. Another meeting is scheduled next month. Town Manager Eldridge spoke to EcoMaine, Casella and Shipyard Waste regarding cost and scope of work. He is also exploring a partnership with South Berwick. All of the waste removal companies are in favor of a pay as you throw program. The program is proven to reduce the amount of solid waste. Vice Chair Ganiere spoke about instituting mandatory recycling. Discussion ensued. Town Manager Eldridge will schedule the waste management companies to meet with the Board and will place a sign at the transfer station asking residents to recycle. Selectman England asked if the transfer station staff monitors the stickers allowing residents to use the station. Town Manager Eldridge stated he is working on this issue. b. Social Media Policy; repeal the Social Media Policy, The Release of Information Policy, and the Employee Conduct Policy Town Manager Eldridge stated the union had questioned the new policies and the Town Attorney reported that the policies are not needed since the Guidelines for Social Media policy is in place. The Release of Information is covered by the Freedom Act and the Employee Conduct Policy is in place. Motion: Vice Chair Ganiere moved to repeal the Social Media Policy, the Release of Information Policy and the Employee Conduct Policy. Selectman Pendergast seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5-0 c. Bid Recommendation Tax Exempt Lease Purchase Financing Finance Director Maureen Finger recommends the finance option from Androscoggin Bank. This bid is for purchasing a new fully equipped Police cruiser lease purchase. Bid requests went to five banks. Two responses were received. Kennebunk Savings Bank: 2.5%, 5 annual payments, 7% late charge Androscoggin Bank: 2.78%, 5 annual payments, no prepayment penalties Ms. Finger noted the interest rate is higher with Androscoggin Bank but the structuring of the financing will lower the overall cost. Motion: Vice Chair Ganiere moved to accept the bid from Androscoggin Bank for the Police vehicle lease purchase as recommended and to give the Town Manager authorization to sign the award and acknowledgement. Selectman Pendergast seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5-0 Page 3 of 6 BOS Meeting Minutes December 20, 2016

4 VIII. TOWN MANAGER REPORT Transfer Station Holiday Hours: Saturday, December 24 closing at noon; Sunday, December 25 closed; Monday, December 26 open 8am-4pm; Tuesday, December 27 open 8am 4pm; Sunday, January 1 closed. The Salmon Falls River ordinance will be upcoming in the next few months; The Water Department and Maine Rural Water Association along with the city of Somersworth, NH are working on the ordinance to protect the water source. Abutters have been notified. The State recount for Question 1; marijuana legalization, has been dropped. The approval should go through at the end of January. There will be regulations for the sale and growing of marijuana. Town Manager Eldridge discussed an ordinance regarding moratoriums and restrictions. Any ordinance would go to Town vote. The Estabrook Housing agreement is being reviewed and revised by attorneys. CMP is in the area trimming trees near power lines. The Red Cross is in Town to help fire victims. Berwick will be the host community for the USS Springfield which is in port. There will be a plaque ceremony. IX. None. SELECTMEN COMMUNICATIONS X. APPROVAL OF WARRANTS 12/08/2016 A/P Warrant #1723 $122, /08/2016 Water Warrant #0723 $ 3, /15/2016 Payroll Warrant #1724 $ 49, /15/2016 A/P Warrant 1724 $ 62, /15/2016 Water Warrant #0724 $ /22/2016 Payroll Warrant #1725 $ 58, Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to accept the Accounts Payable Warrants as presented. Vice Chair Ganiere seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5 0. XI. NEW BUSINESS a. Signatures for Fund of Jupiter Escrow Agreement Two documents; one for matching funds agreement and one for the release of escrow account which is held by the attorney, need to be signed by the Board. Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to sign the Joint Instruction to Escrow Agent and the Supplement to Agreement for Rehabilitation and Sale of Real Estate as presented. Vice Chair Ganiere seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5 0. b. MS-4 Redesign Town Manager Eldridge reported that a request to revisit the design of the MS4 PSNH property. The request was to make the site more aesthetically pleasing. The price of the redesign is $19,000. There is 40,000 left in the MS4 account. Town Manager Eldridge asked what the Board wishes to do. The Board agreed to table this item until further information is presented. Page 4 of 6 BOS Meeting Minutes December 20, 2016

5 c. MRI Authorization Professional Services Agreement Town Manager requested authorization to sign the agreement with MRI, the Town s contracted assessing firm, to perform a statistical revaluation. The cost is $55,000 and will be in the proposed FY18 budget. Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to authorize the Town Manager to sign the MRI Authorization Professional Services Agreement to provide assessing services to the Town of Berwick as presented for a one year term. Selectman Ganiere seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5 0. XII. QUITCLAIM DEEDS AND/OR INSTALLMENT CONTRACTS a. Quitclaim Deed for Map R006, Lot A-000 Motion: Vice Chair Ganiere made a motion to accept the Quitclaim Deed request for Map R006, Lot A-000. Selectman England seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5 0. XIII. ABATEMENTS/SUPPLEMENTS a. Abatement for Map R016 Lot 6, 275 Little River Road The Board requested more information and tabled this item. XIV. None. XV. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT EXECUTIVE SESSION a. Title 1 405(6)(C) - Discussion of Real Estate, Economic Development Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to enter into Executive Session per MSRA Title 1 404(6)(C) Discussion of Real Estate, Economic Development. Selectmen Plante seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5 0. The Board entered into Executive Session at 8:45pm. The Board resumed its regular meeting at 9:15pm. Chair Wright noted no actions were made during the Executive Session. XVI. OTHER BUSINESS/NON-AGENDA ITEMS a. TIF Assessor s Certificate Motion: Chair Wright made a motion to sign the Downtown Municipal Development and Omnibus Tax Increment Financing District Assessor s Certificate as presented. Selectmen Pendergast seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously: 5 0. XVII. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 9:25pm. Respectfully submitted, Page 5 of 6 BOS Meeting Minutes December 20, 2016

6 Patricia Murray Town Clerk The December 20, 2016 BOS Meeting Minutes Signed as approved at the Board of Selectmen s January 3, 2017 Meeting. On behalf of the Board Page 6 of 6 BOS Meeting Minutes December 20, 2016