TURNER — Longtime Office Assistant Sandra Philipon was honored at the opening of the selectmen’s meeting Monday night.
American Legion Post 111 Adjutant Ed LePage told selectmen that Philipon has been an invaluable asset to the town.
“The Legion’s mission is to serve veterans and their families,” LePage said. “We could not have done our mission without her help. Every time we have needed something from the Town Office, she has helped.”
Legion member Harris Bradeen presented Philipon with a framed certificate attesting to her service to the town, to Turner veterans and to the American Legion.
In other business, the board discussed the town mowing contract. Selectman Kurt Youland said he wanted to negotiate an extension of last year’s contract. The contractor took the contract last year after the low bidder backed out of his bid.
“This is the best any contractor has done in several years,” Youland said. “If he will accept the contract for another year at the same price, I believe we should take it.”
Board Chairman Angelo Terreri questioned whether the board had the authority to extend the contract. He asked Town Manager Scott LaFlamme to determine whether the contract provided for an extension and whether the contractor was interested.
While there was consensus that the contractor has done a good job, several selectmen felt the contract needed some clarification, or at least that they ought to discuss their expectations with the contractor.
Selectman Ralph Caldwell said that rather than mowing all areas on a fixed schedule, it would be better to consider the needs of each area.
“(Youland) put a lot of good dirt on those fields when they were made and I added a lot of good fertilizer,” Caldwell said. “These fields need more mowing than some of the old cemeteries that had poor soil to begin with and have never had any nutrients added.”
Selectmen also:
* Reviewed a list submitted by Public Works Director Jack Moultrie of roads subject to spring thaw load limits. Caldwell, a local farmer, and Youland, a local contractor, insisted that the Public Works Department be diligent in issuing waivers when they are justified.
Terreri said Public Works would handle the matter the way selectmen wanted.
Youland said, “Post the roads when they need to be posted. The No. 1 priority is to protect the roads. We all know how expensive they are.” Unnecessary posting costs local businesses money, he said.
Caldwell said that in the past, his fields had been firm enough to spread manure, but he could not get to the field because of posted roads.
“The law permits trucks to travel on posted roads to pick up milk, but the farmer can’t travel on them to take feed to the cows or remove the manure,” he said.
TURNER – Long time Office Assistant Sandra Philipon was honored at the opening of the regular selectmen’s meeting Monday night.
American Legion Post 111 Adjutant Ed LePage told the selectmen that Philipon has been an invaluable asset to the town. “The Legion’s mission is to serve veterans and their families. We could not have done our mission without her help. Every time we have needed something from the town office, she has helped.”
Legion member Harris Bradeen presented Philipon with a framed certificate attesting to her service to the town, Turner veterans, and the American Legion.
Considerable time was spent discussing the town mowing contract. Selectman Kurt Youland expressed a desire to negotiate an extension of last year’s contract. The current contractor took the contract last year after the low bidder backed out of his bid. “This is the best any contractor has done in several years,” Youland said. “If he will accept the contract for another year at the same price, I believe we should take it.”
Board Chairman Angelo Terreri questioned if the board had the authority to extend the contract. He instructed Town Manager Scott LaFlamme to determine if the contract provided for an extension and if the contractor was interested.
While there was consensus that the contractor has done a good job, several selectmen felt the contract needed some clarification, or at least that they needed to discuss their expectations with the contractor.
Selectman Ralph Caldwell said that rather than mowing all areas on a fixed schedule it would be better to consider the needs of each area. “Kurt (Youland) put a lot of good dirt on those fields when they were made and I added a lot of good fertilizer. These fields need more mowing than some of the old cemeteries that had poor soil to begin with and have never had any nutrients added.”
Selectmen reviewed a list submitted by Public Works Director Jack Moultrie of roads subject to spring thaw load limits. Caldwell, a local farmer, and Youland, a local contractor were both insistent that the Public Works Department be diligent in issuing waivers when they are justified.
Terreri said that Public works will handle the matter the way the selectmen instruct them.
Youland said, “Post the roads when they need to be posted. The number one priority is to protect the roads. We all know how expensive they are.” He then went on to say that unnecessary posting cost local businesses money.
Caldwell said that in the past, his fields had been firm enough to spread manure, but he could not get to the field because of posted roads. “The law permits trucks to travel on posted roads to pick up milk, but the farmer can’t travel on them to take feed to the cows or remove the manure.”
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