Buckfield Board of Selectmen
Buckfield Town Office
March 20, 2017
Town manager search
What happened: Selectmen voted unanimously to hold a workshop next month on the town manager search.
What it means: The workshop is set for 9 a.m. Monday, April 17, at the Town Office, 34 Turner St., so Selectman Mike Iveson can attend after his leave of absence. At the last selectmen meeting, Town Manager Cindy Dunn resigned that position and others associated with it as of June 30 when her contract is up.
What’s next: Selectmen cannot take action at the workshop, but could at their meeting Tuesday, April 18.
Library project
What happened: After receiving only two bids for the Zadoc Long Free Library renovation project, selectmen voted to solicit bids again.
What it means: Selectmen wanted more bids for the electrical and carpentry work. Work includes changing to energy-efficient lighting, removing the suspended ceiling to expose the original, electrical work in the basement and enclosing the furnace room. The two bids will remain in play while others are sought.
What’s next: Dunn will advertise for bids in the newspaper.
Cemetery policy
What happened: Dunn shared her initial findings regarding other towns’ cemeteries maintenance policies.
What it means: Eight towns responded so far with information on how many cemeteries the town owns or maintains, the annual cemetery maintenance budget, size and cost of plots, what is done with plot sale revenue and how many cemetery plots, on average, are sold each year. At their last meeting, selectmen directed Dunn to research these questions and directed the Budget Committee to look into financial aspects of the Buckfield Damon Cemetery Lot Policy.
What’s next: Selectmen tabled reviewing the Buckfield Damon Cemetery Lot Policy until the Budget Committee can conduct its review at the Wednesday, March 22 meeting, and report to selectmen.
Resignation
What happened: Selectmen unanimously accepted, with regret, Assessing Agent Jerry Samson’s resignation because he is retiring.
What it means: Dunn sent out requests for proposals to 24 certified Maine assessing agents. Bids are due by noon, Friday, April 14. The assessing season in Buckfield starts in late summer/early fall.
What’s next: Dunn will present the bid results at the selectmen meeting.
Bylaws review
What happened: Selectmen accepted the amendments to the Budget Committee’s bylaws.
What it means: Selectmen voted 2-1 to approve the changes with Chairman Warren Wright and Maida DeMers-Dobson in favor and Mike Iveson against. Some changes include the committee: meeting quarterly to review the town treasurer’s quarterly reports; reviewing its bylaws annually; submitting a synopsis for the annual report and a Budget Committee account so one-page fliers can be created and distributed regarding the upcoming budget.
What’s next: Budget Committee members should be able to begin to review the budget by next week because Dunn said she should have it complete by this weekend.
TV manual repealed
What happened: During their biennial policies and bylaws review, selectmen unanimously repealed the Buckfield Community Television Policy & Procedures Manual.
What it means: The committee the manual was created for no longer exists. Selectmen meetings will continue to be broadcast on Time Warner Cable.
What’s next: The town will explore the feasibility of broadcasting the meetings on the internet.
Water survey
What happened: Dunn said student Tad Caldwell is conducting a study on spring water awareness and use in Buckfield, Paris and Norway areas.
What it means: Anyone interested in completing the survey can get a copy at the Town Office at 34 Turner St. or call the office at 207-336-2521.
What’s next: Caldwell will return to the Town Office in a week or so to pick up the surveys.
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