CANTON—At the selectmen’s meeting on Feb. 25, selectman Donald Hutchins (Chairman of the board), Brian Keene (Co-chairman), Robert Walker Jr., Malcolm Ray, and Russell Adams discussed the drafting of a new Drug and Alcohol Policy which will include regulations for all town employees.
The town’s current Drug and Alcohol Policy only addresses Commercial Driver’s License holders (CDL drivers) and does not include any regulations for non-CDL town employees. Selectmen agreed that the current policy will be rewritten in a more formal style, and include regulations for all town employees. A final copy of the policy will be adopted and signed tentatively at the next selectmen’s meeting on March 10.
The town will be posting an opening for the position of Fire Chief on its Facebook page, in the Sun Journal, and on Maine Municipal Association’s website for a two week time period (dates unknown at this time). Applicants will be screened according to town ordinance requirements for the appointed Fire Chief position, and only those who meet the ordinance requirements will be interviewed.
Administrative Assistant Scotty Kilbreth said that 40 foreclosure notices were sent out to citizens and half of them were paid and processed. Landowners have another three weeks following their initial payments to pay any outstanding balances and avoid foreclosure.
The Greater Androscoggin Humane Society has not provided a key for the town’s Animal Control Officers to bring animals to the facility. The key was requested several times and now a letter will be sent to the facility explaining that their bill will not be paid due to the lack of a key for the officers.
Selectman Keene said that Time Warner’s franchise renewal agreement with the town will expire next year. He is checking into the possibility of free internet access for the Fire Department and the Public Works Garage.
The Public Works Department is using almost as much salt on the roads as last year, due to more storms with ice on the roads, selectman Walker said.
The town damn can’t be closed down until the ice is out on Canton lake, selectman Ray noted. Since there is not as much snow pack this year discharge of the water will be somewhat earlier than last year.
The budget committee is considering a reserve account of $2500 for the Fire Department’s turnout gear, the jackets and pants for the firemen. The town would vote to authorize the reserve account for the gear.
mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net
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