CHESTERVILLE — The recent resignation of two selectmen and the absence of a third at Thursday night’s meeting meant the board could not sign the town payroll or pay bills because it lacked a quorum.
The minimum number of selectmen needed to make a meeting or any official action valid is three.
Anne Lambert and David Archer resigned from the board Sept. 15. Selectman Paul Caldwell did not attend Thursday’s meeting because, according to Board Chairman Guy Iverson, he did not want to be “yelled at” for repeatedly confronting Road Foreman Ron Powers, who resigned as a result of Caldwell’s “badgering,” Powers said.
Their resignations came a week after a special town meeting to ask voters to approve spending $3,500 from undesignated funds to pay IRS penalties related to payroll taxes.
Some selectmen learned after the meeting that the penalties had already been paid. Lambert said the mix-up had “put her over the edge.” Archer offered no reason for his resignation.
Iverson and Selectman Matt Welch faced more than 20 residents who came to ask questions and voice their concerns.
Powers was there to turn in his keys.
“I feel it is in my best interest to go elsewhere,” he said. “There was a difference with a particular member of the board. I had no problems with other members of the board.”
“I actually quit two or three weeks ago because of the repetitive badgering,” he said.
Iverson said, “You did an outstanding job. Drive down any road and what you’ve done this year can be seen. Ron started with a $300,000 budget and there is still more than $100,000 left. We all are really sorry you’re leaving.”
Iverson said Mike Cote, who has worked with Powers, will take over as interim road foreman and Powers has agreed to help him.
Iverson said an argument began three weeks ago over culverts. Last week, Caldwell brought pictures taken at angles that made things look worse than they are, Iverson said, adding that Powers had not started the fight.
Resident Kathy Gregory, who has been attending selectmen meetings since September, said Caldwell showed some level of disrespect to Powers during at least 50 percent of the meetings. Caldwell’s “gotcha” attitude was upsetting, she said.
When Powers got up to leave, residents gave him a round of applause.
The town lacks a disbursement policy and, according to the Maine Municipal Association, three selectmen are needed to sign the warrants during an open meeting. Iverson had hoped to have the warrants signed at 4 p.m. before the public arrived, but he was told that wouldn’t be legal.
Iverson said he had planned to speak with Welch about writing a letter requesting Caldwell step down from the board, but the town would not be able to conduct any business until after the election if that were to happen.
“There are many policies that this town needs and doesn’t have,” Iverson said. “No one likes policies, but you need them. They can protect you.”
“I want employees to get paid,” Gregory said. “If Paul Caldwell won’t come to the selectmen’s meetings, I want him to know that he’s not doing his job and he’s hurting the town.”
Iverson said he would look into holding an emergency meeting Friday to sign the warrants, act on creating a disbursement policy and sign renewals for junkyard licenses that expire Oct. 31.
When asked if they should come to work tomorrow, Iverson told the employees yes, there is plenty of work to do.
“We have some rebuilding to do,” Iverson said.
Tiffany Estabrooke and Steve Welch are running for the seat vacated by Archer. No one is running for the remainder of Lambert’s term.
pharnden@sunmediagroup.net
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