By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Aside from a series of board appointments, reports from elected officials dominated the relatively short July 21 meeting of the Limestone Board of Selectpeople.
On topics ranging from mowing obligations to an update on the new Limestone Manor, Selectpeople Fred Pelletier, Tom Devoe, Walt Elliott, Jimmy Pelletier and Jim Leighton and Town Manager Donna Bernier deliberated town matters for just under an hour.
In her manager’s report, Bernier informed the Selectpeople that “despite rumors, the new Limestone Manor will be coming to town,” she said. “The project is still very much alive and [Limestone Manor owners] are still very munch interested.”
According to her report, project planners with Limestone Manor are looking to shift the construction site up from the previously agreed 10 town-owned acres — located, vaguely speaking, on the land behind Kelly’s Gun Shop and Michaud Park — to make the projected $5.2 million structure more visible. The Weatherhead family owns the land sought by project planners; Bernier and Elliot met with members of the family in mid July, and the family has expressed their intent to sell the requested parcel.
Bernier also updated the Selectpeople on the state of union contract negotiations, and informed them that there is a new business in town. Newly up-and-running Caldwell Sanitation had brought a bid proposal in to Bernier for consideration; after a short discussion regarding usage and feasibility of switching sanitation providers, Bernier suggested that the current sanitation company should have an option to submit an updated bid on services and the topic was tabled until tonight’s Selectpeople meeting.
In the elected officials reports, Fred Pelletier vocalized concern with the services being provided to the town through Crown Ambulance. The contract between the two entities stipulates that Crown will have an ambulance on call in Limestone for 12 hours a day. According to Pelletier, the terms of the contract have not been met.
“They’ve been breeching this contract for a year,” he told Bernier and fellow Selectpeople.
Pelletier also shared with the board reports he’d heard from community members regarding the Limestone Police Department. One issue was that the Police Department’s SUV was being driven too much and the other was that the Department wasn’t checking up on local businesses enough.
“There’ve been reports that building aren’t being checked after hours,” Pelletier said. “School doors have been left unlocked that have gone unnoticed, one business in town even left their keys in the door all night.”
Police Chief Stacey Mahan responded to concerns, explaining that issues regarding the un-locked doors had been addressed and assuring the Selectpeople that the continued use of the SUV was due to mechanical concerns with one of the cruisers that has since been resolved.
Also under the elected official’s report, Leighton suggested a deviation of responsibilities for the town’s mowing, stating that the transfer of mowing supervision — which includes Trafton Lake and Michaud Park — from recently hired Parks and Recreation Director Amanda Brooker to Director of Public Works Michael Cote would “free her up for the things that she wants to do for the rec department,” he said.
“I think that we have a really good rec director now,” Leighton explained, “my concern is that they’re asking a lot from her, just like they asked a lot of Jamie [Labreck, the previous Parks and Recreation Director].”
In the beginning of the meeting, the Selectpeople appointed dozens of individuals to various boards:
• Elliot was selected as the Board Representative for the Northern Maine Development Commission.
• Leighton was chosen as the Board Representative on the Tri-Community Landfill Board.
• John Poitras, Robert Schrum, Chris Durepo, Raylene Haley and Fred Edgecomb were re-appointed to the Budget Committee until 2013.
• Bev Edgecomb was chosen to fill Selectperson Tom Devoe’s unexpired term on the Budget Committee until 2012.
• Jim Cote and Peter Page were both re-appointed to the Planning Board until 2013.
• Fred Griffeth wasre-appointed to the Board of Appeals until 2013.
• Cindy Edgecomb and Marilyn King were re-appointed to the Library Board of Trustees until 2013.
• Marleen Durepo was re-appointed as the Registrar of Voters until 2012.
• Greg Ward and Gatane Bernier were appointed Election Clerks until 2012.
• C.P. Harris was re-appointed as citizen representative to the NMDC Board.
The next meeting of the Limestone Selectpeople is scheduled for tonight at 6:30 at the Municipal Building in Limestone.
