by Sandy Isaac

Paving bids and a proposed solar project for local schools were discussed at the Windsor Selectmen’s meeting on July 23.

The meeting began with the public review of paving bids which were submitted earlier that evening to Town Manager Theresa Haskell. Bids were for projects on Piper Road, Coopers Mills Road and Griffin Road. These projects were factored into the current budget recently approved by voters.

Prior to the meeting, Haskell compiled the bid information into a comparison chart for the selectmen to review while asking questions and making their determination. Representatives from seven paving companies were on hand to listen and answer questions. Many of the paving crew members in the room knew and worked with or for each other in the past.

Most of the town roads are on a six- to seven-year maintenance schedule. Road maintenance may consist of crack sealing, shim work (a thin layer of asphalt thicker than a micro-surface, applied to the existing surface of a street), overlay (a layer of asphalt thicker than a shim applied to the existing surface) and complete resurfacing. According to Haskell’s research, road paving work averages $100,000 per mile.

The bids ranged from $235,560 to $361,510, with the average price of material coming in at $34.04 per ton. Over and above work (work discovered during the paving process) may include shoulder work, grading work and gravel.

The paving bid contract was approved and awarded to Maine-ly Paving Services, LLC. They are expected to start the paving project late summer to early fall.

Public work supervisor Keith Hall’s report continued to talk about road maintenance. The public works crew is completing ditching work to the rock wall along Reed Road. They are working on approximately 40 feet, but have hit ledge and will need to hire a “hammer.” Hall will be researching equipment rental. The rock wall will be built up once they have freed it up from the old fencing and deep tree roots.

Transfer station supervisor Tim Coston confirmed that the station revenue from incoming fees was down $2,000 from last year, with no explanation. Haskell reviewed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspection report regarding the transfer station. The last time the DEP inspected the transfer station was in 2011. Not much has changed since then. Grass was well maintained and there was no sign of animals burrowing. Although saplings were observed around the “cap” at the station, the DEP inspector recommended only more mowing.

It was also noted that due to the Windsor Fair, the transfer station will be opened only from 9 a.m. until noon on August 31.

During the public comment period, Regional School Unit (RSU) #12 School Board member Richard DeVries discussed the RSU #12 solar project and asked the selectmen if they wanted to be part of the planned feasibility study.

RSU#12 is investigating purchasing a property to be utilized as a solar farm. The solar farm location (which has yet to be determined) must be able to accommodate a large number of solar panels and have power lines in place, adequate to handle the power generated. The proposed solar farm will need to generate power for multiple locations including the local schools. Board members are looking into a bond to pay for the project and a 20-year agreement for installation and maintenance. In addition, DeVries is reaching out to partners who might want to invest in the project and use some of the power.

The feasibility study is the first step in the process and is estimated to be completed by September 4. The selectmen agreed to be part of the feasibility study at no cost to the town. Many questions were brought up as to locations, wattage to be generated and power line capabilities. The feasibility study should help clarify some of those concerns.

In other business, Haskell reviewed the finalized numbers from last year’s budget. Overall, the town spent only 89.72% of the total approved 2018-19 budget, despite the fact that utilities, (which includes public safety) public works and Maine Municipal Management Services all went over their projected budgets.

The selectmen will hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, August 6.

by Sandy Isaac

Dog barking and the Veterans’ Memorial fundraising efforts were major topics at Windsor’s Selectmen’s meeting on July 9.

A recent dog barking incident sparked conversations about ordinances at the last two selectmen’s meetings. Animal Control Officer Kim Bolduc-Bartlett attended the July 9 meeting at the request of the Town Manager Theresa Haskell.

During the June 25 meeting, a resident requested re-examination of the Windsor nuisance ordinance and asked that it include wording regarding barking dogs. The resident expressed concerns over futile attempts to maintain tranquility in her neighborhood due to several barking dogs.

Currently, state laws do not address dog barking. Some municipal ordinances do. For example, Sidney’s dog nuisance ordinance states, “Any owner or keeper causing or permitting a dog to bark, howl, or yelp continuously for twenty (20) minutes or intermittently for one (1) hour or more shall be in violation of this section.”

The town of China has a kennel ordinance with similar wording, stating that “the owner or operator of a kennel…shall not permit the dogs therein to disturb the peace of any person in the vicinity of such kennel by barking, howling, baying, whining, yelping or other loud and unreasonably long or frequent periods.”

However, Windsor’s nuisance ordinance does not mention dog barking. Therefore state police and animal control officers are not able to proceed farther than checking on the animals’ welfare and making sure all animals are properly licensed.

During the June 25 meeting, the selectmen agreed to do additional research, contact the town attorney and re-discuss the subject during the July 9 meeting. On July 9, Bolduc-Bartlett presented copies of her reports on the dogs of whom the resident had complained. Since the resident was unable to be present, selectmen tabled further discussion.

Joyce Perry, chairman of the Windsor Veterans’ Memorial Committee, informed the selectmen about fundraising efforts for the Veterans’ Memorial, including a free concert by the Downeast Brass Band at 7 p.m., Thursday, July 25, at the Town Hall, featuring ‘60s music and discussion of the history of the music.

During the upcoming Windsor Fair, the memorial committee was offered two tables, one for items to sell and one to display information. The Windsor Historical Society offered the first table for free but planned to charge for the second. Haskell inspired the selectmen to each donate $5 to pay for the second table. She added her $5 to bring the total to $30: $20 for the table and $10 donated to the Veterans’ Memorial.

The Memorial will be located on Ridge and Reed roads and incorporate the existing monument. Original cost estimates for the project were over $45,000. Since 2017, over $14,500 has been raised through beano games at the Windsor Fair, flower sales, pie auctions, public suppers, other concerts and private donations. Windsor voters appropriated $19,000 from the last two budgets. In addition, J.C.Stone Inc., of Jefferson, donated two stone benches for the site. However, the committee still needs to raise over $11,000 to complete the project.

In her capacity as cemetery sexton, Perry provided an update on cemetery maintenance. The Windsor Neck Cemetery’s fencing has been replaced with poles and chains, thanks to the public works crew. While replacing the fencing, some granite with attached iron piping had been found. Due to safety concerns, the public works department will request permission from residents abutting the cemetery to remove the granite. A pile of rocks in the North Windsor Cemetery will be removed at the same time. If usable, all of the rock and granite collected with be repurposed on other projects.

In other business, Public Works Supervisor Keith Hall gave an update on preparing for the anticipated installation of a new diesel tank. The cement pad has been set and Hall is submitting drawings of the project’s layout to the state fire marshal for approval. Hall is requesting pricing for a 1,000-gallon and a 2,000-gallon double walled tank for comparison. Once installed, the tank will then be enclosed in a protective cement barrier. Although money for the tank was not part of the budget for the current fiscal year, selectmen deemed it necessary after John Moody announced his pending retirement. Moody has supplied the town with around-the-clock fuel service; selectmen want to have an alternative in place prior to snow plowing season.

The fire department also needs to find a source for after-hours fuel. Selectmen are discussing options for allowing firefighters to access the new tank.

Selectmen planned the final steps in acquiring the new Ford super-duty truck for the public works department. Arrangements will be made for the publics work crew to travel to Massachusetts to pick it up. Despite extensive research, officials could not find a locally-available truck meeting the town’s specifications.

The selectmen hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, July 23.

by Sandy Isaac

At the May 29 Windsor Selectmen’s meeting, members discussed road, bridge and tree maintenance, purchasing a new one-ton truck and installing a diesel tank for the Public Works Department.

The meeting began with Road Supervisor Keith Hall presenting the Public Works report. He said Windsor is currently out of salt but will have to wait for funds to become available before purchasing more. The wood chipper rental is coming in and the crew has plans to chip uprooted trees, trim back limbs and shape the height on a few trees, particularly on Schumann Road and Choate Road. Road sealing has been scheduled. Some drainage pipes need to be changed but Hall needs to wait for more funds before he calls Dig Safe and schedule the work. Money for salt and road work will become available when the new fiscal year begins July 1.

Last meeting, Selectmen Ray Bates brought up that Windsor needs to replace its one-ton truck. Due to rumors that Internationals and Dodges have body and transmission problems, selectmen are currently looking at Fords. Selectman Ronald Brann said one local dealer told him that Ford is not currently producing 2020 super duty models, reportedly because their contracted manufacturers gas tanks are unsatisfactory. The only dealerships that currently have any 2019 super-duties are out of state and won’t trade or sell to a local dealer.

Discussions continued about installing a diesel tank for the Public Works Department. Regulations seem to have changed so selectmen intend to contact Vassalboro to compare procedures.

Town Manager Theresa Haskell read the results from the recently completed bridge inspections. Schumann Road had some washout by the guard rail that needs to be fixed, but overall, no notable changes from the last inspection. Sampson Road bridge, Barton Stream bridge, and a few others all reported little or no change with only minor recommendations made in the report. The state maintained Choate Road and Maxcy’s Mills Road bridges were discussed as needing repair.

Transfer Station Supervisor Tim Coston was not available for the meeting. Hall gave the transfer station report and indicated some spots at the transfer station have become slippery due to the nature of the area. An anti-slip coating has been purchased but the area will need to be power washed prior to the application.

There was no report from the animal control officer or the cemetery sexton. However, Haskell mentioned that Windsor Neck Cemetery’s wood fencing is rotting, and should be replaced with a post and chain structure similar to the other cemeteries in town. Before the changes are made, the town will need to buy more poles and chains. The poison ivy in that area will have to be addressed before any employee does the repair.

Public comments came from Windsor Planning Board member Jerry Nault. Nault has been attending Somerville Planning Board meetings where they discussed their research of marijuana guidelines. He reported that Somerville prepared a survey and sent out 350 postcards inviting residents to complete it either electronically or on paper, approximately half replied electronically. The survey showed that residents overwhelmingly oppose marijuana social clubs.

Selectmen expect state legislators to address marijuana regulation before their summer recess. Assuming they do, Somerville selectmen will probably schedule public hearings and a town vote. Depending on the outcome of the vote, the planning board might need to amend the town’s zoning and land use ordinances.

Nault said the Somerville board did not plan to meet again until July when he will again be welcomed to attend. The Windsor Planning Board is waiting for more information before taking any action.

The next Windsor selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for June 11, at 6 p.m.