by The Town Line staff

At their September 13 meeting, the Windsor Select Board unanimously approved the awarding of the plowing contract for the 2022-23 winter to McGee Construction.

McGee Construction had notified Town Manager Theresa Haskell that they were increasing their hourly rate from $110 to $125 per hour, making the price of the plowing contract $31,250, for 250 hours of service and $110 per hour over the contracted 250 hours. That is a $3,750 increase from last year.

Haskell indicated she would, or should, send out requests for proposals. However, the last time the town sent out RFPs it received no bids except for McGee. Select board member Ronald Brann said the town of Windsor is getting a great price even with the increase. He added that other towns are having a tough time to get contractors to do plowing.

Haskell said she has done a cost analysis with other towns and they were paying over $4,000 a mile, when Windsor would be paying $2,476.88 per mile under the new contract.

In other business, Haskell. reported revenues at the transfer station were down ($565.70) from this time in August of last year, for a total of $1,964.62 for the year.

Joel Greenwood from KVCOG, Jerry Nault and Carol Chavarie, both planning board members, were present to answer questions about the Draft Utility Scale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance. After much discussion, Greenwood said he will update the discussed changes and will report back to Haskell.

The select board also unanimously approved placing two questions on the November 8 ballot. The first is asking to authorize the board to accept, on behalf of the town, any coronavirus local fiscal recovery funds, also known as Americaan Rescue Plan or ARPA funds, received by the town from the federal government, enter into agreements or other documentation required, and appropriate and expend the funds, up to $185,000, for upgrading communications equipment for public safety purposes, including the addition of an automatic generator for the town’s telecommunications towers.

The second article asks to authorize the select board to accept and dispense ARPA money, in the amount of $35,000, to purchase an X Series manual monitor/defibrillator for the Windsor Rescue.

Haskell was appointed to represent the town with KVCOG, and Ray Bates was appointed the elected official.

Haskell asked the select board to hold a public hearing to adopt the General Assistance Ordinance GA Appendages (A-G) for the period of October 1, 2022, to September 30, 2023. The board approved the meeting and was held on September 27.

It was noted that Town Clerk Kelly McGlothlin has received her town clerk certification and was congratulated by the office staff at the presentation at the Maine Town/City Clerk Association meeting.

Ray Bates was re-elected as chairman of the select board with three votes. William Appel Jr. and Andrew Ballantyne each received one vote.

The next meeting of the Windsor Select Board was held on September 27.

by The Town Line staff

At their August 30 meeting, the Windsor Select Board, suspending as the select board, and convening as the board of assessors, unanimously (3-0, Ronald F. Brann had yet to arrive), approved the abatements and supplemental tax warrant, as presented by Assessor’s Agent Vern Ziegler, as follows: Abatement of $301.40 for David and Angela Nelson, for an omitted homestead; The Colwell Family Revocable Trust, in the amount of $1,213.82, The Colwell Family Revocable Trust for $1,178.20, and the Colwell Family Revocable Trust, in the amount of $1,243.96, all for error in land. Also, the Supplemental Tax Warrant for the Colwell family in the amount of $1,724.83, because of a lot merge omitted from assessment.

Ziegler distributed the 2022 municipal valuation return and was accepted by the select board, in a 3-0 vote.

The members then suspended as the board of assessors and reconvened as the select board.

The board then authorized Town Manager Theresa Haskell to send a request for a contract to review the town re-evaluation.

A tree reportedly ready to fall on the Hunts Meadow Road was referred to Central Maine Power Co. who said they would send someone out to look at it.

Road Supervisor Keith Hall reported the state of Maine has received funding for road shim, but Windsor was at the bottom of the list. Hall is going to talk to the Maine Department of Transportation about Route 105 and what can be done before winter.

In other business, Haskell noted that the town will need to renew three existing junkyard permits and wanted to know if the select board wanted to hold a public hearing. The select board decided that since they are existing junkyard permits and nothing has changed, and they have received no complaints, there is no need to hold a public hearing.

Select board member Richard H. Gray Jr., was absent from the meeting and Ronald F. Brann arrived at 6:25 p.m.

by The Town Line staff

The Windsor select board on August 2 heard from Keith Hall, road supervisor, that all the paving is done. A few driveway repairs will need to be finished, and one on the Weeks Mills Road, which has a steep grade, will need fixing. They planned on beginning to paint lines the following week. Hall also reported the Sampson Road sign was taken and will be replaced.

At the transfer station, Town Manager Theresa Haskell reported, in the absence of Transfer Station Supervisor Sean Teekema, that the compactor area and the area under the large scale have been cleaned up. The painting of the large and small scales has been completed.

The monthly totals at the transfer station indicate revenues are down $1,398.92 from this time last year in July for a monthly total of $6,971.55.

At the Rest Haven Cemetery, Sean and Moira Teekema have painted seven panels. Bob and Liz Harriman continue to spray Wet & Forget on the stones. So far, 1,040 stones have one coat and 390 have two coats. They did 325 stones on July 25 and 26. There are 26 monuments that will need a step ladder to reach.

In other matters, Carol Chavarie and Jerry Nault were present to answer questions on the Draft UtilityScale Solar Energy Facility Ordinance. The question asked was how they came up with a 0.10 M.W. number. Nault responded that it was suggested by KVCOG which came from other town ordinances. There was much discussion on the requirements of permits and land value assessments.

The select board members voted 4-0 to authorized Haskell to vote on the MMA annual election on the board’s behalf. Select board member Ronald Brann was absent.

Haskell reported the time capsule has been ordered and will have the town seal engraved on top. There was discussion on different places to bury the time capsule. Selectman Andrew Ballantyne suggested town officials write a note to the future officials to read when the time capsule is opened in 100 years.

Haskell read a letter from Delta Ambulance regarding a possible yearly transport fee. She said this may be something that needs to be added to next year’s budget with an estimated cost of $15 per capita.

There was discussion about installing a heat pump in the town office and upstairs hall. Estimates will be sought.

Haskell also read a press release from municipal officials that the town of Windsor received a $2,427 dividend check from the Maine Municipal Association for its good performance and loss prevention programs. The press release is available on the town’s website under Municipal Government, The Town Hub.

There was also discussion on creating a new website for the town which would also make it mobile friendly.

The next meeting of the select board was scheduled for August 16.