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.

 

by The Town Line staff

At an abbreviated meeting of the Windsor Select Board on June 21, they unanimously approved certificates of appointments, submitted by Town Manager Theresa Haskell.

Kim Bolduc-Bartlett was appointed animal control officer, with Peter A. Nerber as back-up, to be effective through June 30, 2023. Carol Chavarie was appointed to the planning board, effective through June 30, 2025. Theresa Haskell and Raymond Chavarie Jr., were appointed to the Windsor Educational Foundation and Reed Fund, effective through June 30, 2025, and Theresa Haskell and Bonnie Squiers were appointed to the cemetery committee effective through June 30, 2025.

In other business, Haskell informed the residents that Assessor’s Agent Vern Ziegler is in the process of doing property assessments, in response to a few concerns from residents about an unknown vehicle parked in their driveways taking photographs.

Approximately three weeks ago, select board member Andrew Ballantyne was approached by a resident who asked if the town is going to do anything about the gravel pits around town. They felt there should be an ordinance regarding gravel pits since there is one currently being drafted regarding the solar farms. Ballantyne briefly responded and advised the residents to attend a select board meeting so the rest of the select board members could address their concerns. It was mentioned that any property over five acres would need to go through Department of Environmental Protection approval as well as what the town has for ordinances.

Another topic was personal property taxes to which Ballantyne responded the select board members would need to be involved in the discussion.

The next meeting was scheduled for July 5.

by The Town Line staff

At their May 24 meeting, the Windsor Select Board voted unanimously to award a paving bid to Jamie Ward of Maine-ly Paving Services, LLC, in the amount of $471,985.50.

In all, there were four bids submitted. Charlie Emerson with All State Construction, Inc., submitted a bid for $502,820.56, Jaeden Folster with Northeast Paving submitted a bid for $642,070 and Jeff Mullis submitted a bid of $584,850.

Keith Hall reported the repair or replacement of the pipe on the Jones Road could last another two to three years. It would be approximately $300,000 to fix the pipe which includes digging and the cost of the pipe. The select board agreed to hold off on repairing the pipe. According to Hall, work will continue on Shuman Road. The town recently received the Safety Enhancement Grant of $1,660 for public works signs, barricades and cones.

Also, Town Manageer Theresa Haskell noted the preventative maintenance work at the transfer station has been completed.

In other business, Haskell read a letter from Vern Ziegler, assessor’s agent, for the 2022 Ratio Declaration and Reimbursement Application, which is filed annual with the Maine Revenue Service to claim homestead reimbursement. The municipality declares a current year certified ratio of 88 percent. The board passed the motion unanimously.

Edward Pollard III, Erica Ontiveros, and Monique Crummett were all presemt to introduce themselves and tell the board why they are interested in serving on the RSU #12 school board, and Moira Teekema explained why she has interest serving on the budget committee.

Also,

• Haskell read a letter from Waste Management regarding a two percent increase;
• There was a special meeting of the select board on May 31 to sign the RSU #12 warrant and notice calling Regional School Unit #12 budget validation referendum;
• Haskell discussed the Kennebec County Hazard Mitigation Plan. She read it and presented it to the board for their consideration.

The select board then went into executive session to discuss personnel matters.