Vassalboro town warrant in almost-final form for select board, attorney review

by Mary Grow

By the April 27 Vassalboro select board meeting, Town Manager Aaron Miller had the warrant for the annual town meeting in almost-final form for board members’ review.

The group discussed questions about some articles. Miller asked board members to review the draft one more time; he said the town attorney will also review it.

The town meeting will, as in past years, be in two sections. The open meeting will be Monday evening, June 5, followed by written balloting Tuesday, June 13.

As of April 27, on June 13 voters will decide local elections; whether to reaffirm the school budget approved June 5; and whether to add a section governing commercial solar installations to the town’s Site Review Ordinance.

Select board members plan to sign the final warrant at their May 11 meeting.

In other business April 27, board members decided to sell by sealed bid a tax-acquired property on South Stanley Hill Road. They set the bid opening date for June 8, their first June meeting; Miller said the sale will be well advertised.

They awarded a bid to install five heat pumps in the former East Vassalboro schoolhouse to Impact Heat Pumps, in Oakland, at a price of $29,975. The building is owned by the town and serves as the Vassalboro Historical Society’s headquarters and museum.

One other bid was much higher than Impact’s. Another, board members said, was $420 lower, but with higher expected maintenance costs. Historical Society representative John Melrose offered other reasons to choose Impact, such as the owner’s recognition of the building’s historic status.

The Efficiency Maine program is expected to help fund the heat pumps. How much the state will contribute is not yet known. Melrose said a donor might help reduce the town’s share.

Board members discussed the fees Vassalboro charges for licenses and permits. Chairman Barbara Redmond suggested a public hearing if board members recommend increases, for example for marijuana growing.

The next regular Vassalboro select board meeting is scheduled for Thursday evening, May 11, in the town office meeting room.