Buckfield Board of Selectmen

Nov. 1, 2016

Buckfield Town Office

Development concerns

What happened: A number of neighbors are upset with an ongoing project for a Christmas tree farm on Faunce Road and selectmen voted to invite the new owners to meet with abutters to discuss their concerns.

What it means: Neighbors reported issues with roads being blocked, easement requests for the Buckfield Village Corp. to bring water to the property and the new building erected on a right of way. Many said they’re upset because they don’t know what’s going on and have not been able to receive answers.

What’s next: Town Manager Cindy Dunn will draft a letter to send to the new owner, BKM Properties, to invite them to meet with the neighbors at the Municipal Building.

Court action

What happened: Selectmen voted to go to court over an unpermitted junkyard at 17 Depot St.

What it means: Dunn said she has had agreements with current tenant and former owner Roger Bennett to clean up the property in the past, but deadlines have not been met. This includes Monday’s deadline, which Dunn said meant the property was still in violation. Bennett was brought to court once before and the court ruled in the town’s favor that the property had to be cleaned up.

What’s next: The town will take legal action against Bennett for the state junkyard law violation, which will be settled in court.

Insurance addition

What happened: Going against Dunn’s recommendation, selectmen did not approve including eligible employees’ domestic partners for insurance coverage. Selectman Maida DeMers-Dobson made a motion to add domestic partners to the town’s insurance policy. The motion did not receive a second and failed. She told Board of Selectmen Chairman Warren Wright and Selectman Mike Iveson that their decision “make(s) us look like screaming bigots.”

What it means: Domestic partners will still not be covered under the town’s carrier, Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust. 

What’s next: At the request of resident Vivian Wadas, Dunn said she would research whether such actions could be considered discriminatory.

Library policy

What happened: Selectmen voted 2-1 to accept the new Accession and Deaccession Policy with grammatical corrections for the Zadoc Long Free Library, with Wright and Iveson voting for and DeMers-Dobson voting against.

What it means: Previously, selectmen directed Library Committee members to draft a policy for acquisition and disposal of items donated to the library because there are some items members want to get rid of and storage is limited. This document will dictate how the town gets, accepts and gets rid of items. DeMers-Dobson made a motion to table it, which was voted down.

What’s next: The town will use the policy to accept and get rid of donations for the library. Such actions will involve the town manager, library staff and Library Committee.

Financial report

What happened: Selectmen unanimously accepted the town’s financial report after it was tabled at the last meeting.

What it means: The town is in good financial standing, according to Dunn and the report, which covers July 1 to Oct. 14.

Community Day Committee

What happened: Selectmen appointed Janet Iveson to the Community Day Committee for a two-year term.

What it means: Iveson will serve on the committee and help plan for the upcoming Community Day celebration, usually held on Labor Day.

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