Buckfield Board of Selectmen

Dec. 6, 2016

Buckfield Town Office

Legal dispute

What happened: Selectmen unanimously decided to table action on a special amusement permit request, local liquor license allowance application and state liquor license application for the Buck-It Grill & Pub after legal issues arose with the lease and sale of property.

What it means: The property at 371 Turner St. was formerly Captain Bly’s Tavern, leased by business owner Mark McAlister until December 2018. Lee Johnson acquired the property in June from DSB LLC via a warranty deed. Johnson says his purchase of the property included the business. Jeff Wilson, attorney for McAlister, said Johnson illegally locked his client out of the building and on Tuesday, filed a $500,000 complaint for breach of contract, conversion of all of the assets in the business and a 30-day notice to quit against Johnson.

What’s next: All parties agree the issue should be settled in court. Selectmen will not take any action on the applications until a legal decision is made.

No extension

What happened: Selectmen voted 2-1 to not extend insurance benefits to eligible employees’ domestic partners.

What it means: Voting for the measure were board Chairman Warren Wright and Selectman Mike Iveson, citing costs or potential costs to the town. Voting against was Selectman Maida DeMers-Dobson, who wants to extend coverage to domestic partners. The issue originally came up in the beginning of November because an employee wanted to add his domestic partner to his insurance for dental coverage.

Appointment

What happened: Selectmen unanimously reappointed Michelle Casey to the Budget Committee for a three-year term.

What it means: Casey will meet with her fellow members of the Budget Committee when they convene to work on the fiscal 2017 budget.

What’s next: The town is looking for two more members for the Budget Committee. Interested townspeople can pick up applications at the Town Office, 34 Turner St. 

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