Buckfield Board of Selectmen

March 6, 2018

Buckfield Municipal Building

Bridge project

What happened: Jeff Stern of the Androscoggin River Watershed Council gave an update on the Darnit Brook-Shedd Hollow Road project, including a timeline for work.

What it means: Stern continues to look for grants to pay for replacing the bridge over Darnit Brook on Shedd Hollow Road which washed out in October 2017. The cost is estimated at $210,000. So far, $141,200 has been secured from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Town Manager Joe Roach said he learned since the Federal Emergency Management Agency considers the bridge washout a natural disaster, the federal government will cover the difference in funding, minus 10 percent. The structure was slated to be replaced because it prohibited trout from crossing the waterway and some died in the bottom of the culvert.

What’s next: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working on federal permitting and Stern will begin securing local and Army Corps of Engineer permitting, along with requests for proposals. If all goes to plan, construction could begin in late summer or early fall. 

Social Services Committee

What happened: Social Services Committee member Eileen Hotham gave the recommendations for social services funding for fiscal year 2019.

What it means: She said she was upset that the committee was accused of being loosey-goosey with the town’s money. She said the committee takes townpeople’s money to heart and doesn’t recommend funding frivolously.

Selectboard Vice Chairwoman Cheryl Coffman said selectmen wanted to know the process for recommendations. The committee received 11 requests for social services funding and recommended funding for six agencies. They include $150 for Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, $1,425 for Community Concepts, $1,000 for Rural Community Action Ministry, $175 for Safe Voices, $350 for SeniorsPlus and $150 Western Maine Veterans.

What’s next: The recommendations will be considered during the budget process.

BVC meeting

What happened: Selectmen agreed to meet with members of the Buckfield Village Corporation at the next board meeting.

What it means: They will discuss the agreement regarding the corporation paying the town for secretarial duties of the town clerk. Selectboard Chairwoman Maida DeMers-Dobson said she was told it originally wasn’t supposed to be long term.

What’s next: Selectmen can decide on the agreement or bring it to town meeting, according to Roach. The next selectmen’s meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, at the Municipal Building, 34 Turner St. 

Public hearing rescheduled

What happened: Selectmen rescheduled the public hearing on the governance analysis project originally set for Wednesday, March 7, to next week because of the impending snowstorm.

What it means: The public hearing was rescheduled to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the Municipal Building.

Joint meeting

What happened: Selectmen changed the time for the joint meeting with the Sumner Board of Selectmen for next week.

What it means: The Buckfield and Sumner Boards of Selectmen make up the Buckfield Sumner Solid Waste Committee, as the towns jointly operate the Transfer Station. The officials will discuss a number of issues, including finances and ongoing repairs needed for aging equipment.

What’s next: The meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 13, at the Sumner Town Office, 633 Main St.

Lithograph

What happened: Selectmen voted to frame and repair the broken glass on a lithograph that was originally hung in the Zadoc Long Free Library as part of the building’s original decor.

What it means: An estimate from Kimball Street Studio in Lewiston said it would cost roughly $125 to fix the ancient Greek lithograph. Selectmen agreed to hang it on town property in attempt to preserve the town’s history, since it was created near the same time the library was built in 1901. Candy Brook was concerned about the artwork, which depicts nearly naked men, being on display for children to see.

What’s next: Roach and Town Clerk Cindy Dunn will see if there is money in the budget. If not, selectmen could ask for donations.