ANNUAL TOWN MEETING

MAY 18.2007

The annual town meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by the town clerk.

The call for the meeting was read. The return of the warrant was signed by Walter G. Knudsen.

There were 24 voters and 2 visitors at the town meeting.

After the call for the meeting was read we went directly to the Articles as listed in the warrant.

.Article 1: The name of Jake Morrel was placed in nomination and seconded for the Moderator. Since there were no other nominations, 2 ballots were cast for Mr. Morrel and the meeting continued from there.

Article 2: To Elect a Selectperson for the term of three (3) years. There was a nomination of Thomas Kirkman which was seconded. There were no further nominations from the floor. A vote as called for by the moderator and Mr. Thomas Kirkman was voted in unanimously.

Article 2: To Elect a Selectperson for the term of one (1) year. The name of Jack R. Bair was the first nomination. The nomination was seconded. Since there were no further nominations from the floor a vote was called for. Mr. Bair was elected unanimously.

Article 3: To elect a member to the School Committee for a three- (3) year term. The name of Marilyn Goodwin was presented and seconded. The vote was unanimous in favor of Marilyn.

Article 4: To see if the Town will authorize the Board of Selectman to appoint all other usual and necessary town officials, The vote was unanimous.

Article 5: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the Salaries of the municipal officers and the Town's Share of social security taxes for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Amount recommended was $30,665.00.

Question was asked why the increase from last year. Increases in salaries were for the staff members who have not had an increase since 2003. Increase was for the cost, of living adjustment. Administrative Assistant was increased slightly more than the other offices due to the increase of hours that she puts in. There is not enough business to warrant opening another day but current hours will be extended from 9:00 a.m. to noon, Vote was Unanimous in the affirmative,

Article 6: To see what sum of money the town will vote to raise and appropriate for other expenses of administration of the municipal office and the operation of the Town for the period of July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008. Amount recommended was $129,253.71.

Discussion: Why the increase in the Computer account since we bought Trio last year? It was explained that we only purchased part of the Trio program last year and that we needed to purchase the rest of the program this year. Assessing is now done by Mr. VanTuinen, who holds the license right now. These assessing numbers can not be typed into our computer. Mr. VanTuinen has these numbers at home and we do not have access to them at this time. We need to have the records here in our office so we will have back-up and security records and the complete package would be right, here in Beaver Cove. Professional Services is correct at $2,000. Vote was unanimous to accept board's recommendation.

Article 7: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Contractual Services. Amount recommended $11,250.00. Passed with no discussion.

Article 8: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for expenses of the Community Room, building fund and ground maintenance. Recommended amount is $2,700.00. No discussion followed and the recommendation was voted in unanimously.

Article 9: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Insurance, General Assistance, E-91 and Dues. Recommended amount is $8,950.00. No discussion followed and the recommendation was voted in unanimously.

Article 10: To see if the Town will vote to place the Maine DOT/Local Road Assistance funds (estimated $10.00.00) into the Town's Road Reconstruction account and to expend these funds for reconstruction/Capitol improvements of the roads. No discussion followed, and the recommendation was voted in unanimously.

Article 11: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for the purpose of hiring a part time on-call Public Works/general maintenance person. The amount recommended is $4,000.00, Question as to why a person is needed? Answer: for shoveling out mailboxes, clean culverts, cut up downed trees, etc. Since this is a first time position in the Town it will be advertised in the papers. Vote to accept was unanimous.

Article 12: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for roads, highways and bridges for the period from July 1, 2008 through June 30. 2008.   The amount recommended is $118,000.00. Discussion: Why the increase in Winter Roads by $25,000.00.  We are required to plow Lily Bay Road and the interior roads. Mr. Rowe opted out of his third year on his three-year contract leaving us in a position to hire another contractor to plow Lily Bay Road. The increased bid went to $7,000 per mile from $4,900 per mile. Our three-year contract for the interior roads is now expired and we will have to put the job out to bid. How much more will be asked to plow the 8.6 miles of Interior roads we do not know at this point in time, It was noted that more sanding is need on Lily Bay Road in the winter. The contractor is aware of the situation. With no further discussion the motion was put to a vote and was unanimously passed.

Article 13: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to raise and appropriate for Health, Safety, and Sanitation for the period from July 1, 2007 Through June 30. 2008. Recommended amount is $44,000.00. Questions: Are the Greenville amounts actual or estimated. They are estimated costs as Greenville has not yet set there budget. The article was passed unanimously.

Article 14: To see what sum of money the Town will raise and appropriate for the Shaw Public Library. Amount recommended is $500,00. Article passed with no discussion and unanimously.

Article 15: To see if the Town will vote to appropriate all of the money received from the State for snowmobile registrations to the Moosehead Riders Snowmobile Club for the maintenance of their system of network of snowmobile trials, on condition that those trails be open in snow season to the public for outdoor recreation purposes at no charge. Question: what is the amount. Approximately $371.00 this year. Article was accepted unanimously.

Article .16: To see what sum of money the Town will vote to authorize the municipal officers to appropriate from unappropriated surplus as they deem advisable to meet unanticipated expenses and emergencies that occur during the Fiscal Year 2007-2008. Amount recommended is $7,500.00.   Question: Have we always had this: YES, last year was $5.000,00. If we don't need it we do not draw against it. Vote was unanimous to pass as stated.

Article 17: To see if the Town will vote that taxes shall be due and payable on or before September 30, 2007 and charge 10.00% annum interest on all unpaid taxes after September 30, 2007. Passed unanimously as read.

Article 18: To see if the Town will authorize the Selectpersons on behalf of the Town, to sell any property acquired as the result of the Tax Lien Foreclosure Process and to execute quitclaim deeds for such properties on such terms as the Selectpersons deem advisable. No Discussion. Accepted as read.

Article 19: To see if the Town will vote that a Taxpayer who pays an amount in excess of that finally assessed tax shall be repaid the amount of overpayment plus interest from the date of overpayment is received at the annual rate of 1.00% and to appropriate such sums from undesignated surplus as are necessary to pay such abatements with interest/ No Discussion. Accepted unanimously as read,

Article 20: To see if the Town will vote to expend the folio wing estimated revenue from the following accounts in order to reduce the property tax commitment for the period from July 1. 2007 through June 30, 2008. Amount recommended is $112,210.40. No discussion. Accepted unanimously as read.

Article 21: To see if the Town will vote to authorize the Selectpeople to dispose of Town owned property with a value of $1.000.00 or less on such terms and conditions as they deem advisable. No Discussion. Unanimously accepted.

Article 22: To see if the Town will vote to increase the property tax levy limit of $35,909.69 established for the Town of Beaver Cove by State Law in the event that the municipal budget approved under the preceding articles will result in the tax commitment that is greater than that proper tax levy limit. No Discussion. A paper ballot was held with the results being 22 Yes and 1 No. Passed

Article 23: To see what sum the Town of Beaver Cove will appropriate for the total cost of funding public education from Kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services funding Act (recommend $68.586.90) and to see what sum the Town of Beaver Cove will raise as the Town's contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described, in the Essential Programs and Services funding Act i accordance with the Maine Revise Statutes. Title 20-A * 15688, Recommended is $66,052.64. Heater Perry, Superintendent of Schools, explained that we needed to vote in this amount in order to the ‘The State Funding’, Unanimous vote. Yes.

Article 24: Shall the Town of Beaver Cove raise and appropriate $81,225.98 in additional local fluids, which exceeds the State's Essential Programs and Services allocation model by $77,816.60 as required to fund the budget recommended b y the Beaver Cove School Committee.

The Beaver Cove School Committee recommends $81,225,98 for additional local funds and give the following reason for exceeding the State's Essential Programs

and Services funding model by $77,816.60

The School Committee Recommends:    $81,225,98

Explanation: The additional local funds are those locally raised funds over and above the Town's local contribution to the total cost of funding public education from kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act, in accordance with Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, *1567I-A_, and local amounts raised for the annual payment on non-state funded debt service that will achieve the Town's budget for educational programs. Discussion; The above money is State UPS allocation based on number of students (page 19 &20). We currently have 8 Elementary Students and 2 Secondary Students. We do have school of choice or to home school. We cannot discontinue Bus service as the Town does have to provide in case new students move in.. This was also voted by a secret ballot. The results were 23 Yes votes and 0 No votes. The article passed unanimously

Article 25: Total School Budget Summary: to see what sum the Town of Beaver Cove will authorize the school committee to expend for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2007 and ending June 30, 2008 from the Town's contribution to the total cost of funding public education for kindergarten to grade 12 as described in the Essential Programs and Services Funding Act, non-state-funded school construction projects, additional local funds for school purposes under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A * 15690, unexpended balances, tuition receipts, state subsidy and other receipts for the support of schools. School Committee recommends $162.312.88. The article deals with the expenditures Unanimously approved.

Since there was no other business to come before the towns people there was a motion to adjourn. The motion was seconded and the meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

First Selectman, Wallace Williams, thanked everyone for attending.

Respectfully submitted.

Gladys A. Knudsen, Clerk of Beaver Cove,

A small reception was held after the Town Meeting to Thank Wally for the service he has performed for the Town of Beaver Cove in his many years as Selectman,

The Registrar will be at the Meeting site on the day of the Town Meeting, May 18^th, 2007

                       for the purpose of correcting the list of voters.

Given unto our hands at the Town of Beaver Cove this 18^th day of May 2007. Town of Beaver Cove Municipal Officers:

s/ Wallace Williams

s/Darin Peck

s/

A true copy of the Warranty  

Attest:

Clerk of Beaver Cove

RETURN OF THE WARRANT

Pursuant of the above warrant to me directed. I have notified the inhabitants of the Town of Beaver Cove, as qualified as herein expressed, to meet at said time and place, and for the purpose herein named, by posting as attested copy of said Warrant at the Town Office, the same being a public and conspicuous place in said Town, on the 8^th day of May 2007, being at least seven days before the meeting.

Walter Knudsen

Resident of Beaver Cove State of Maine Piscataquis, ss.

Then personally appeared before me the above named Walter Knudsen, known to me, and swore that the representations set forth in the above Return of Warrant are true of his own knowledge; and acknowledged the signature appearing thereon to be his, and that he executed the Return of his own free will.

Date: May 18 , 2007

Gladys Knudsen, Notary Public

My commission expires: April 19^th, 2008