Oct. 13 meeting

Rockport leaders to discuss new technology and fire station committees; library lease; moving veterans memorial

Mon, 10/12/2015 - 2:00pm

    ROCKPORT — The Select Board will meet behind closed doors for approximately 30 minutes Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, to talk about the possible lease of an empty Route 1 office building for temporary Rockport Public Library quarters. The executive session will be followed by a regularly scheduled board meeting at 7 p.m., with a long agenda that includes creating an ad hoc technology committee, as well as an ad hoc committee to review the future of the West Rockport Fire Station.

    The board will also talk about expending money from the Harbor Float Reserve to cover the $15,756 cost over-runs of the Harbor Lighting Project in the Harbor Budget. And, the board will decice whether to pay for the FY 14-15 over-expenditure of the Harbor Float Reserve from various funding sources.

    The meetings will be held in the Rockport Opera House downstairs meeting room, televised live on Public Access Channel 22, and streamed live on the Internet at http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine.

    Rockport Public Library

    Following a long discussion at the Select Board’s Sept. 22 meeting, Town Manager Rick Bates has worked with an attorney to develop a lease agreement with Blue Aqua Corporation, of Del Ray Beach, Fla., and owners of 485 Commercial Street (Route 1).

    The office building is to to temporarily house the Rockport Public Library for an initial two years while the town decides where and how to best situate the library, its 32,000 book collection and the seven full- and parttime employees. The space is 5,028 square feet. Built into the lease is an option to renew three times, at one year increments. The base rent is $34,800 annually, which is $2,900 monthly.

    The owner has agreed to the terms of the lease, and has added clauses for liability protection. Additionally there is language in the lease that specifies who is responsible for which repairs in the event of a complete failure of a system in the building.

    This “triple net” lease means the town is responsible for paying the taxes, maintenance and utilities. 

    In other town business:

    Consider approving a $91,274 lease-purchase agreement Androscoggin Bank for the new 2016 Ford F550 Public Works Truck. The interest rate is 2.62 percent for a term of four years. 

    The First Installment of property taxes are due before the close of business (5 p.m.) on Thursday, Oct 15. This applies to those not enrolled in the Tax Club. Those wishing to join the Tax Club should see the Town Clerk.

    The Winter Parking Ban will begin Nov. 15 and extend through April 15. No on street parking from midnight to 6 a.m. Illegally parked cars may be towed in the event of a snowstorm or if the police determine the vehicles are posing a threat to public safety. Additionally, the Beauchamp Point scenic byway, the Glen Cove Rest Area and the Marge Jones Recreational Field will be closed for the same period.


    The full agenda is as follows 

    I. Call Meeting to Order

    Please either turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices or set them to mute while in this meeting room or the hallways. If you need to take or make a phone call, please step outdoors.

    Approval of the minutes of the:
    Monday, September 14, 2015, meeting of the Select Board
    Monday, September 21, 2015, Executive Session of the Select Board

    Regular Select Board meeting on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, 7 p.m., Rockport Opera House Meeting Room, to be televised on Channel 22 and streamed at http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine.

    Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2015. Polls open at 8 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Polling place for Rockport is in the Town Office Richardson Room. Please enter through the front door of the Town Office. Early voting commenced on October 2. Please see the Town Clerk for ballots.

    Announcements:

    The First Installment of Property Taxes are due before the close of business (5 p.m.) on Thursday, Oct 15,. This applies to those not enrolled in the Tax Club. Those wishing to join the Tax Club should see the Town Clerk.

    The Winter Parking Ban will commence Nov. 15 and extend through April 15. No on street parking from midnight to 6 a.m. Illegally parked cars may be towed in the event of a snowstorm or if the police determine the vehicles are posing a threat to public safety. Additionally, the Beauchamp Point scenic byway, the Glen Cove Rest Area and the Marge Jones Recreational Field will be closed for the same period

    1 Select Board Agenda October 13, 2015

      Rockport Town Offices will be closed, Wednesday, Nov. 11, in observation of the Veterans Day Holiday

      Spaghetti Supper and Auction for Lieutenant David Leighton of the Rockport Fire Department, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, 5 p.m., Rockport Public Safety Building

      Camden-Rockport Pathways Committee, Wednesday, Nov. 4,, 7 p.m., Rockport Town Office, Richardson Room

      Cemetery Committee, Friday, Oct. 16, 9 a.m., Rockport Town Office, Richardson Room

      Conservation Commission, Thursday, Nov. 12, 4:30 p.m., Rockport Town Office Richardson Room

      Harbor Committee, Thursday, Oct. 15, 5:15 p.m., Rockport Town Office Richardson Room

      Investment Committee, next meeting will be on Monday, December 14, 2015, 4:00 p.m., Rockport Town Office

      Keep Rockport Beautiful Fall - Join neighbors Oct. 16 and 17 to clean up Rockport's roads. See the Keep Rockport Beautiful Facebook page for more information.

      Library Committee, Monday, Oct. 19, 5 p.m., Rockport Town Office Richardson Room

      Opera House Committee, Monday, Nov. 2, 8 a.m., Rockport Town Office Conference Room

      Ordinance Review Committee, date and time to-be-determined, Rockport Town Office Richardson Room

      Parks Committee, monthly meetings will resume in March

      Planning Board, Wednesday, Oct.14,, 5:30 p.m., Rockport Opera House Meeting Room, to be televised on Channel 22 streamed at http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine

      Recreation Committee, date to-be-determined

      Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) (tentative), Wednesday, October 28, 2015, 5:30 p.m., Rockport Opera House Meeting Room, to be televised on Channel 22 and streamed at http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine.

      Holiday on the Harbor, Saturday, December 12, 2015. Details to follow.

    e. Upcoming Workshops:

      Pre-Budget Workshop, Wednesday, October 21, 2015, 5:30 p.m., Rockport Opera House Meeting Room, to be televised on Channel 22 and streamed at http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine

      Fiber Optic Workshop, Thursday, Oct. 29, 4:30 p.m., location to be determined as part of New Business item p on tonight’s agenda

      Library Workshop, Thursday, Nov. 5,, 6 p.m., location to be determined as part of New Business item q on tonight’s agenda

      Water Quality Workshop, Monday, November 23, 2015, 7:00 p.m., Rockport Opera House Meeting Room, to be televised on Channel 22 and streamed at http://livestream.com/Rockportmaine

    Committee Openings:
    Camden-Rockport Pathways Committee 3 alternate vacancies
    Cemetery Committee 1 vacancy
    Conservation Commission 1 vacancy

    Investment Committee 1 vacancy
    Opera House Committee 1 vacancy
    Recreation Committee 2 vacancies
    Zoning Board of Appeals 2 vacancies

    Agenda Changes

    Public Comment public comment should be directed at issues not under discussion on this evening’s agenda. Comment from the public will be welcome prior to each agenda item. Further comment will be granted only by permission from the Board. All public comment should be brief and to the point.

    Town Manager’s Report

    Unfinished Business

    Temporary relocation of the Rockport Public Library: discussion of the findings of the town manager regarding temporary space

    Discuss the relocation of Glen Cove Veterans Memorial

    Approval of the Parks Committee by-laws

    Approval of Town-Owned Credit Card Policy

    Public Hearing

    a. Public Hearing: General Assistance Ordinance Amendments Appendices A-D, effective October 1, 2015-September 30, 2016

    V. New Business

    Vote to approve General Assistance Ordinance Amendments Appendices A-D effective October 1, 2015-September 30, 2016.

    Acknowledgment of Gifts to the Town: None this month

    c. Committee Resignation(s): None this month

    Committee Application(s):
    Ad Hoc 125th Anniversary Celebration Committee: Stephanie Kumble, Michelle Gagne Hannan, Lynn Johnson, Connie Russell

    Conservation Commission Kimberly M. Kimball

    Announce the creation of an Ad Hoc Technology Committee and ask for volunteers to serve

    Discuss establishing an Ad Hoc Committee to look at the future of the West Rockport Fire Station

    Vote to expend the Harbor Float Reserve to cover the over-expenditure of the Harbor Lighting Project in the Harbor Budget

    Vote to pay for the FY 14-15 over-expenditure of the Harbor Float Reserve from various funding sources

    Vote to rename the purpose of the Cascade Foundation Police Department Canine Grant to the Cascade Foundation Police Department Video Grant

    Approve the resolution for the Lease Purchase Agreement with Androscoggin Bank for the new 2016 Ford F550 Public Works Truck

    Review and approval of Ordinance Review Committee’s FY15-16 Work Agenda

    Discussion regarding inviting the Provider Agencies to participate in Holiday on the Harbor 2015

    Discuss the idea of adding “alternates” or “associates” to various committees

    Vote to authorize the Town Manager to execute a “termination agreement” regarding the driveway at 97 Pascal Avenue and to file it with the Knox County Registry of Deeds

    Confirm the date for the Pre-Budget Workshop as Wednesday, October 21, 2015 5:30 p.m. (with light refreshments provided at 5 p.m. for the workshop participants)

    Set date for a Select Board workshop to discuss Fiber Optic rollout strategies; suggested date of Thursday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 p.m.

    Set date for a special Select Board meeting to discuss the future location of the Rockport Public Library; suggested date of Thursday, November 5, at 6 p.m.

    Discuss the Town Manager’s request that the December Select Board meeting occur on December 7 instead of the normal date of December 14.

    Appoint David Studer as Interim Code Enforcement Officer while Scott Bickford is out on leave.

    VI. Wastewater Commissioners

    Commitment of Sewer User Rates for the period of August 2015

    Votes to expend surplus for FY14-15 Wastewater Route 1 Engineering Funds and Sewer Extension Project

    Liaison Reports