DRAFT

Minutes Annual Town Meeting “ Town of Sweden

Saturday, March 15, 2008 9:00 a.m.

 

The meeting was called to order by Clerk, Jane Gibbons at 9:01 a.m. She called attention to the voting cards distributed to registered voters. There were 38

registered voters and many other non-registered voters present. The Pledge of Allegiance was said.

Article 1. Jim Willey moved that Ed Ryan be Moderator to preside at this meeting. The vote was unanimously for this motion. Ed Ryan was sworn in as

moderator and led the rest of the meeting.

Article 2. Patrick Wood moved that the Town authorize the Board of Selectmen to borrow monies in anticipation of taxes as may be required to operate the

services of the Town. The motion passed.

Article 3. John Clifford nominated Warren Noble to by Selectman, Assessor, and Overseer of the Poor for a period of three years. Three written ballots

were submitted and Warren Noble was elected to these positions. Wolfgang Duve nominated Frances Flint to be Town Treasurer, Tax Collector and

Excise Tax Collector for 3 years. Three written ballots were submitted and Frances Flint was elected to these positions.

Ronald Kiesman nominated Jane Gibbons to be Clerk for 3 years. Three written ballots were submitted and Jane Gibbons was elected.

Jim Willey nominated Jane Gibbons to be Registrar of Voters for 2 years. Three written ballots were submitted and Jane Gibbons was elected.

There were no successful nominations for Planning Board Member. Grace Keef  nominated John Smith to be 1st Alternate Member of the Planning

Board for one year and he was duly elected. There were no nominations for 2nd Alternate Member. Patrick Wood nominated Michelle Windsor to Appeals Board Member for 5 years.

She was duly elected. There were no successful nominations for Alternate Appeals Board Members.

Election of the S.A.D. 72 Board Member was not needed as her term expires in March of 2009. Frances Flint nominated Wendy Coffey Slattery as Alternate

School Board Member for one year. She was duly elected. Frances Flint nominated Susan Black as Cemetery Sexton. She was duly elected.

 

Article 4. Patrick Wood moved that the town increase the property tax levy limit of $221,719.50 established for the Town of Sweden by State law in the

event that the municipal budget approved under the following articles will result in a tax commitment that is greater than that property tax levy

limit.A written ballot was processed showing 16 yes and 5 no votes. It was voted that Administrative Assistant Diana J. Curtis, a non-resident, be given

permission to speak by show of voting cards.

Article 5a. Wolfgang Duve moved that $10,867.50 be set for the compensation of Town Treasurer, Tax Collector. Passed.

Article 5b. Ken Forde moved that $7141.50 be set for the compensation of the Town Clerk, Registrar of Voters. Passed.

Article 5c. John Clifford moved that the compensation of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Selectmen be $3840.00. Passed.

Article 5d. Warren Noble moved that the compensation of the Fire Chief be $1,552.50. Passed.

Article 5e. Kristen Venza moved that the compensation of the Road Commissioner be $1,604.25. Passed.

Article 5f. Grace Keef moved that the compensation of the Code Enforcement Officer be $2,716.88. Passed.

Article 5g. Frances Flint moved that the compensation of the Cemetery Sexton be $58.75. Passed.

Article 5h. Frances Flint moved that the compensation of the Administrative Assistant be up to $16,146.00. Passed.

Article 6. Ken Forde moved that the Town take from surplus up to $1,200 for payment of interest on tax anticipation borrowing for the ensuing year.

Passed.

Article 7. Ken Forde moved that $79,000 be raised or appropriated for Town Charges for the ensuing year. Passed.

Article 8. Patrick Wood moved that the town raise or appropriate $112,000. for the maintenance of roads and road sides for the ensuing year. William Jones

moved to amend the motion that the town raise or appropriate $70,000 for the maintenance of the roads and road sides for the ensuing year. The amendment

was approved. Carroll Murphy moved that the motion be approved as amended. Passed.

Article 9. Patrick Wood moved that the town appropriate and take from surplus $130,000 for snow removal and sanding for the ensuring year. The motion was

defeated. Ken Forde moved that the town appropriate $112,000 for snow removal and sanding for the ensuing year. Passed.

Article 10. Wolfgang Duve moved that the town raise or appropriate $49,500 for rubbish removal/dump operation and to pay for any additional usage charges

from surplus monies. Warren Noble want to investigate whether taking garbage and recyclables to Lovell might result in lower costs. The Article as moved

was passed.

Article 11. Ken Forde moved that the Town raise or appropriate $1,500 for the Town's  Spring/Fall pick up program and to pay for any additional usage

charges from surplus monies. Passed

Article 12. Grace Keef moved that the Town authorize the Selectmen/Assessors to draw upon the Surplus Account not more than .0003 of the present State

Valuation of the Town, $77,250,000 for the care of the poor for the ensuing year. Passed

Article 13. John Clifford moved that $2,300 be raised or appropriated for grounds maintenance, upkeep and repairs for town buildings and to allow3 the

balance to carry over each year. Passed

Article 14. Tom Goodman moved that the town will raise or appropriate $25,809 for support of the Sweden Volunteer Fire Department Association. Ken Forde

moved to amend the article to say that the town will raise or appropriate $24,809 for support of the Sweden Volunteer Fire Department Association. The

amendment was passed and article approved.

Article 15. Jim Willey moved to table article 15 to another informational meeting possibly in late April. The motion to table the article concerning

appropriation for design and planning of the proposed Sweden Fire Station was passed.

Article 16. Kathiann Shorey moved that the town raise or appropriate $1,000 for the administration of Emergency Management. Article passed.

Article 17. Frances Flint moved that the town raise or appropriate $2,400 for the support of the Ambulance Service for the ensuring year. Passed

Article 18. Brian Diskin moved that the town raise or appropriate $750 for the Lovell recreation programs. Passed

Article 19. Kristin Venza moved that the town raise or appropriate $900 for the support of the Charlotte E. Hobbs Memorial Library. Passed.

Article 20. Frances Flint moved that the town raise or appropriate $375 for the support of the Sweden Conservation Committee. Passed

Article 21. Grace Keef moved that the town raise or appropriate $350 for the support of the Harvest Hills Animal Shelter. Passed

Article 22. Ken Forde moved that the town raise or appropriate $400 for the support of the Lakes Environmental Association for the ensuring year. Passed

Article 23. Warren Noble moved that the town raise or appropriate $100 for the support of Seniors Plus. Passed

Article 24. Ken Forde moved that the town raise or appropriate $2,000 for Cemetery maintenance. Passed.

Article 25. Ken Forde moved that the town authorize the Selectmen/Assessors to use not more than $45,000 of the 2008 anticipated Excise monies collected in

2008 towards the amount appropriated in Articles 4 through 24. Passed

Article 26. Ken Forde moved that the Town authorize the Selectmen/Assessors use not more than $7,900 of the 2008 anticipated Tree Growth Refund monies

collected in 2008 toward the amount appropriated in Articles 4 through 24. Passed

Article 27. Ken Forde moved that voters authorize the raising of the balance so appropriated, not covered in Articles 25 and 26 through taxation. Passed.

Article 28. Kristin Venza moved that the Town take not more than $300 from the Snowmobile account for the purpose of maintaining public snowmobile and

cross-country ski trails within the Town of Sweden, and allow the Selectmen to spend for that purpose. Passed

Article 29. Grace Keef moved that the Town accept the highest interest rate set by the State of Maine Planning Office for delinquent taxes committee in

the current year. (Rate cannot be greater that the State rate of 11% for 2008) Passed

Article 30. Ken Forde moved that the date of September 15, 2008 from and after which interest shall accrue on delinquent taxes committed for the

current year. Passed

Article 31. Ken Forde moved that the Town set the interest rate paid on abated taxes be 4 percentage points less than the rate used in Article 29

above by the State of Maine Planning Office; (can not be less than 4% of State rate on delinquent taxes committed in the current year). Passed

Article 32. Ken Forde moved that the Town authorize the Selectmen on behalf of the Town to sell and dispose of any real estate acquired by the Town for

the non-payment of taxes thereon; or by other judicial process; said real estate to be advertised in two separate issues of local paper within 30 days

of sale. To be sold either at public auction or as the result of sealed bids called for and received by the Selectmen; provided, however, that the

selectmen be authorized to sell at private sale property so acquired to the owner on record; of any such property; all conveyances there-under to be by

release deed. Passed

Article 33. Wolfgang Duve moved that the Town authorize the municipal officers to spend an amount not to exceed 3/12 of the budgeted amount in each

budget category of the 2008 annual budget during the period of January 1, 2009 to the March Annual Town Meeting in 2009.

Article 34. Ken Forde moved that the Town take from surplus up to $10,000 for the purpose of finding capital projects on State Aid roads and allow the

balance to carry over each year. Passed.

Article 35. Kathiann Shorey moved that the Town take from surplus $2,500 to replenish the contingency fund. Passed

Article 36. Frances Flint moved that the Town apply property tax payments to the oldest outstanding taxes before paying current year taxes. Passed

Article 37. Ken Forde moved to take from surplus $15,000 for the purpose of replacing the roof on the Town Meeting Hall and to allow the balance to carry

over. Passed

Article 38. Jim Willey moved to table Article 38 in the same manner as Article 15. Passed

Article 39. Wolfgang Duve moved that the revised ordnance entitled Town of Sweden Zoning and Land Use Ordinance and identified as Sixth Revision,

January 31, 2008 be enacted (copies of the proposed changes were available at the Town Office or online at www.eskerridge.com/Sweden.html.) Passed

Article 40 Grace Keef moved that the amendments to the Town of Sweden Zoning Map, as depicted on the LEA Working Draft dated 1/25/08 be adopted. (Note:

This map revised the Natural Resource Protection Zone by incorporating the 2008 Significant Wildlife habitat-Inland Waterfowl and Wading Bird Habitat as

defined by the State of Maine Department of Environmental Protection. The map may be viewed at the Town office or online at www.eskerridge.com/Sweden.html.

Passed

Moderator Ed Ryan administered the Oaths of Office for Jane Gibbons, Clerk, Registrar of Voters.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:43 a.m.

Jane Gibbons

Town Clerk