TOWN OF ORRINGTON Selectmen’s Meeting Minutes

June 24, 2019

Call Selectmen’s Meeting to Order: Chairman, Allan Snell called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. Present: Allan Snell, Keith Bowden, Charlie Green, Christopher Robison, Mike Curtis Also Present: Interim Town Manager, Joe Hayes; Town Clerk, Susan Carson; Librarian, Kelly Bay; 17 citizens. Pledge of Allegiance

1. Appoint Chair for F/Y 19-20: Curtis made a motion to appoint Allan Snell as Chairman for the 19/20 fiscal year. Robison seconded. Vote: Yes-4. Snell opposed. Snell was appointed Chair for the new fiscal year.

2. Adjustments to Agenda: Snell recommended moving item 8 to the top of the agenda, table item 5a and also allow Dick Campbell to give Old Home Week report during item 7. The Board was in consensus.

3. Public Comments: Bernard MacDonald – asked for status of Town Manager search. 4. Approve:

a. Select Board Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2019: Robison made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Green seconded. Curtis asked for an amendment to his comment in item #8 to remove the word “concrete”. Robison made a motion to approve with amendment. Green seconded. Vote: Yes-4. Bowden abstained due to his absence at that meeting. Bowden suggested amending the town meeting minutes that were approved at the June 10th meeting to include election results. Carson to make amendment to bring back for Board approval.

5. Appointments & Resignations: a. Appointment of Animal Control Officer Robert “Chip” McKnight: Tabled

Old Business:

6. Richardson Road – No information at this time 7. Public Safety Building Project:

a. Status Report/Update: Dick Campbell: Campbell mentioned the public informational meetings/public hearings coming up on July 10th and July 14th. Proposed building design will accommodate necessary space for patrol deputy as requested by Sheriff Morton. Project has gone before the Planning Board. Application required by the Planning Board as well as Fire Marshall was presented to the Board and signed by Snell. Committee recommends expending $1000 for marketing material including a bulk mailing, and presentation material. Discussion occurred regarding the need for a mailer (pros/cons). Motion was made and seconded to allow expenditure of up to $1000 for marketing purposes. Vote: Yes-4. Curtis abstained due to his interest in the building as a sub-contractor. Campbell then updated the Board on activity at the Legislature as well as Old Home Week events.

8. Meeting with Sheriff Troy Morton regarding the Policing/Agreement Contract: Sheriff Morton presented the Board with a printed copy of a Power Point presentation he had prepared, along with a draft copy of the contract proposed for policing services through PCSO. Questions and answers were entertained. Curtis made a motion to move forward with the 3 Deputy contract as presented. Green seconded. Vote: Yes-4. Robison opposed. Morton - an assessment of our capital equipment could be conducted for

possible contract price reduction. Robison made a motion to allow for the assessment of our capital equipment for possible purchase by PCSO to possibly reduce contract price. Bowden seconded. Vote: Yes-5. Snell thanked Sheriff Morton for presenting the contract. Robison noted his opposition to the vote had nothing to do with lack of faith in the deputies. He wishes for more police presence to reduce call-out time.

New Business: 9. Request by Charlie Fussell of Boy Scout Troop 44 to do an Eagle Scout Project in RT

15 Picnic Area: Chip McKnight introduced Charlie Fussell who is requesting the Board’s approval for his Eagle Scout project. Fussell wishes to make improvements to the toilet facilities at the Rt. 15 Picnic Area. Bowden made a motion to approve. Robison seconded. Vote: Yes-5.

10. Department and Committee Reports: a. Public Works: Presented in writing. b. Fire & Rescue: Presented in writing. c. Code Enforcement Officer’s Report: Presented in writing. d. Town Managers Report: Presented in writing. Bowden asked if action needs to

be taken on bridge projects. Hayes said there is no current concern, but action will be needed in the future. Bowden also asked if the payment for public safety contribution that was received from PERC was for the current fiscal year. Hayes answered yes.

11. Permission to authorize the Town Manager to enter into contracts for those services that are expiring June 30, 2019: Discussion occurred regarding contractual services needing to be renewed for the upcoming year. Hayes stated that trash pick-up is the most time sensitive at the moment. The Board was in consensus that the contract presented needs to reflect the break-out from recycling as there is no longer a need for the extra pick-up. Bowden made a motion to allow the Interim Town Manager to move ahead with negotiating cost for trash pick-up and to sign that contract along with paving contract. Robison seconded. Vote: Yes-5.

12. Authorize the transfer of funds from the police building operations to the municipal building reserve account. (This is for the trailer that serves the police office.): Curtis made a motion to authorize crediting the expenditures for the police trailer lease back to the municipal building reserve and to move those expenditures to the expense budget. Bowden seconded. Vote: Yes-5.

13. Sign a Certificate of Recommitment for Kelly J Corbin as Tax Collector: Robison made a motion to sign the certificate of recommitment for Kelly J. Kobrin as Tax Collector. Green seconded. Vote: Yes-5.

14. Sign a Certificate of Settlement and Discharge for Susan Carson: Robison made a motion to sign the certificate of settlement and discharge for Susan Carson as former Tax Collector. Green seconded. Vote: Yes-5.

15. Treasurer’s Warrants and Budget Summary: Passed around and signed. 16. Reports Folder: None. 17. Public Comments: None. 18. Board Comments: Curtis – none. Robison – none. Bowden – email correspondence from

a resident suggested conducting a forensic audit. Much discussion. Bowden also discussed his disagreement with the employee’s conducting an evaluation of the previous town manager, and with the process by which the former town manager was fired. Written statement on both subjects submitted for the record. Green – none. Snell – none. Hayes asked the Board to review his request for direction by the Board regarding a payment arrangement with John Gosselin for purchasing back his 2 properties foreclosed on for

unpaid 2016 property taxes. Robison made a motion to have Hayes draft a payment contract for the Board to review at a future meeting. Bowden seconded. Vote: Yes-5.

19. Adjourn: Curtis made a motion to adjourn at 9:20 PM. Bowden seconded. Vote: Yes-5. Respectfully Submitted, Susan L. Carson, Town Clerk Chairman Manager Clerk

FOR THE RECORQ

By Selectman Kelth Bowden - June, 2019 Town &/Or Select Board Meetings

It is Clear after fast month's 3-1 Vote to Fire Town f\l/anager Joan Gibson, Orrington's Path

Going Forward has NOT BEEN Conducted Professionally, Soundly and with Clear Judgment.

On May 21s, 2019 at a Special Select Board Meeting, and in the absence of Town Manager Gibson who

was out s.ick for the day, a majority of the SB did NOT conduct itself in a professional manner and did not

protect the Town's interests!

Open, Accountable and Transparent government business was not conducted by ONE SB member who

personally made that commitment just last year and was re-elected by the community. How quickly

political positions change. It should NOT be that difficult to follow the Town Charter.

ThP SPIPc.t Bo;ird is c;11rrosPd to prPp;irp for tt-wsp mPPtingc; hy collPc:ting far.ts, sorting 011t fiction from

opinion, identifying bias and the FAKE �ACTS. They are to do their own "due diligence, in studying the

issues and not make snap decisions. That includes attending the many other "non routine" meetings

such as the Public Safety Building Options Committee, the Selectman's Economic Advisor Committee

and sometimes attending Planning Board rneetings just as a citizen in the audienee.

Taking notes, listening to the experts/town attorney and being able to follow their recommendations or

process the info they provide is also a critical responsibility. In the words of a famous sports coach in

this region of NEW ENGLAND, everyone on the Select Board team must: DO THEIR JOB !!!!!!I

In my view, the Town has been placed in legal and financial jeopardy by the majority of the Select Board

not following the clear language of the Town Charter with respect to Conducting a Performance

Evaluation on a Probationary Town Manager. The majority of the SB seems to think that the

Employment Agreement for Joan Gibson ONLY states that the Town Manager:

''position is considered an "at ·vvill" position, subject to the requirements of the 3oard. [nd quote"

That is NOT the only facet of the language in the job offer with any significance and relevance. If our

Town attorney has told any SB member that, I would like to see it in writing, so I KNOW that for a FACT!!

The very next paragraph of the Employment Agreement for Joan Gibson states the following:

"During the initial 6 month probationary term, your performance will be evaluated by the Board,

and you will need to be in compliance with the Board and other requirements outlined in the

Town Charter"

The n1ajority of the �8 vvas A\'.JOL last rnonth in DOlrJG THEIR JOB by NOT foltovving their CHAnTE:1

driven duties and by NOT conducting a legally defensible " Performance Evaluation" that would protect

the Town from legal exposure and jeopardy was NOT DONE!!!!

Let's look a little further in the Town Charter- Say Page 17 - Section 4:02 - 2 states:

,·on at ieast three occasions during any probationary period, the Board shaii meet .... for

evaluation of his performance measured against the duties of Town Manager as set forth in

1 I P I' e