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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1965-11-27-min .444274 IISELECTMEN'S MEETING November 27, 1965 A special meeting of the Board of Selectmen was held in the Selectmen's Room, Town Office Bulling, on Saturday, November 27, 1965, at 9:30 A.M Chairman Cole, Messrs. Burnell, Cataldo and Sheldon were present. Mr. Gray, Executive Assistant , and Miss Murray, Executive Clerk, were also present Budgets were acted upon as follows: Requested Approved Selectmen' s Expenses $ 4,445. $ 4,695. (Unclassified increased $250 ) Out of State Travel 350. 500 Fire & Police Medical 4,000 4,000. Director of Guides 1,500 1,500. Town Clerk' s Vital Statistics 100 100. Parking Meter 150 150. II Out of State Travel 200 200 . Foreclosure & Redemption 100. 100 Administration of Trust Funds - Expenses400. 400 Board of Appeals - Personal Services 2,238. 2,238. Expenses 2,150. 2,150. Planning Board - Personal Se. -ices 13,158. 13,158 Expenses 7,000 7,000 Group Insurance 60,200 60,200 . Town Insurance 65,000 65,000. Printing Town Report 3,300 3,300 . Selectmen ' s Elections 12,059 12,059. Town Clerk' s Elections 1,500 1,500 Registration - Personal Services 3,500. 3,500 Expenses 3,650 3,650 Appropriation - Expenses 3, 755. 3, 755. Capital Expenditures Comm - Expenses 75. 75. Standing School Bldg Comm - Expenses 500 500 Town Celebrations Comm - Expenses 5,200 5,200 Historic Districts Comm - Expenses 450 450. Tax Collector - Expenses 2,575. 2,575. Metered Mail 5,500 5,500 Accounting - Personal Services 16, 722 25, 722. (Added $9,000 for Comptroller) Expenses 2, 127 2, 127 Out of State Travel 100. 100 II I N CI Requested Approved I Board of Assessors - Personal Services 24,848 . 24,848. Expenses 2,625 2,625. Professional Ser. 4,000 4,000. Out of State Travel 200 200 Board of Health - Personal Services 12,517. 12,517. Out of State Travel 250. 250. Engineering 500 500. Animal Inspector-Personal Services 1,270. 1,270. Expenses 1,030 1,030. Dental Clinic - Personal Services 7,560. 7,560. Expenses 800 800. Police - Parking Meter Maint'enance 400. 400. Out of State Travel 350 350. Dog Officer - Personal Services 750. 750. Expenses 700. 700. Ambulance - Expenses 650 650 Fire Department - Out of State Travel 200. 200. Forest Fires 500. 500. Civil Defense - Out of State Tavel 225. 225. Inspection - Expenses 1,890 1,890. Out of State Travel 175 175. Weights & Measures Personal Services 1,500. 1,500. Expenses 545 545 II At 11:10 A.M. , Mr. Deane S. Stevens, 26 Cushman Street, Augusta, Maine, met with the Board relative to the position of Municipal Accountant as advertised in the Boston Sunday Globe on November 14, 1965. The Chairman said he knew Mr Gray had discussed the subject with Mr. Stevens, and he, Mr Stevens, knew what the intention is. He stated the Board hopes to have the posi- tion of Comptroller . Due to the statute, the Town is work- ing under now, there is a Town .,Aocountant appointed for three years. He stated everything being done is being done with the Accountant ' s knowledge. He said the bill establishing the position of Comptroller has been passed and is waiting Comptroller for the Governor' s signature . Then it will go before the interview Town Meeting to create the position of Comptroller He ex- plained until Town Meeting votes on this, there is no position. He said prior to April 1, the position of Comptroller could not be in existence and therefore the person appointed would not be a Comptroller, as such He said from reading Mr. Stevens ' resume, there was no doubt in his mind but that he would qualify He said the Board does have a problem on the financing of this , and explained the department cannot exceed in January, February and March the average monthly expenditures of the last three months of the pre- ceding year. He asked when Mr. Stevens would be available. Mr Stevens replied around the first of the year, in fairness to the City of Augusta. Mr. Sheldon asked if the City understood he was now looking for another position Mr. Stevens replied the former City Manager knows but to his knowledge, his present employer does not know. He said he had not given any notice Mr. Sheldon asked how much time would be required by the City, and MI Stevens replied out of fairness , he would want to give from three to four weeks The Chairman said if the Board could find a way to do something before the first of the year, he would let Mr. Stevens know He said the Board understood Mr Stevens would want to give a month's notice Mr Stevens said it would be fair; Maine is similar to Massachusetts and the budgets are somewhat similar. Mr. Cataldo said Mr Stevens had been in four separate fields Mr Stevens explained some years ago, the man who was a member of the Legislature and also the Town Treasurer and Tax Collector died suddenly and his wife did not want to continue. He said he was asked to take the Treasurer' s job and that is how he got it He said this was a part-time job that he did evenings and weekends He was Office Manager for an automobile truck dealership, at which time he lived in StrongThe opportunity in Portland came pp Y _ up and he applied for that There were thirty-one candidates. Mr. Cataldo asked when he was selling insurance. Mr. Stevens replied in 1948 up until the time he went to Maine and he did continue his license in Maine . Mr. Stevens said he started in the Savings Bank as an office boy, worked up to Clerk-Teller, and when he left he was head of the miscellaneous services Mr. Cataldo asked if he was a mminber of the depart- ment . epart- ment . Mr. Stevens replied he was head of the department - Dime Savings Bank of Brooklyn and he left that to go into the life insurance business in New York He explained he went to Maine on a vacation and liked it . Mrs. Stevens wanted to move to the country for their two children and they saw something they liked and decided to move to Maine. Mr . Sheldon asked about the population of Strong, and Mr. Stevens replied 1,000. Mr. Cataldo said Mr. Stevens was in the banking field during the depression and Mr. Stevens replied in the affirma- tive. Cj Mr. Stevens said he graduated from High School, went to the Ameriaan Institute of Banking, took two courses in accounting, took foreign exchange in banking. He said he also went to Columbia University where he tookkbusi- ness law and psychology. He took, through the Chrysler Corporation, a business management course and graduated. Through the City of Portland, he took a course conducted for the personnel sponsored by the International City Managerst Association. HE said he did very well on that and received a good report. Heias attended all the tax schools in the State of Maine. He said he thought the most important thing he found in accounting is that muni- cipal accounting is very different from business accounting. Mr. Sheldon asked if there was an agency fee involved . Mr. Stevens replied according to the advertisement it said the fee was to be negotiated . Mr. Gray stated there is a fee involved of $801 Mr. Stevens said he has never met the agency but is registered with it. The Chairman said Mr. Stevens only pays if he gets the job. Mr. Cataldo asked if Mr. Stevens drank or smoked, and he replied that he does not smoke but does take an occasional drink. Mr. Cataldo asked, as far as references were con- cerned, what Mr. Stevens would be willing to provide. Mr. Stevens replied any kind the Board wants. Mr. Sheldon said it would be unfair to go to the City. Mr. Cataldo asked when the Board oould go to the City. The Chairman said he thought the Board could forget this for the time being. Mr. Cataldo asked information on the previous relations. Mr. Stevens gave the following: George Anderson, now retired , whom he was directly under. Mr. Anderson was the Director of Finance. He lives on Front Street . Daniel B. Felix who was the Chairman of the Finance Committee, 25 Hollis Road, Portland. Joseph Hakanson, Vice President of the Canal National Bank, Middle Street, Portland . James Niles, represented the Credit Bureau of Portland , 10 Congress Square , Portland . F. Ardine Richardson, first Selectman and Town Manager in Strong; a former Speaker of the Maine House of Representatives. He is in Strong, Maine. Clerk of Strong, Raymond D. Norris, Strong, Maine. Former employer at the automobile agency, Clifford J. Beisaw, North Jay, Maine. William Steinhardt, public relations man for Bentley School of Accounting. He was acquainted 171/64 with him through the Toastmasters International. Mr. Cataldo asked if Mr. Stevens belonged to any organizations, and he replied Kiwanis, Fellowship Break- fast, Boy Scout work. Mr. Cataldo asked if Maine had a Director of Accounts. Mr. Stevens replied in the negative, and explained each municipality can determine who it wishes to have audit the books. Armand SanSoucie is Auditor in Augusta. In 'Portland, it was a private firm and he said he would obtain the name for the Board . Mr. Cataldo asked Mr. Stevens what Church he attended, and he replied the Winthrop Universalist Church. Mr. Sheldon said he did not think the Board would write the State Auditoryin Augusta because that would be unfair to Mr. Stevens . Mr. Sheldon asked if Mr. Stevens had any questions he would like to ask the Board. Mr. Stevens asked, in view of the fact the Comptroller bill does not exist, what the situation would be from the time someone domes in there until it does exist . The Chairman said the duties world be the same . The title would not be Comptroller . He stated regardless of what happens, the duties-would be in the Accounting Office taking care of the books. Mr. Sheldon said there would not be any friction with the present encumbeat. Mr. Stevens said he understood that. He said the Townes accounting setup now, the Treasurer and Tax Collector are separate and operate on their own. The Chairman explained these are elected officials. The Tax Collector is one and theTreasurer and Town Clerk are one, although there have been some thoughts of changing this . He said these offices mag re ain the way they are or may change but that would not affect the Comptroller. Mr. Stevens said he understood the Board is considering automation, machines, etc. The Chairman said the Board has discussed it. Mr. Gray said her'told Mr. Stevens a proposal had been submitted but not acted on. Some day, he was sure, the Town would come to it . Mr. Stevens said he would be albe to cope with it once the system is set up. He said experience does not always show that one saves on personnel with machines . He said once the machines are used , many other uses are found for them; for instance, the voting machines . He said this enables the Registrars to go almost to the end of the time before they have to make up a voting list. The Chairman asked if Augusta was a very political city, and Mr . Stevens replied in the affirmative. He said Ai 1 n officially it is nonpartisan. Mr. Stevens asked about obtaining a home in Lexington, and the Chairman said renting is expensive. Mr. Sheldon pointed out that living in Lexington is not a requirement. Mr. Stevens said, with reference to the fee, some understanding on that might be appropriate. Mr. Gray explained in many cases, it is discussed with the company. In many cases, an agreement is made with the employee whereby once he has served six months if he is satisfactory and stays with the Town, he will be re- imbursed for the fee which he initially pays. Mr. Sheldon asked if such an arrangement would be agreeable. Mr. Stevens said he thought it would be fair. Mr. Sheldon suggested that the Board have some time to check references and tentatively talk to Mr. Stevens in a couple of weeks again. He said in a couple of weeks, the Board should have most of the answers back. Mr . Stevens also gave as reference, former Treasurer and Tax Collector of Augusta, Alfred J. LaCasse, 2 Jefferson Street Place, Augusta. Mr. Stevens retired at twelve noon. It was agreed to hold budget meetings as follows; December 4 9:00 A.M. Police Department 10:30 A.M. Fire Commissioners 11:30 A.M. Building Inspector 11 9:00 A.M. Public Works 18 9:00 A.M. Clerk and Treasurer 9:15 A.M. Board of Assessors 9:45 A.M. Civil Defense 10:15 A.M. Cemetery Commissioners The meeting adjourned at 12:15 P.M. A true record , Attest: lkfec tiv d&erL, Selec en