Org Web Adapter

Editing pages/castine_selectboard.org

:PROPERTIES:
:ID:       b6eaa038-8e4e-4199-b811-a9403b8278af
:END:
#+TITLE: Castine Selectboard

- tags :: [[id:648baa14-3313-41d2-b553-39dbb019385f][Castine]] [[id:2153ddd9-9949-4985-812d-84b329929b02][Government]] [[id:89db529d-f792-45a2-b60f-a0c64daa8528][Municipal]] [[id:b65e138c-6942-4c26-8c90-48a8b8e808b6][Castine Select Board meeting]]

* Blog post ideas
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:05]
:END:

** What is town meeting government?
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:06]
:END:

History, modern practice, similar governments

** Why have a town manager? :municipal:
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:06]
:END:

Why add a town manager? What do they do?

** How is the town value assessed? :municipal:
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:07]
:END:

Talk with the town assessor, waht is the process? How often are revaluations?

** How do other the library and school fit into muncipal governance? :municipal:
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:09]
:END:

They have their own boards but are part of the town government. How does that work?

** How does wastewater treatment work.for a town like Castine? :municipal:
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:11]
:END:

Who runs the facility? How does the facility work?

** How does our water supply work? :municipal:
:PROPERTIES:
:CREATED:  [2018-01-28 Sun 11:12]
:END:

What limits are there on growth? Who runs it? What does the day to day ops look like?

* Ongoing issues
** Senior living community in Castine
*** Focus Group on July 11
**** Target audience

- Not enough members in target audience?
- Folks who use the clinic might consider this a place for them
- 15-30 population range for a facility of this scale
- Types of apartments? Efficiency/Large?
- A cafeteria for group dinners, but some apart. may have kitchens

**** Our priorities - why?

- Transportation for folks living a way from grocery store
- Dirigo Pines has a 12-passenger van and a smaller van
- Competition with Parker Ridge?
- Independent apartments here, not assisted living
- @HomeDowneast is a great service, but you can't age in place forever

**** Advantages to Castine?
**** Disadvantages of Castine?

- Not able to use natural gas in Castine, no negotiated contract for heating
- Lack of year-round rentals in town
- If you did want to downsize, good luck finding a rental
- Bucksport, Belfast, Deer Isle or Parker Ridge are only solutions
- 1/3 of Maine workforce aging out in the next 10 years
- No grocery stores, drugstores
- Long distance from a major hospital w/o local ambulance
- Lack of location, being in town is

**** Other pluses and minuses?
** Broadband Committee
*** Ensure we have at least four people for committee [0/0]

- [ ] Hear back from Jimmy about membership
- [ ] Create a list of potential members
- [ ] Reach out to candidates

*** Set an agenda for first meeting
* Past issues
** DONE Shawn's 6-month Eval
CLOSED: [2020-02-03 Mon 15:34] SCHEDULED: <2020-02-03 Mon>

In reviewing the performance of Shawn Blodgett over the first six months of his
employment as the Town Manager of Castine, the Castine Select Board has
observed:

Regarding organization, the board commented that they have been completely
satisfied with Shawn's ability to juggle multiple projects and to maintain
consistency while implementing plans in a professional manner.

The Select Board noted Shawn has done a great job so far with the limited
opportunities to demonstrate economic development. Shawn explained to the Board
that he hopes to do more tracking of specific data around existing economic
development opportunities, with the expectation that measuring the effectiveness
of future efforts will be easier. The Board also said they were pleased with
Shawn's abilities to fit new ideas into the existing budget, recognizing the
difficulty of working within the constraints of the town's current revenue
streams.

The Board recommended tracking turnover of business and staying abreast of
incoming business to help make sure the town does not become subject to too much
business "churn," or businesses with short-term prospects.

The Board also recognized that Shawn does an excellent job taking responsibility
for his decisions and following up when things aren't done correctly the first
time. Shawn noted that he may be a little slow sometimes, but will hopefully
become more responsive and knowledgeable. Especially as regards some current
tricky code-enforcement tasks, the Board was fully confident in his ability to
navigate the issue.

On communication, the Board is extremely satisfied with Shawn's current
communication style. The weekly updates have been well received, to the extent
that perhaps they could be higher priority some weeks.

For professional development, Shawn stated that he has felt supported in his
educational opportunities through Maine Municipal and other sources. He will be
finishing a CEO course online shortly and keeps an eye out for new courses that
may help directly with Castine issues. The Board reminded him that even if he is
unable to immediately connect a course or resource with current needs, he should
feel comfortable asking the board for access to whatever he feels he needs.
Shawn said he has felt completely supported in his professional development thus
far.

Regarding working relationships, Shawn stated that he has been taking his time
learning how things have been done in the past and understanding everyone's
working styles before making any big changes. The Board supported this position
and noted their satisfaction with how he has navigated existing employee
relationships. The Board also noted that it can be a big challenge entering a
small town with a number of long-tenured employees, and that he has done a great
job.

Shawn did note that he would like to spend more time in 2020 getting to know
more about how work around town gets done to make sure everyone is working to
their full potential and happy in their work. He also noted that his working
relationship with Karen has been fruitful as she's generally open to his style
of bouncing "crazy ideas" off of her to see if there's room in the budget.

Asked about support needed from the Board, Shawn noted that the current
procurement policy makes it difficult to make efficient use of town resources
sometimes. The Board acknowledged the problem and offered to look into ways to
relax the policy, while maintaining the import feature of making sure work is
not unfairly apportioned to local labor or services.

Shawn told the board that he and his family are very happy in Castine and that
he's enjoying the job.

Upon completion of the 6-month review, the Board approved a performance-based
salary increase of $3,000, to be approved at the next public meeting.

** DONE Notes for MMA convocation

Welcome from Castine Town Selectman:

Good afternoon. My name is Colin Powell and on behalf of the Board of
  Selectmen, it's my pleasure to officialy welcome you to Town of Castine.

You may have noticed that this is a small town, and that Maine Maritime
  Academy is a big part of it. That's as true today as it was when the school
  welcomed it's first class in 1941.  Many of your current classmates, and
  future fellow alumni have contributed tremendously to making this town a great
  place to live. Congratulations! You are now part of this proud tradition.

I hope you will consider youselves true Castiner's during your academic time here.
  In encourage you to take advantage of the services and volunteer opportunities our
  community provides. From the town library and our four church communities, to
  working as a mentor in our small K-8 Adams School or splitting wood at our
  transfer station as part of our "wood bank" which delivers cord wood to
  low-income families for heat in the winter. There are some really great ways
  to get involved. If you need help, our town employees at Emerson Hall on Court
  Street are always willing to answer any questions, or even help you find ways
  to get involved. Many mornings you'll find me in the office as well.

Lasty, remember that this a small town where children ride their bikes on the
  street and our elders occasionally need a hand. Please be careful when you are
  driving around Castine; be supportive of your fellow classmates and
  considerate of your neighbors, and lend a hand where you can.

We are glad you are here... make every minute count while you are at Maine
  Maritime Academy and welcome to the neighborhood!

It is now my pleasure to introduce the President of the MMA Student Government Association, Oliver Higgins.

** DONE Water pipe fix on LaTour

<2019-06-01>
Our water department was notified of a water leak in a basement on LaTour
street. Upon investigation it appears the leak was ongoing since sometime in
December. Initial estimates were anywhere from 20-25 percent of our total water
capacity was being emptied into the ground and running down to the bay. Work is
underway to repair the leak. Jimmy Goodson, our town manager, noted that it was
a good thing this leak was caught before the summer water demand increase hit;
usually that spike begins in mid-June.
***

** DONE Misc Notes
** DONE Fire dept 2019 budget

+ Reviewed the dept budget with Jack
+ Everything looked good except for the proposal to update the siren setup
+ Gordon pointed out that most volunteers respond via pager or phone notifications
+ Given increase in  capital requests for the study and the truck, and the budget generally being up close to 5%
+ Asked Jack if we could leave the siren out for now, budget comes in closer to 3.2, which is inline with overal town budget
+ Plus we still get the capital requests
+ I know there's a lot of history in the siren, my wife said flat out you can't take it down, and she lived a half a block from it for a while
+ Need to talk about next steps with it at some point

** DONE Sidewalk snow clearing

At the first 2018 meeting of the Select Board on January 2, an issue was brought before the board about the difficulty of navigating sidewalks when snow is not cleared. The issue is compounded when the plows push large piles of snow near -- or sometimes on -- the sidewalks.

The history of the issue was brought up by long standing selectpeople. Gus Basile noted that the town has declined the task of keeping sidewalks cleared a number of times in the past. Whenever there's a bad storm the issue comes up again, but it's trickier than it seems to solve. There are a few ways other towns handle it:

** DONE Adams School <> library issue

<2018-01-29 Mon>
   Gus brought up his concerns about library use by kids after school.

Board discussed issue of liability regarding kids not having anywhere to go.

Issue is not necessarily anyone's problem but the parents, and perhaps the library.

But if something were to happen, would not look good on the town's part.

Next step: Jimmy will talk to Shelia about whether the school board wants to look into providing a position to organize and after school club

If the discussion goes well, he'll get something on the school board meeting for Feb. 7 as a discussion item.

** DONE Feb 14 catch up with Jimmy
*** Hearing for the rental registration policy

lot of people are for it because it fills a legal gap.

*** Lana Perry and
*** Budget status
*** Misc
** DONE Rental registration thoughts

These were cribbed from an email to Holly:

The reason this ordinance is under discussion right now is because there is a negative feedback loop in town regarding rentals. Like most things in life, it's not all, or even most rentals, but with a few properties we are stuck with town residents calling the sheriff to report a noise complaint or a safety hazard. The sheriff, driving from Ellsworth generally, arrives 45 minutes later and whatever was urgent at the time is no longer happening. The sheriff warns the renters of the property to be more courteous to their neighbor, and encourages the renter to contact their town officials. The neighbor talks to Jimmy about it, and he explains that, while the town has a noise section in our zoning ordinance, there are no tools in place to enforce violations of it.  It's a bit like a speed limit. Without timely enforcement, they're only a suggestion.

In this context, the rental registration ordinance would be a tool to enforce a policy that has been on the books for sometime in town.  The problem the town faces are issues where a disturbance is frequent enough to be seriously affecting a neighbor's quality of life, but transient enough that there's nothing "illegal" per se, at least nothing where the sheriff could possibly get there in time to write up a citation.  In an optimal situation, the town manager or neighbor could then contact the landlord, but unfortunately in many of these circumstances, without a way to enforce things, the landlords in question have expressed no interest in improving the situation, or even ignoring requests for assistance.

would also note that Castine is an outlier amongst college towns in Maine in adopting rental registrations. Most towns we've canvassed already have similar ordinances in place to deal with exactly the situation we find ourselves in today.  While I'm sensitive to the local government "prying into" private land use, there is already a legal precedent for this across Maine.  Additionally, Castine's particular circumstance is new because in the last decade and a half MMA's off-campus housing requirements have increased dramatically, in step with a march towards an enrollment of close to 1,000 students.  While it appears they've reached their facility and faculty optimum now, that just means that the current circumstance of having many more off-campus rentals occupied by students is the new normal and something we as a town need to address in a comprehensive way. This ordinance is our attempt to address these issues, and it may very well not be the best vehicle, but we have heard from other towns that it works, and are in the process of doing public hearings to determine whether the residents and landowners of Castine feel it's the right direction. This is not a fait acompli, and, speaking personally, I am still very much willing to accept that it may not be the best next step.

am also very sensitive to the issue of landowners without a say in the voting process, and during my election campaign I expressed an interest in having non-voting members of the selectboard composed from non-voting landowners. Unfortunately the circumstance many find themselves in is the same in many other towns with high rates of summer and rental ownership.  There is not a great model out there for allowing people to vote in multiple municipalities.  The best example for countering this feeling of helplessness I've found via research is the formation of a PAC that can influence town voters regarding issues specific to rental and summer properties.  If you feel strongly, I would encourage you to look into setting up an influence group to get townspeople's attention. I know national media has made PACs sound like a bad thing, but in the right context they can be a great way for a group of concerned taxpayers to speak with a louder voice.  In the meantime I will continue to look for ways to include non-voting property owners in Castine town governance.

o Lana's last point, I am working diligently to move Castine's town government communication into the 21st century.  There is so much more we can do to keep folks who do not live in town (or who live in town but don't have time to stay abreast of everything that happens at Emerson Hall) up to date with their government.  I am working as quickly as I can as a new selectperson, but it may take some time to open new lines of communication and keep them open in a consistent and high quality manner.

** DONE Rental registration ordinance public hearing

immy opened the meeting that a number of towns with colleges have similar policies, or are in the process
f adopting such policies. The impetus for many of them was the fatal Noyes Street fire in Portland where
he landlord was accused of negligence.

cottie felt the most important part of this document's purpose, public safety and a contact point are not
ddressed in the current draft. He wondered whether there was a way to enforce having a point of contact
or each property that was in town or close to in town.

ordes noted that the Academy is very responsive to reports of student misbehavior when it's reported to
he commandant.

eff Ackernman noted that a strong lease usually keeps a lid on many of these issues. He diligently follows
p on reference before he rents to folks. He also noted that the school has a written code of conduct that
ncludes off-campus students.

*** Noyes Street fire in Portland instigated a lot of policies around the state

ooking for an ordinance that address 1) life safety and 2) disorderly property management

een it happen with few other properties. Parties out of hand that disrupt the community and a few cases where it recurs.

ood idea to have such a policy on record so we can enforce when we need to.

ublic education of safety issues

cottie said public safety or life safety in the ordinance. What is fire safety? What are the codes? There needs to be

*** Feedback from:

Holly
 Meriby

** DONE Town gown June meeting
** DONE Castine Rental Housing Ordinance public meeting
CLOSED: [2018-06-02 Sat 10:29]

*** Background

Ad hoc land use study group in 2017
 Met and felt first priority should be rental housing priority (WHY?)
 Under 4,000 population, not required to enforce building codes
 We had all this rental housing out there with no enforcement of building codes
 Wanted to make landlords aware of state and fed requirements
 Feb. 16, 2018 had a working session, lots of good feedback
 Met with renters in March and received more input, number of changes
 After Feb. 16 meeting, the form that we were using to gather info was based on other communities' forms
 We realized we were asking for more info that just about rental property
 Taken a lot of more detailed information out
 Rental unit form is just to create a listing of those properties in town
 Also, renamed it from a registration to a listing, and more in keeping with what we're trying to accomplish
 Confirmed that a disorderly conduct notice does not interrupt lease between landlord and tenant
 Document does not control # of occupants in units, that's a zoning issue
 Under penalties, we got feedback saying that if disorderly property and remedy is eviction, should not be charging violation per diem
 Takes months to work through an eviction
 There have been comments that disorderly conduct places a punitive impact on landlords
 Trying to give the town the tool to address properties that get out of hand over time
 Some say, maybe that's not just rental units but any property
 We have decided we're not going to define or control parking
 But in most cases, there's a balance between parking spaces and occupancy

*** Lance Burton

Two purposes, to provide listing of rentals and increase awareness of safety equipment
 Article 1 meets need of providing a listing
 Article 2 however, rather than increasing awareness is an attempt to pass a problem property ordinance
 Supports a life-safety initiative
 As presented, this doesn't accomplish much, says "fire ext." doesn't say where or how many
 A disorderly house cannot be inhabited, even if they vacate the problem tenant
 But the ordinance does spell out what action plan needs to be addressed to re-rent the property
 It truly is not a life-safety document
 It is a listing and a nuisance property ordinance

*** ?

No statement of the town's ability to enforce the ordinance
 Actually appears to be an abdication of liability for the town in the document
 This ordinance does not appear to be in the spirit of "open for business"

*** Arnold Berleant

Town has been turned into a dormitory over the winter
 Increased value for rental owners who then charge rates that boost the value of the property
 Many of the faculty of the academy cannot afford to live in town
 Town has been taken over by exploitative forces
 Academy & non-resident town owners
 There are 36 owners of multiple properties in this town
 Ordinance is just one factor to help get a handle on what's been going on in our town
 Proposed ordinance may need to be revised
 But at issue is the resident's control of the town

*** Jimmy Goodson

We get feedback from parents moving kids into houses without fire detectors, CO detectors
 We're a town that so long as zoning and setbacks are complaint, CEO's hands are tied
 Intent of listing was to put a spot light on rental safety

** DONE Maine Municipal Association workshop
*** Overview of Municipal Government

Founded in 1936, eight communities came together to lobby Augusta as one. Originally a lobby. 112 employees and 490 municipalities belong to MMA. Should lookup reps in your district for MMA. They tell us what direction to take on legistlation.
  Municipalities are LEGAL CORPORATIONS. They are separate legal entities, each encorporated by special act of the state legislature. Can all own, sell property, be sued. We have shareholders, townspeople. Annual meeting too. **All towns are political subdivisions of the state. Means, all powers they exercise are derived from the legislature.**

Quasi-judiicial actions are decisions made based on evidence and legal requirements in the applicable laws. Issuance of licences and permits (land use, zoning appeals, property tax abatement decisions, personal grievences).o

State and federal laws apply to municipalities. State laws are most important on day-to-day basis. National laws that apply are ADA, Federal Fair Labor laws, Civil rights laws are examples that effect munis. But on the whole, state statues have greater impact. Title 30a, Title 36, Title 21a, Title 20a. Common law is also very important.

Only about 80 munis in Maine have Home Rule Charters. Those are blueprints of governance. Need a HRC if you wanted to shift to a town or city council from town meeting. An HRC would also be needed to change or alter standard election procedures. Local residency is not required for committee members. They only need to be state and US citizens and over 18.

Firearm discharge ordinances are allowed, which would make parts of town prohibited from the discharge of firearms. That's the only part of firearms that are locally allowed to be affected by municipalities.

Towns also cannot create new tax laws. All the rules are spelled out in state statue.

Hunting, fishing and trapping, are prohibted from regulation by munis. Speed limits are set by the DoT, municipalities must petition or ask for a specific speed limit. Outdoor shooting ranges are also goverened exl. by the state. Municipal property is the only place where ATV and snowmobile use can be regulated by munis.

Municipalities cannot regulate ridesharing services.

Animal control ordinances that are breed specific are probhited.

Munis for 10 or more years, have been able to designate portions of road networks as ATV/snowmobile access routes. But that's a power vested in the municipal officers, not town meeting. Still retain that power, but really confined to small portions of roads for that purpose.

Municipal Officer is a selectperson or councilor. Municipal officials include officers, but also any elected or appointed officails who take an oath of office. Officers prepare warrants, propose ordinances and budgets, and exclusive authority to adopt certain types of ordinances. Traffic and parking ordinances fall exclusivly within the realm of officers. Road weight limitations as well. Cable TV, General Assistance ordinances and ATV/snowmobile routes are exclusive to select board.

State law requires every muni to have an annual audit performed. Selection of the auditor rests with the select board. Cannot be done by clerk, manager or anyone else.

*** DONE Ask about whether a municipality can run ride/carsharing services
CLOSED: [2017-11-30 Thu 17:18]

*** DONE Ask about whethere duties split between manager and select board must be spelled out, and where?
CLOSED: [2017-11-30 Thu 17:17]

*** Right to know law

Public proceedings and public records.

Law very strictly regulates executive session. Right to Know law stipulates those.

Rules for going in and out are:
    - Begin in public
    - Member of the board makes motion to enter exec session
    - Motion must be recorded in minutes
    - Motion must state reason and statute authorizing session
    - Motion must be approved by 3/5 of members present and voting

Exec sessions are only for discussion, and only for discussion of topic authorized to discuss. Okay to get rough conseus of what board things, but for vote, must exit exec session.

Anyone can make a records request. It does not need to be in writing, but you can ask that it be put in writing. It still does not have to be. Only requires you to provide access to records that exist. You are not required to tell the public that anything exists per se. Right to Know law does not require answering questions or making new records, just answer questions to records that EXIST. Standing request is when someone makes a request going into the future. A copy of all select board minutes from now on is not request that must be complied with. Minutes of a future board meeting would need to be made in the future when minutes exist.

Person can look at records in person and make their own copy. Appointment must be made with staff who keeps records, would have to be during regular business hours when it will not inconvenience them.

Person can also ask municipality to make copies and mail to the citizen or for them to pick up.

Municipality must acknowledge receipt within 5 business days.

Public Access officer must be designated in your municipality.

Electronically stored records can be printed or electronic. Not required to be provided in a different format. Not required to provide a computer terminal or software for data conversion.

Confidential record request denial must be in writing and submitted within 5 days of the request.

*** DONE Ask about how to un-taint things used for public business (personal email address)

LOSED: [2018-06-02 Sat 10:29]

*** How we communicate as a town

<2018-01-12 Fri>

There are many ways to communicate with voters. The best way is whatever is most comfortable for the individual. That's a lot of work, however, so we need a happy medium. The following list is a handful of ways to get information out:

- office hours
  - town hall meetings
  - email
  - facebook
  - twitter
  - information sessions
  - newspaper column
  - letters to the editor
  - individual home visits
  - town website blog
  - email newsletter
  - paper newsletter
  - specific tools: github, mailchimp,

Select boards are funny animals, because while we are board together, each of us are our own bosses. So to some extent it should be possible to do communication on my own, but also have a group method of communication as well.

Entered on [2018-01-10 Wed 09:09]

[[file:~/Dropbox/org/todo.org::*draft%20notes%20on%20communication%20methods%20in%20town][draft notes on communication methods in town]]

** DONE Walking Tour app meeting
*** Questions
**** Kickstarter campaign to try this?
**** How will we know it's a success?
**** How will we market it?
***** Facebook ads by geography
***** Twitter
*** Pilot
**** success/failure modes