MINUTES
TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING
Monday, January 27, 2025
Present: Carl Hildebrandt, Jake Thompson, Bradford Calhoun and Tom Otterman (Select Board), Karen Walker (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via Microsoft Teams Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)
Absent: James Bulger
Visitors: Megan Clark, Bill Johnson, Becky Christian, James Salina, Donna Otterman, Peggy Welch, Carol Appleton, Heidi McNeill and Dyani Hazlett
Meeting called to order at 6:59 pm.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to to appoint Jake Thompson to act as Chair in Jim Bulger’s absence.
Motion made by Brad Calhoun and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve minutes from meeting of January 13, 2025. Passed unanimously.
VISITORS
Executive Session - Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to go into executive session to discuss personnel. Passed unanimously. Dyani Hazlett was invited to join the session. Meeting adjourned to executive session from 7:02 pm to 7:14 pm. No action.
HIGHWAY
Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment. New Garage – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on this project. The estimate for insulation is $27,830.
Surplus Fund – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Brad Calhoun to put an article on the Warning for Town Meeting to see if the voters will approve using the money in the Surplus Fund ($176,476) to pay for new garage construction expenses. Passed unanimously.
Driveway Permit – Andrew Emerson on Stryker Road. Richie Sampson will handle. Purchasing Policy – More information is being gathered.
Overweight Permits – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve permits for Newport Sand & Gravel and Daren LaHaye. Passed unanimously.
GENERAL
Open Positions – There are three open positions, one Auditor and two NEKWMD Reps. If anyone is interested, please contact a member of the Select Board or call the Town Office.
Ethics Liaison - Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to appoint Jim Bulger as Ethics Liaison. Passed unanimously.
West Topsham Community Hall – The Board reviewed an email from Megan Clark requesting two Articles be included in the Warning for Town Meeting regarding a Reserve Fund for the Community Hall.
Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Brad Calhoun to include the Articles in the Warning reducing the amount of the deposit in the second Article to $700. Passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE
Otterman & Allen – A distribution of $9,938 each was received from the Macdonald Family Funds for the East Topsham Cemetery and the Town of Topsham. Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to put the Town’s distribution into the Highway Fund. Passed unanimously.
Ambulance Contract – Motion made by Ton Otterman and seconded by Brad Calhoun to sign the contract. Passed unanimously.
Corinth Bylaw Amendment – The Board reviewed the proposed amendment to the Corinth Subdivision Bylaw.
E C Fiber Report – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to table. Passed unanimously.
F INANCIAL
The Board reviewed and signed Order #2502 in the amounts of $109,985.94 for accounts payable and $9,019.37 for payroll.
OTHER
Warning – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to warn a Special Select Board meeting on Thursday, January 30 at 6:00 pm to finalize the Warning for the March 2025 Town Meeting. Passed unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 8:12 pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Janice Emerson
Administrative Assistant