News

New Gloucester Town Manager's Report
By Rosemary Kulow

Meetinghouse Siding Project
Benchmark has been notified that it was awarded the contract for the meetinghouse siding project, and its representative will meet with me next week to establish the work schedule and sign the contract.

Town Hall Security System Project
The contract with Protection One has been signed, and installation will begin Friday, October 21st. The entire installation should take a few days.

Town Manager's Certification
On September 13th the Maine Town and City Managers' Association notified me that I am now recognized as a Maine Certified Public Manager. To become a Certified Public Manager, one must meet certain educational and experience criteria, have served as a municipal manager for a specified number of years, have served his/her professional associations and other civic organizations, and participate in continuing educational and professional development programs. The applicant is also required to create a professional development plan for recertifying every three years. Nathan Poore, the current MTCMA President, sent me a framed certificate and gifts from the Town of Kennebunkport, where he lives and serves as Town Manager.

Gazebo Car Wash
Suzan Hawkins reported that the day was gray, cold, and dismal, but many people came out to support the fund-raising car wash for the Bob Leighton Memorial Gazebo on Saturday, September 17th. Those working at the car wash raised $403 in just three hours and sold $25 of raffle tickets. Additional revenue will be realized from the bottle drive, which collected a pickup truck full of bottles and cans. Thanks to all who worked at the car wash and also to those who contributed to the cause.

Notice of Business Hours Change
The change of business hours for the New Gloucester Town Hall and Library has been advertised the following ways: the Lewiston Sun Journal, the Monument, the New Gloucester News, the Portland Press Herald, the Town web page, New Gloucester's government access cable TV channel, on town signs in Upper Village and at the transfer station, on bulletin boards in Town Hall, meeting minutes, and on the front doors of the Town Hall and Library.

Central Corridors Coalition Meeting
The last Central Corridors Coalition meeting held September 14th at Stimson Hall focused primarily on the Gray/Rte. 26 bypass project. Although many other items appeared on the agenda, those present thought that the discussion about the bypass was too important to be cut short and the remaining items were not discussed. Except for GPCOG and MDOT staff, I was the only person in attendance representing a town other than Gray.

Clerks Elections Workshop
On September 15th I attended a workshop in Augusta about Clerks' election responsibilities. We used MMA's handbook for Voter Registration and Elections as a reference tool throughout the workshop. Although I do not carry out the tasks associated with elections directly, as overseer, I thought it best to refresh my understanding of election laws and become more familiar with the requirements of Title 21-A. It was a very beneficial day learning the myriad of details that all election officials must follow. After that training session, I have an even greater appreciation for the work Barbara Seaver does on a regular basis.

ADA Workshop
I have attended workshops for the Americans with Disabilities Act before, but never as Town Manager of New Gloucester. The workshop I attended in Augusta on September 20th reminded me to determine whether the Town of New Gloucester appointed an ADA Coordinator, appointed an ADA Advisory Committee, completed accessibility self-inspections for town facilities, and developed and implemented a Transition Plan. So far, we have not been able to locate this information, although many accessibility features have been installed on town buildings. If the information is not ascertainable, I will proceed as required to meet the legal requirements.

Costs to the Town for Disposal of Certain Types of Solid Waste
At the last Selectmen's meeting, Board members asked staff to clarify the costs of disposal for the items on the list of newly recommended fees. In response, the Public Works Director wrote a description of disposal costs for those items. The narrative appears in the September 26th agenda packet. The recommended fees would cover cost of disposal only, not generate surplus revenue.

"No Parking" Signs
The Public Works Director asked MDOT to replace the "No Parking" signs along Route 100 in the Upper Village. He was told that because the town requested them in the first place and they are now existing signs, any maintenance and/or replacement is the town's responsibility. The DPW will replace the signs.

November Election
MSAD 15 is asking for a vote on a bond issue at the November election, but their warrant won't be approved until October 5th. Since the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen isn't having a regular meeting again until October 17th, it is advisable for Selectmen to hold a special meeting to approve the school district's warrant right after the School Board approves it. Town approval of the school district's warrant should be done sooner, rather than later, to ensure that election deadlines are met. Information must be sent to and received back from LHS, ballots must be tested, and the warrants have to be posted well in advance of the November 8th election.

Workplace Health Care
The Town will now be using U. S. Health Works for all its workplace health care services. Previously, the town used Occupational Health and Rehabilitation for drug and alcohol testing and Work Med for fire/rescue fit testing, etc. I didn't understand why we used different providers, nor did I know the extent of services that are available from workplace health care providers. After researching this, I now realize the variety of healthcare services available and believe that all the town's workplace health care issues should be handled by one provider.

Other department heads have also evaluated this information and agree that we should try U. S. Health Works. Their rates are a little less expensive than the other providers, and they provide all the services the town needs, including pre-employment physicals and job-related evaluations, health care services for workplace injuries, rehabilitation and follow-up for workers' compensation cases, drug and alcohol testing, SCBA fit tests, fire/rescue personnel evaluations, etc. U. S. Health Works will give a presentation to department heads at the next staff meeting October 14th, and any new procedures will be explained to all employees.

Emergency Management
The Emergency Management Director is in the process of planning a roundtable exercise to test the town's emergency management plan. The exercise will be held at the Fire Station, time TBA.