New Gloucester--With at least forty people in attendance,
the Board of Selectmen on Monday night fielded some
unfriendly questions from those residents of New Gloucester
who chose to speak during the public participation
section of the meeting.
Complaints ranging from the shoddy work done on the
Transfer Station roof to the deplorable state of Tobey
Road were on the minds of the residents who had almost
unanimously spoken of the need and implementation
of certain "policies" that would force contractors
who are awarded with jobs by the town to not only
finish their assigned work, but to do it well.
One resident, wondering how the town had even managed
a deal with the woodcutters who had left Tobey Road
a navigational hazard, asked if there was any policy
in place that guaranteed that tax dollars would not
be spent until a job was finished-something that many
people at the meeting believed had not happened with
the roof of the Transfer Station, which had "blown
off" within a short period of time after it was
refurbished, according to another resident who spoke
at the meeting.
Robin Ray, another NG resident, said that she has
a personal attachment to Tobey Road because, among
other lesser reasons, her mother lives on it. "It's
impassible," she said, "I have four-wheel
drive and I can't drive on that road."
Another resident who spoke said the deadlines for
contract bids were too narrow and that more time needs
to be given to those who have the ability and are
interested in doing work for the town.
Many comments were specifically directed at Town Manager
Rosemary Kulow, who, in addition to many other duties,
is in charge of roads and maintenance, according to
Steven Libby. Before the public participation even
began, Mr. Libby, foreseeing some comments by the
public directed at specific members to be depreciative,
warned those who took the podium that any explicit
complaints directed at certain members would not be
tolerated.
Some participants asked when Mrs. Kulow would finally
move into New Gloucester-the idea of a Town Manager
not actually living in the town she is managing was
a problem to some. Mr. Libby said that given the market,
she would need more time to sell her house and either
build or buy another.
Since it is up to Ms. Kulow to handle problems with
town personnel, one resident asked what to do if the
problem is with Mrs. Kulow herself, to which, again,
Mr. Libby responded that residents are free to contact
other members if there are problems with the Town
Manager.
"What happens if Rosemary isn't doing her job?"
asked one resident.
"Then we have the authority to deal with it,"
said Mr. Libby.
Before the scheduled board meeting, there was an executive
session attended by Chair Steve Libby, Selectmen David
Lunt, Lenora Conger, Dale Maschino, Kevin Sullivan
and Manager Rosemary Kulow. When asked what the meeting
was about, Libby said that they had discussed "personnel
issues" but refused to go into any detail and
also said that there was no action taken. Also discussed
during the executive session was a "potential
land acquisition" for which there were also no
decisions made.
In other business, an abatement of personal property
tax for Daryl D. Gushee, Inc. was passed by the board,
5-0. Daryl Gushee, according to a letter sent to him
by Nancy Pinette, an assessor's agent, had been denied
abatement for the 2003-2004 tax year by the selectmen
and then failed to appeal either on time or not at
all. During Monday night's meeting, Gushee protested
that the man who was hired by the town to perform
an inspection on his property was "rude and obtrusive",
according to Gushee's wife, and was therefore denied
admittance to the property.
Gushee also said that the numbers which constituted
the abatement were "pulled out of a hat"
and were not the original numbers discussed. Libby
contended that the inspector was actually a nice guy
and that if Gushee had any problems he could meet
with the assessor. "Could you sit down with Nancy
[Pinette]?" Libby asked. "That's what I
wanted all along," Gushee responded.
