SELECT BOARD MEETING AGENDA/MINUTES
07/21/2026
Selectperson, David Bright (2027) Clerk, Julie Bonin
Chair, Serena Bemis(2028) Treasurer, Shirlene Lindsey
Selectperson, John Barry(2029) Public Works Director, Tim Rogers
Present- Serena Bemis, David Bright, John Barry, Shirlene Lindsey, Julie Bonin, Tim Rogers
Others present- Tom & Lois Rowe, Dude Hopkins, Ryan Hopkins, Janice Boyd, Sandra Cromwell
CALL MEETING TO ORDER - FLAG SALUTE-Serena opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
AGENDA ADJUSTMENTS – EPR Program-Maine Packaging Recycling-will discuss with item 10.
APPROVE MINUTES – July 2, 2026, Minutes- A motion was made and seconded to accept the minutes as written. The motion was passed unanimously.
WARRANTS- A. Payroll- #24-$3,771.30
B. Accts. Payable- #25-$ 15,104.99
The Board reviewed and approved the warrants. The Board signed the warrants.
OLD BUSINESS-NONE
PUBLIC WORKS- Tim gave an overview of what he’s been doing, Clean both Dump trucks and painted frames. Working on cutting brush along bridges and guardrails. Still a couple to do. Tim has a gentleman with big excavator with a mulching head coming tomorrow starting at the South Road near Randy Hall’s trimming big trees that are over hanging the road. If the job is done up to Tim’s standards, there are a couple other places that Tim will have him tackle.
Tim gave an overview of the signs that Serena put in for a grant. They turned out to be school signs not the portable ones like the Town of Plymouth has, which is what Serena has put in for. Tim said it will be a process to put these in. There is also a subscription that goes with these. There is a free trial subscription and after that it cost $75.00. Tim said he could adapt them to make them portable. The State said NO. They would have to be sent back if we don’t use them for the school. Serena will call RSU19 Superintendent Mike Hammer to see if he is interested in them.
Tim said he needs to find more of the big white totes used for cardboard as some have holes in them
PUBLIC SAFETY- Fire Chief Ryan Hopkins said the last two weeks have been busy. Ryan asked David if he had checked as to why there is such a price difference for the East Dixmont Station compared to the other stations. David said he had sent an email but hasn’t hear anything. He will reach out to Versant again.
H.U.D UPDATE- Serena said we have finally received the “email packet”. In it, they need the SAMS # which we have already done. A grant agreement needs to be signed between HUD and Dixmont, which we haven’t received yet. They provided the contact which is in Boston. Serena is going to try to get a name not just a contact number. They have a reporting system which is what we need to sign into and use for every phase, everything we have to have done with them. We have had Project funding, Environment Review, introduction to BABA(Building America By America).This is where we are right now. Serena reiterated that she had talked to an individual that had put their grant in in 2022 and just received their money. Serena is hoping that will not be the case with us as it would negatively affect our numbers. Serena is hoping by getting in touch with them she will have a more solid contact that at the least will be able to talk to.
COMP PLAN-The Committee is meeting tomorrow night. She said they will probably be 80% thru the sections. They are taking the month of August off as she feels all need a break. They will reconvene in September. Everything is going fine. She feels the surveys bogged them down, there were a few sections that got left “out in right field”, but now those are coming back around. Goals and strategies, which are the next part, Serena thinks will go a lot quicker than what they have been doing.
UARRC LETTER- A letter was drafted to meet the requirements, which requires the Town to notify UARRC that the Board is considering withdrawing and bringing to the Town’s people, first to a public hearing before the Annual Town Meeting and then a vote at the Town Meeting. If passed to withdraw, the contract would end June 30, 2028. Tim Rogers stated, after he and John Barry reviewed the information/numbers from UARRC, Dixmont shipped 23.48 tons which figured out to cost $912.59 per ton for recycles. Dixmont’s regular trash cost $91.00 per ton .
Concerning the ERP Program, Sandy Cromwell asked, in 2027 she was told the government would start paying recycling places that are really recycling, money back. This is the ERP Program for manufacturers packaging; manufacturer have to pay for the “packaging” of their product. There was an email sent to the Town to see if they would be to participating in the program. Serena would feel more comfortable responding back to them to say Dixmont would like more information before making any decision. Tim will respond to them with a request for more information.
Tim is looking into the option of Tire Disposal at the Transfer Station. There would need to be a 25x25 2-foot-deep gravel pad 4” minus. BDS will charge $5.06 per tire, this includes picking them up. There a revision in our license which would be an additional cost. John Barry said that as long as the Dixmont is getting inquiries about tire disposal it is worth looking into it.
11. MISC/PUBLIC COMMENT—NONE
12. SELECTBOARD CONCERN:
A. David- NONE
B. John- NONE
C. Serena- NONE
13. ADJOURN MEETING –
MEETING ADJOURNED 6:47PM