MINUTES 

TOPSHAM SELECT BOARD MEETING 

Monday, March 25 2024 

Present: James Bulger, Carl Hildebrandt, Jake Thompson, Bradford Calhoun and Thomas Otterman  (Select Board), Karen Walker (Town Clerk/Treasurer), Richard Sampson (Road Foreman) and via  Microsoft Teams Janice Emerson (Administrative Assistant)  

Visitors: Jim Clark, Leslie Frost and John Hood  

Meeting called to order at 7:00 pm.  

Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve minutes from meeting of  March 11, 2024. Passed unanimously. 

HIGHWAY 

Road Report – Richie Sampson updated the Board on roadwork and equipment. New Garage – Brad Calhoun updated the Board on the New Garage Project.  

Bridge Work- The bridge near the hammock shop in East Corinth will be closed for about one week in  mid August 2024.  

Driveway Permit on Territory Road – Brad Calhoun will handle.  

Overweight Permits – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to approve  permits for Suburban Propane, Wind River Environmental, S. D. Ireland, Feed Commodities  International, Ricker’s Excavation, Camp Precast Concrete, Chief Crushing and Excavation, Chief  Logging and Chipping, Sargent Artesian Wells, Dead River Company, Amerigas and Pike Industries.,  Passed unanimously.  

GENERAL 

Appointment of Town Officers – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to  appoint the individuals as shown on the attached sheet. Passed unanimously.  

Auditor Position – Jim Bulger read a letter of interest from Kym Mable. Motion made by Tom  Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to appoint Kym Mable as Auditor for a term of one year.  Passed unanimously.  

Open Positions – There are three open positions. One for Auditor and two NEKWMD Reps. If anyone  is interested, please contact a member of the Select Board or call the Town Office.  

Highway Personnel Policy – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Tom Otterman to  approve the revised vacation paragraph. Passed unanimously. Jake will send the revised material on  sick leave for review and comment at the next Board meeting.  

Use of Town Hall – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to approve use  of the Town Hall by Polly Stryker on Jul 19 and 20 for Richard Heath’s memorial. Passed  unanimously.

Green-Up Day – David Elias and the Scouts will be at the Transfer Station on May 4 to help with  green-up. Let David know if they can help in other ways..  

ARPA Funds – We will continue as is for now. Jim Bulger will get more information.  

Bernier Drive – Motion made by Jake Thompson and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt to rescind the  motion made at the February 26, 2024 meeting naming Bernier Drive as a 911 address. Passed  unanimously.  

MERP – Energy Audit of the Town Hall Building – The Board reviewed.  

West Topsham Community Hall – Tom Otterman updated the Board on this project including the septic system and test sites. An architect will be looking upstairs, downstairs and outside to give  recommendations for improvements. Motion made by Jim Bulger and seconded by Carl Hildebrandt  for Tom Otterman to be point person. Passed unanimously. Motion made by Tom Otterman and  seconded by Jake Thompson to purchase $500,000 of replacement insurance on the building. Passed  unanimously.  

Liquor License – Motion made by Carl Hildebrandt and seconded by Tom Otterman to approve a liquor license for Gramp’s Country Store. Passed unanimously.  

CORRESPONDENCE 

Town Hall Floor – Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson approve Carol  Appleton’s offer to clean and restore the Town Hall floor. Passed unanimously. The Town will pay for  the material.  

VLCT Webinars on Liability and Risk Management Guidance and Open Meeting Laws - The Board  reviewed. 

Agency of Natural Resources – Above ground storage tanks – The Board reviewed.  

Hydrologic & Hydraulic (H&H) Study Guide – The Board reviewed and discussed.    

FINANCIAL 

The Board reviewed and signed Order #2406 in the amount of $68,803,70 for accounts payable and  $11,115.41 for payroll. 

Motion made by Tom Otterman and seconded by Jake Thompson to authorize the Town Treasurer to  write a check to move the Cemetery Fund CD money from M&T Bank to Wells River Savings Bank.  Passed unanimously. 

Meeting adjourned at 7:47 pm.  

Respectfully Submitted, 

Janice Emerson 

Administrative Assistant