Special meeting called to give board contract authority

PARIS —  The board of selectmen currently lack authorization from the town to enter into multi-year contracts for which money has not been raised and appropriated.

A special town meeting will be held February 25 to correct the oversight. Voters will also authorize the sale of the town's former Pine Street fire station.

During the February 12 selectboard meeting, Town Manager Amy Bernard said last year's town meeting warrant did not include an article that gives the board the authority to sign multi-year contracts.

"Technically, you shouldn't be signing contracts for lawn mowing, you shouldn't be signing contracts for the SAD, because you don't have authority to," Bernard told board members.

The oversight was brought to her attention by the attorney who looked over the agreement to sell the town's old fire station.

"You don't have the authority to enter into service contracts at all," Bernard said.

Last Friday, Bernard clarified the issue, stating the board was authorized to sign contracts with money already appropriated at town meeting.

In the case of multi-year contracts, however, money for years after the first had not yet been appropriated, so the board lacked the authority to enter into a contract using it, Bernard explained.

The board had not yet exceeded its authority with any contracts, Bernard said.

She reported that the authority to sign her own contract, in December, was provided to the board under state statute.

Two items, an agreement with Community Leasing Partners to finance the purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus for the fire department and a contract with SAD 17 for its school resource officer program are currently pending in front of the board.

The special town meeting is set for February 25, at 6 p.m., at the town office. The three items on the warrant ask to elect a moderator, authorize the board to sell the Pine Street property and authorize the board to enter into contracts.