Woodstock voters approve $24K to cover budget shortfalls

WOODSTOCK — At a special town meeting December 18, eight voters approved taking $24,843 from the town's overlay account to cover shortfalls in this year's budget.

The bulk of the money is to cover employee overtime and the increased price of salt in the winter roads budget – $6,000 was for municipal utilities inadvertently left off the warrant at town meeting in March.

Tom Hartford was elected moderator.

Selectman Rick Young reported that one of the town trucks is down until a new hydraulic pump is installed.

When the truck was built the Tenco company used two different sized universal joints on the pump shaft causing vibrations that ultimately broke the pump.

Tenco is no longer in business. The truck is expected to be up and running shortly.

Young also reported that G & W has finally purchased a new backhoe for the transfer station for $29,500 – a 580 SuperL Case with 4,200 hours on it.

"It should work very well," Young said. The machine will be picked up in Cumberland when the roads are dry.

Code Enforcement Officer Joelle Corey-Whitman gave status reports on several clean up projects around town.

One on South Main Street has gone to the town's attorney as there has been insufficient response from the property owner. Another has a new tenant who is repairing the building while the owner slowly gets rid of "numerous trailer-loads" of trash. This owner may ask the G & W board for a waiver on the three-dollar-per-tire fee to dispose of at least 22 tires on the property.

Corey-Whitman said Ken Roberts has until January 15 to pay the $1,875 he was fined after violating the shoreland zoning ordinance by illegally cutting trees. Selectmen agreed to increased penalties if payment is not forthcoming.

Commenting that "everyone wants to be supportive of the camp," Jan Kendrick asked the board what they would suggest about the best way to handle ongoing neighborhood issues with the Bryant Pond 4H Camp.

Selectman Steve Bies, commenting on a earlier meeting between camp staff and the selectmen, agreed that "the good neighbor business hadn't been carried out," and that he would like to see the neighbors meet with the camp staff to go over the issues.

Ad Hoc Wind Power Committee Chair Bob Elliot offered to help pay for a legal review of the proposed wind power ordinance. The board thanked him, but stated it was a town initiative and the town ought to pay.

Elliot said he had spoken to an attorney in Bangor already familiar with this type of ordinance who would do the work for a lot less money than anticipated.

The board made a motion to give the committee up to $1,000 for a legal review and to choose the attorney.

Fire department member, Tom Hartford, reported there have been 123 calls for the department so far this year – "mostly traffic accidents."