[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6296352,"mediaKeyId","2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc","parentId",2516454,"title","Votes at a glance: Licensing, paving, tax payments, trust fund, cemetery and warrants","audioSeconds",1776,"startMs",4438000,"endMs",6214000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc&start=4438&end=6214","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc/thumbnail_4438000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6296352/Maine/Votes-at-a-glance-Licensing-paving-tax-payments-trust-fund-cemetery-and-warrants","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296352-b7ceca5211dab80030a12e2399e6eaf5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770728468&Signature=InDxDq0ZFbkKXNp3Lbp3NV3xo9ZyOwbSfFj4o~vZcJ1n3pFJ5OrS9-3hZKesimT6aH1v6Rm86ftjhhAOJ1QpFin4gli3ueKoB8CewFM5Mt5Riej0G2uYMraikbw-UWSsa6Cha1dTxTTkLeMovvnBcFbydTXlbRrsEN-QrGaEyobMJQQk6kyD2HifcfeMMZIvtlghdd7nT4gm2mIdlapPbabPps3NR3gh~AYD8Ic3qj~45mmJbEK7PsQLFj5xM814UpFpyL2npERQDrEfK-GUFBft2OHgxJYO8Z93xu2x2SCmIprPP05deAoeFVs5wpgn94R2HdNTFLfSH7MyQsQm7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Skowhegan ME ","date","2025-02-25T00:00:00Z","article","The Skowhegan Selectmen recorded the following formal actions at the meeting (motions recorded in the meeting transcript; vote tallies are included when the transcript specified them):

- Renewal of on-premises malt, liquor and wine & spirits license for Fraternal Order of Eagles, Skowhegan (Water Street): Motion to approve was moved and seconded; the board voted to approve the renewal (vote recorded as passed; transcript reports “All in favor. Passes”).

- Authorization to allow Road Commissioner Jason Finley to solicit bids for the 2025 paving season, contingent on town meeting approval: Motion moved and seconded; board approved (transcript: “Passes”). Staff said a list of planned roads would be posted and included in the budget book.

- Award of CSO Phase 3.6.0.2 bid to Ranger Construction in an amount not to exceed $825,000 from the CSO Phase 3 bond: Motion and approval recorded (details and context reported in separate article).

- Expansion of the Mary C. Bernard Trust Fund assistance: The board approved expanding the trust by an amount not to exceed $6,500 to help residents who do not qualify for general assistance with heating fuel from February 2025 through April 2025. Board members discussed how staff apply trust funds and general assistance rules; motion passed (transcript: “Passes”).

- Award of cemetery maintenance/section contract to J and L Tree Service: Board approved a three‑year contract at $100,366 per year to maintain town cemeteries, including grave digging and records support; motion passed (transcript: “Passes”). Selectmen noted the contract guarantees price for three years.

- Acceptance of tax payments in full prior to the sale of foreclosed property: The board approved allowing the town manager to accept full tax payments prior to sale in order to sell any foreclosed property back to the previous owner; staff described outreach to owners and a new timeline under recent statutory changes affecting foreclosure processing; motion passed (transcript: “Passes”).

- Consent agenda (minutes and special meeting minutes): Approved with one abstention (the transcript reports: 4 in favor, 1 abstention).

- Treasurer’s warrants: Approved in the amount of $1,255,560.32 (motion and approval noted; transcript records 4 in favor, 1 abstention for warrants).

Motions that were presented but tabled or deferred include the athletic‑complex change orders (irrigation and electrical design) and other items that require further financial documentation and grant‑status updates.

Vote details: The transcript records many pass votes with “All in favor” language; when a roll-call or tally was recorded (for consent agenda and warrants) the meeting recorded 4 in favor and 1 abstention. Several other approvals were recorded as passed without roll call numbers printed in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Selectboard Meeting Feb 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Selectmen approved liquor-license renewal, paving authorization (contingent on town meeting), cemetery contract and several other items; they also expanded a fuel‑assistance trust fund and approved treasurer warrants.","taxTitle","Selectmen, Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine","taxId",72630,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296357,"Selectman Amber Lick outlines Freedom of Access Act limits on remote participation and public comments",464,3878000,4342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc&start=3878&end=4342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc/thumbnail_3878000.jpg","/articles/6296357/Maine/Selectman-Amber-Lick-outlines-Freedom-of-Access-Act-limits-on-remote-participation-and-public-comments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296357-5be38642af6d06832623bc5c5d930158/orig.mp4?Expires=1770728468&Signature=Icq8IfP-pLSdbUKLBWEAb0LBz~scVTg5WLXzKBoHIauKc2rWi6tctALsOCy11CCKaskzuiHTBuf7zjSrWkSOcv20PGC3ht5OJhGOscE4~OZW5v1X60Qqj1FFF1-P32tO5hJEizfxiUN~ZU1WjlgKMYdwj8mWZ56iSATvJ-xVIbjvI3-0JhQR-vVrx~97iZaBiI-YsUIPF37PyvxjyrDo9tN0EhDeVBbvS~JyLttGpy9IwCi2p2ZPmpanmk7xD4ruAUaoVwoBgzZEanIauENeH65tdpW6S~Zg35F-oxeO1X1GEgcKHMtYVRiEGO5xgRKntjCFFp3ngrIxh1cKbu5iUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Selectman Amber Lick briefed the Selectmen on Maine’s Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) and how it constrains remote participation, public comment and records access.

Amber Lick said the FOAA governs public meetings and public records, requires public notice of meetings, and treats quorum conversations as public meetings. She told the board that the FOAA gives members of the public the right to attend, observe, record and televise publicly noticed meetings, but does not automatically give members of the public the right to participate. She noted that offering an “items by the public” period is a courtesy the Selectmen provide, but that boards may limit time and scope for public comments to preserve orderly meetings.

On remote participation the Selectman explained the statute requires a municipality to adopt a written remote‑participation policy after holding a public hearing; until the board adopts such a policy, board members who participate remotely must do so under limited circumstances (for example, an emergency camera failure). She also said that if the board decides to allow remote participation for board members, the town must allow equivalent participation by the public; the workshop the Selectman attended clarified that permitting remote participation creates additional obligations and is not a simple change.

Lick identified the town’s public-access officer (the Town Clerk/records custodian) and urged residents to use the public‑records request process when seeking documents. She said the town must make materials considered by the board available to remote attendees and that the town has no obligation under FOAA to create new documents in a requested format.

No formal vote was taken; the item was an informational presentation and the board agreed to consider the statutory requirements before drafting any remote‑participation policy.","Selectman Amber Lick summarized Maine’s Freedom of Access Act requirements governing remote participation, public notice, and public-records access, and advised the Selectmen that a written remote‑participation policy requires a public hearing before adoption.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296363,"Selectmen award $825,000 CSO Phase 3 contract to Ranger Construction after negotiations",408,2922000,3330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc&start=2922&end=3330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc/thumbnail_2922000.jpg","/articles/6296363/Maine/Selectmen-award-825000-CSO-Phase-3-contract-to-Ranger-Construction-after-negotiations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296363-deae33aeef991b2e73b9e1e250b295ac/orig.mp4?Expires=1770728468&Signature=CDz1k-Q7Hhl9V19tijpU44wRQDW~JgVji0YA1MqF7rZHCgg9K1pbyiNCWOVAmvCYlmf7W~Z4oW9CzR~GrmmFhs1VOkM0s-f4x1D7x1FcStblx8zoCvzzw1pb1X32K3juGV74xBy-XH-FKNizJ37FF5fJSSppJGoy90hmqu1KM9lzGJ6gUCBb6xxbH~r1WydebC-qcbpuKVP3AtKgYXm0nLK6z~MT2eB9hTrhLT5UVaniAOc9Z6D8WH3BD-p4nxku7Wt7gGy7V-Bn9EuAAJwTDua6rBvbFVLERg-pMhP7BnQ95ktualgsQP98~fybCeuPpObU9QXsJbwJn~8GJcc17Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skowhegan Selectmen voted to award the CSO Phase 3.6.0.2 contract to Ranger Construction Co., with an authorized amount not to exceed $825,000 from the Phase 3 CSO bond.

Brent Dickey recommended awarding the contract to Ranger and the board approved the recommendation. Staff explained the item had been put out to bid multiple times; the last unsolicited bid the town received was roughly $1.4 million, which exceeded the available remaining bond funds. With the help of town staff and the contractor (Ranger), the town negotiated scope reductions and trimmed items that lowered the contractor’s final price to the awarded amount. Because the project must be completed within the bond’s remaining funds, staff said the work was scaled back and some deferred elements were removed from this phase.

What the project is: CSO stands for combined-sewer overflows. During heavy rainfall and snowmelt, excess flow can overflow relief points in the sewer system and discharge into the river. The Phase 3 effort has been a multi-year program funded by an $11,880,000 bond. Participants said the state had initially allowed a long completion window (32 years) but town leaders previously negotiated to compress the schedule to seven years to limit inflationary costs.

Motion and vote: The board moved and approved awarding the Phase 3.6.0.2 contract to Ranger Construction not to exceed $825,000 (funding source: CSO Phase 3 bond). The transcript records the board approved the recommendation; exact roll-call was not recorded.

Why it matters: The project reduces the town’s combined sewer overflows to the Kennebec/Back River and is part of a multi‑year capital infrastructure effort that substantially lowers the volume of untreated discharges in heavy-flow events.

What’s next: Staff will oversee the scaled work and report back to the board as the phase progresses.","The board voted to award the combined-sewer-overflow (CSO) Phase 3.6.0.2 contract to Ranger Construction for up to $825,000 from the CSO phase bond, after prolonged bidding and negotiated scope reductions.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296367,"Selectmen table action on $82,000 in athletic-complex change orders amid funding concerns",1631,3739000,5370000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc&start=3739&end=5370","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc/thumbnail_3739000.jpg","/articles/6296367/Maine/Selectmen-table-action-on-82000-in-athletic-complex-change-orders-amid-funding-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296367-cf848bef7bd08d7c2543d965adf352ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1770728468&Signature=S3JcW6Tb2ZhUxs0qfCOoC-YEDaaDnFk3NGgxyNMQPffyrw8TYWbaVgtPI9hpIisCg~um~zn9g35gOYnrjrv9K~dVxUVe318nDxRYs5dGep~x5duIodqs2ODxIFVvhwAGA~ie5oBn~08Ce5PB~HPmyvOjAnkLugZy889WK9py--ZO5rFtJ01~wKNw-JuGX-cypP7sW7gXe7U-YMbYu4Ej0xJ8RY9hgaUAr2LiFR0qUMikJjBX0U5NY~X4NdabXKNOJvZMr62yhwyH~0MxI-WSY9aS3MY0PmWCoAL0QxUa98ZgpI34igQ8~Ht~BS6t4KPWNZF323caNeAFJuFd9Nhubg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skowhegan Selectmen heard a lengthy briefing on the status of the town athletic complex and tabled two proposed change orders: a roughly $50,000 irrigation installation package and an electrical-engineering package of about $32,000.

Steve (clerk of the works) told the board the sprinkler and pump proposal—previously budgeted higher—had been negotiated down and combined with contractor coordination to arrive at a change-order request of roughly $49,960 (including markups). He said the full electrical design is needed now to size the CMP (utility) connection, size pump electricals and ensure work can proceed without rework; that design bid is approximately $32,000 plus the engineering firm’s markup.

Selectmen did not approve the change orders at the meeting. Members pressed staff for clearer accounting: a town official and trustees reported that, when all pending bills and soft costs are added, the capital account tied to the project shows a net shortfall. Participants said previously estimated phase-by-phase budgets were exceeded by site work, retaining structures and soft costs (engineering, design and permitting). Several board members and staff said they remain uncertain about the status and timing of a large federal/state reimbursement (referenced repeatedly as a possible $3.3 million reimbursement), and that uncertainty affects cash flow planning.

Numbers discussed on the record included project-phase estimates and totals summarized by a selectman: the Carroll Associates phase and later bids produced a roughly $1.27 million figure for Carl Wright Field; additional work and site costs raised the round‑to‑complete baseball field estimate to about $2.67 million; a separate multipurpose field phase was discussed at about $3.6 million; a final phase (pickleball/tennis) at about $3.2 million; and a long‑term reserve to replace artificial fields was suggested at roughly $150,000 per decade. Those figures together produced a total program cost in the range of $11 million discussed by participants.

Speakers and town finance staff warned that soft costs—engineering, consultant fees and previously authorized change orders—are part of the shortfall. Town Treasurer/Deputy also explained the town’s capital-reserve tabs and said the ledgered balances show some funds but also existing pending authorizations; she asked that the board not authorize expenditures the town does not yet have available. Several selectmen urged staff to get firm answers from the awarding agency about the CDS grant status, match requirements and reimbursement timing before authorizing additional spending.

Motion and outcome: A selectman moved to table the two change orders; the board agreed to defer further action until the next meeting and to collect updated documents on grant status, contract balances, pending bills, and the engineering scope.

Why it matters: The athletic complex is a multi‑phase capital program with substantial cost and long-term maintenance implications. Decisions to add irrigation, electrical infrastructure, or pursue additional phases will carry multi‑year budget consequences and may require voter approval for larger financing. Board members emphasized finishing the baseball field to serve youth programs while avoiding commitments that exceed available cash or the town’s risk tolerance.

What’s next: Staff committed to provide the board with a consolidated sources-and-uses worksheet, current contract balances, the latest federal/state grant status and an itemized list of pending change orders before the next meeting so the board can consider the change orders with clearer fiscal context.","Clerk of the works and rec staff proposed a $49,960 irrigation change order and a roughly $32,000 electrical design fee for the town athletic complex; Selectmen deferred decisions and requested clearer funding and grant-status information after debate about a multi‑million-dollar shortfall.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6296371,"Selectmen keep June 10 election date after discussion on moving town meeting earlier",2130,51000,2181000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc&start=51&end=2181","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2516454-bbaffbfdb66c33e7ab8bfd77839308bc/thumbnail_51000.jpg","/articles/6296371/Maine/Selectmen-keep-June-10-election-date-after-discussion-on-moving-town-meeting-earlier","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6296371-09da444da50236f6d7c14929ca570b09/orig.mp4?Expires=1770728468&Signature=LamfF9u4AiQ86TV11VTHStvQ3CX4QnXukO1ikmqtkqNNg2GxrX-iSuOoMcJzvwIV1wBqEcm3yluA8CdUirOzxkuapDTnou~~0G08IPXJ7gQSIzaUgVwYfzFq1aP2d1001ALZykU7INeaDYBWa7V2bfaklNVDqZBZdRplrV2pSCUU39W1N5ECOWnEJiBNZ915k9wXQ-rM3ynbKQ9wxk5B7xA78p6EGBVuDupfA8HKpGg5tGAxlv-4C4TKgadWa3vgOhdAx6HRC-TDzy3udtSm6DpXXP9M91zXLSxPzq3PnJmk8yWg7WHlGSu1CQPGSpLaFrlltzlR~h9H8f0RyC2pvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skowhegan Selectmen voted to set the town election for June 10, 7 a.m.–8 p.m., while continuing a wider discussion about whether the annual town meeting should be moved earlier in the year.

The town manager had urged the board to consider moving town meeting from June to an earlier month so residents would learn tax impacts sooner and contractors could plan work without waiting until June for an answer. The manager said Maine Municipal Association (MMA) guidance indicates budgets are typically done in March but that the MMA left the timing to municipal officers’ discretion; he told the board he planned to have department budgets ready by March and present them to the board and the budget committee at the end of March or early April.

The discussion mattered because, the manager said, contractors often schedule work for the year before June decisions, and earlier certainty can reduce delays and emergency responses if budgets must be revised later. Several selectmen pushed back, saying June has long worked for local schedules (including moderators and school coordination) and that moving dates abruptly would cause confusion. Selectman Whitney said predictability matters to residents and said she favored keeping the dates that have worked historically. Town staff and the manager noted ongoing union negotiations and wage calculations that make a much-earlier town meeting difficult this year.

The board debated practical constraints: nomination papers for elections must be available 100 days before an election (the manager noted nomination papers become available Feb. 28 with April 11 return deadlines), and the town clerk and town manager said this year’s calendar and pending union settlements make moving the date to March impractical. The manager said he was only seeking to “ease into” an earlier schedule, possibly moving to May in the future rather than jumping immediately to March.

Motion and vote: A selectman moved and the board approved the election date for June 10 (vote recorded as passed; tally not specified in the transcript). The board agreed to continue discussing whether and how to shift the town meeting date at future meetings after further budget work and union settlements.

Why it matters: The timing of town meeting affects when residents learn expected tax bills, when contractors schedule municipal work, and the town’s ability to finalize budgets before the next fiscal year. Staff emphasized that this year’s union negotiations and wage calculations make a rapid schedule change difficult.

What’s next: The town manager said department head budgets should be ready by March; the board and budget committee will review them and decide on a town meeting date. Selectmen said they may revisit the question next month with more details about costs, moderator availability and calendar conflicts.","Skowhegan selectmen voted to keep the town election on June 10 and debated a proposal from the town manager to move the town meeting earlier in the year to give contractors and residents more time to plan. The board did not set a new town meeting date and asked for more information about union negotiations, budgets and timing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Licensing, paving, tax payments, trust fund, cemetery and warrants

Selectman Amber Lick outlines Freedom of Access Act limits on remote participation and public comments

Selectmen award $825,000 CSO Phase 3 contract to Ranger Construction after negotiations

Selectmen table action on $82,000 in athletic-complex change orders amid funding concerns

Selectmen keep June 10 election date after discussion on moving town meeting earlier