Monmouth Selectman’s Notes
At the March 1 meeting, Police Chief Kevin Mulherin reported that the SUV is back after being damaged in an accident on Maple Street. A truck plowing a driveway backed into it causing $13,000 in damage which will be paid by the plow truck owner’s insurance. The Jack’s Traps Fishing Derby went smoothly despite foggy conditions with vehicles being parked in the boat launch and beach parking areas as well as on Main Street from Cumston Hall to the funeral home. Over 300 kids registered. Public Works went to great effort to make room for parking, considering the large amount of snow we’d had. The Chief wants drivers to know that there have been 2 car/deer accidents recently, so they are on the move.
Code Enforcement Officer Dave Shaw reported that another new house is going up in South Monmouth near Tacoma Lakes. Five building permits were written in January with a value of $518,000 and fees of $2,540 paid. During January 2016, 4 permits were issued with a value of $98,000 and $567 in fees collected.
Public Works Director Bruce Balfour reported that there was minimal damage to the plow truck that slid backwards and tipped up on its side. The driver, Rod Bubier, the most experienced plow truck driver, was responsible for controlling the truck so that only a small dent and bent ladder resulted. Snow removal has caused the winter budget to be over at the current time. Dirt roads were graded all week since the frost is coming out.
Fire Chief Dan Roy’s report stated that the department has been extremely busy over the past month with 21 calls for the year. There was a motor vehicle accident on Norris Hill Road requiring extrication, the town plow truck accident, a snowmobile fire on Lake Cochnewagan, the structure fire at Winthrop Post Office, and a house fire on Pisgah Road in North Monmouth. Engine 86 is back in service after having onboard cameras installed and the front bumper refurbished so it will be identical to the 2 new trucks. Money for this came from savings in the equipment budget.
Winthrop Ambulance Director John Dovinsky reported that there will likely be a 3% increase for ambulance service to about $9.25 per capita for a total cost of about $38,000. Call volume in Monmouth is about 280. There has been a lull in the number of opiate overdose calls; perhaps because of the current reduced availability of illegal drugs. One ambulance now has a self-loading stretcher system so that one person can load a patient without any lifting.
Douglas Ludewig