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Wayne select board approves $263,386.81 in accounts payable and $12,114.39 payroll; defers payroll-service decision
Summary
At a Select Board meeting in Wayne, members approved accounts payable and payroll by voice vote, discussed hiring an outside payroll processor but took no action, reviewed a proposed budget workshop schedule and health-insurance options, and received updates on planning-board land-use items and a town-manager hiring process.
The Town of Wayne Select Board approved accounts payable number 37 totaling $263,386.81 and payroll number 36 totaling $12,114.39 during a regular meeting, and discussed but did not finalize hiring an outside payroll processor.
The accounts-payable motion — listed in the meeting packet as "accounts payable number 37 in the amount of $263,386.81" — passed on a voice vote. The payroll motion — "payroll number 36 in the amount of $12,114.39" — also passed on a voice vote. Those voting in favor who spoke during the roll call included Basil (select board member), Henry (select board member), Hazel (select board member) and Mary Anne (select board member). No dissenting votes were recorded on the audio record.
Why it matters: the accounts-payable batch includes several sizable or recurring items that affect town operations and cash flow, while the payroll discussion raised questions about staff capacity and whether outsourcing would be cost-effective.
Board members discussed an earlier motion made at a prior meeting to move payroll processing to an outside vendor, Bangor Payroll, but the board took no action to implement or to rescind that prior motion at this meeting. Shannon, the town manager, said the quoted, estimated annual cost from the vendor was $1,651.72, with a per-pay-period fee of $58.72 and a startup fee of about $350. She said, "There is no contract and no cancellation fees." Shannon also said setup would take about three weeks and that some fees (stop payments, agency checks, W-2 fees) would be separate. Board members said the town office staff currently can process payroll in-house and that the board would revisit the decision once more members are present or after additional payroll cycles have been completed in the office.
Budget and benefits planning were on the agenda. Shannon presented a proposed calendar to move budget workshops earlier: shifting meetings currently scheduled for April and May to mid-March and late April so the town can complete the warrant and hold a public hearing in May, with annual town meeting slated for June 10 under the proposed schedule. The board also reviewed health insurance plan options available through the Maine Municipal Association (MMA). Shannon said the town currently offers two of MMA's plans and that the town pays 100 percent of employees' premiums under the current structure. She provided example monthly premium figures discussed at the meeting: about $1,354.80 for one plan and $1,290.00 for another (a roughly $64 monthly difference). Board members asked to have a representative from MMA or a written packet at the next meeting so the full board can compare plan details and out-of-pocket differences before finalizing budget assumptions.
On personnel and hiring, the board heard an update on the town-manager recruitment process. Hazel (select board member) and other members reported the hiring committee received about 26 applicants from multiple sources, including Indeed, LinkedIn and the town website. The committee is reviewing candidate materials and will proceed to evaluations; no finalist decisions were made at this meeting.
Land-use and planning items were reported: Shannon said the planning board will vote on a temporary moratorium at its Thursday meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Lab Rec Center; if approved, that moratorium could be forwarded to the select board for consideration. A public commenter who identified herself as Betsy said the planning board has already approved campground ordinance amendments and that the planning board will review a town-attorney memo before sending the amendments to the select board for potential action at the March 4 meeting.
Other operational notes included a solid-waste committee update that the committee expects about a 3.5 percent budget increase next year, and a website update: Shannon said she is working with the site host to add a search bar and an events page and has posted assessor availability information.
Looking ahead, the board scheduled follow-ups: the Bangor Payroll decision, a presentation or packet on MMA insurance options, review of parks and roads ordinances, and potential action on the campground ordinance at the March 4 meeting.
Votes at a glance: - Accounts payable number 37 — $263,386.81 — approved (voice vote). Recorded yes votes in the meeting audio: Basil; Henry; Hazel; Mary Anne. Motion text: "approve accounts payable number 37 in the amount of $263,386.81." (Motion recorded in packet.) - Payroll number 36 — $12,114.39 — approved (voice vote). Recorded yes votes in the meeting audio: Hazel; Mary Anne; Basil; Henry. Motion text: "approve payroll number 36 in the amount of $12,114.39."
