Monmouth Select Board approves Apple Fest permit, appoints recreation committee members and authorizes warrant payments

The Monmouth Select Board on Tuesday approved an event application for Apple Fest, appointed multiple residents to the town’s recreation committee, accepted minutes from the prior meeting and authorized a warrant for vendor payments.

During the opening business, a select board member moved to accept the minutes from the previous meeting. The chair later identified that the motion was moved by Kent and seconded by Mark; the board approved the minutes by voice vote. Some members had raised concerns on social media about the lack of a video recording of that earlier meeting and suggested asking anyone who attended (in person or on Zoom) to review the draft minutes before finalizing them.

The economic development committee had recommended approval of an Apple Fest application that included advertising, entertainment and children’s activities. A board member moved to approve the application and the motion passed by voice vote after the committee’s unanimous recommendation.

The board then considered a slate of appointments to the recreation committee. Individual nominations were moved and seconded and approved by voice vote: Wade Moral; Parker F.; Darlene Sandborn; Travis (identified in the record as a teacher); and Caleb (teacher; last name spelling varies in the meeting record). One board member said they would recuse themselves from consideration of one nominee.

On finance matters, a motion to pay a warrant dated Sept. 11 was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members read several line items aloud, including $5,130.54 to Central Main Power and $1,942.75 to the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife; the transcript also records a payment to the State of Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The meeting record’s numeric formatting made the warrant total unclear in one line of the transcript; the board approved the warrant as presented.

Members also discussed follow-up tasks and reports. They said the town manager and accountant would be asked to confirm whether required data had been sent to the auditor (the auditor had indicated availability to perform an audit in December if materials are provided). The board said it is expecting an engineering feasibility report on Anabesco Dam that had been promised for September.

During public comment, a resident asked that the board place an update on TIF/TIFF fund allocations on a future agenda so residents can review how funds are spent. Another commenter raised questions about low-speed vehicles commonly used for neighborhood travel; members noted state rules cited in the meeting record that allow registered, insured low-speed vehicles on roads posted at 35 mph or less unless a municipality enacts an ordinance to prohibit them.

Finally, the board discussed an auditor recommendation to change the town’s policy on general ledger adjustments so that two employees sign off on certain adjustments rather than a single person; members agreed to place that policy change on a future agenda for further discussion.

The meeting concluded after a final motion to adjourn passed by voice vote.