Bremen selectmen approve Nobleboro transfer-station contract, appoint budget committee nominees

The Bremen Board of Selectmen voted 3-0 on Feb. 6 to approve the Nobleboro Transfer Station contract after a resident raised questions about a recent insurance increase attributed in an LCN article to several incidents.

Resident Kerry Kohnert asked the board what had caused the insurance-cost increase; the board supplied contact information for the Transfer Station agent and the station chair and said Bremen does not negotiate that contract because it contracts for use of the facility for town residents. "The Town of Bremen is not part of the negotiating of contract," the board said when addressing Kohnert's inquiry.

The board also announced the deadline for submitting requests for the 2025–2026 town budget is Feb. 14, 2025.

Chair Wendy Pieh read nominations for the Bremen Budget Committee: John Mohr Jr., Mary Sue Weeks, Mark Tenney, Eric Teele, Joseph Vitti, Jane Oliver-Gravel and Tom Papell. Bruce Poland told the board he did not think Fire Chief Eric Teele should sit on the Budget Committee. Town Clerk Melanie Pendleton responded that the chief would recuse himself from any matter that pertained to the fire department. Selectman John "Boe" Marsh said local government in Bremen relies on volunteers and that recusals resolve direct conflicts of interest.

On a motion by Selectman Steve Page, seconded by Chair Pieh, the board approved the appointment of the seven nominees by a 3-0 vote. The selectmen also signed Deputy Fire Warden certificates as part of routine business.

The board convened at 10:01 a.m. and adjourned at 11:00 a.m.