Town Administrator reports on audit, EMS contract, equipment and building permits

At the May 13 meeting the Town Administrator provided a multi-part status report. She said the FY23 audit content is complete but not yet in presentable form because the auditor and staff have been ill. She also reported receiving a first draft of the 2025 EMS contract from NEMHS and described it as a three-year agreement with fee increases built in and no opt-out except for cause: "This is a three-year contract with fee increases built in. There is no opt out provision except for cause."

The Administrator reported operational purchases: a loader for the sand shed has been purchased and is now in Maine, and three F-600 trucks have been built and will be delivered to Hope the next morning to be outfitted for plows and sanders. She also said the Fire Chief selection process is underway and that she met with firefighters on May 5 to review the process and expectations.

On permits and taxes, she reported seven building permits and five plumbing permits issued since the March 20 meeting and read the list of applicants and addresses into the record. She also reported 140 real estate accounts with remaining balances for FY2025 totaling $229,649.86 and 13 accounts for FY2024 totaling $29,490.03, noting that unpaid 2024 real estate taxes will be subject to automatic foreclosure on February 20, 2026 if not paid in full.

Board members did not record additional action on these items during the meeting; several items will require administrative follow-up or future board consideration (for example, audit finalization and contract review).