Alna selectmen

Ethics policy, art exhibit eyed

Sat, 08/13/2022 - 05:13 am

SUSAN JOHNS

File photo

Alna is looking for a new town clerk.

Lisa Arsenault “has decided that it’s time for her to move on,” First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said in the board’s Aug. 10 meeting at the town office and over Zoom. According to Wiscasset Newspaper files, Arsenault was clerk a few years in the 1990s, again from February 2016 to June 2017, and this time since June 2021, after Sheila McCarty resigned and Amy Stockford served as interim clerk.

Pentaleri said of Arsenault, “She really helped us out during a critical juncture for us. I can’t thank her enough for the work she’s done and I know we all wish her the best.”

Third Selectman Charles Culbertson said he echoed that.

“She has been stellar,” Second Selectman Linda Kristan said.

Pentaleri said the town clerk/tax collector/registrar of voters job has been advertised, there has been some interest including three resumes received; and resumes can be sent to alnaclerk@gmail.com

He expects Deputy Town Clerk Lynette Eastman will become interim town clerk, so, he said, the town office will be open less and it will be closed when Eastman is on vacation; dates were not yet set.

“We’re going to make the best efforts to minimize any disruptions ... but we’re going to have to ask people for patience, ” he said.

Responding to a question from resident Beth Whitney, Pentaleri said the town might have to up its pay for town clerk. “We’ll have to work with whatever the market bears.”

“Walmart’s paying $19.50,” Whitney said in asking.

According to Alna.maine.gov, March town meeting voters budgeted the town clerk for $20 an hour, with a $27,000 cap.

Selectmen accepted Taylor McGraw’s resignation from the planning board, thanked McGraw for serving and asked anyone interested in serving to contact the town.

For winter sand, the board went with Hagar Enterprises’ $13.50 per yard plus delivery and $95 an hour to mix it with salt, over a flat $32 per yard Kelley Bros. of Pittston bid and Crooker’s offer of $10 per yard at its pit.

Selectmen introduced a draft ethics policy Pentaleri said he hoped they will adopt soon. As he described it, the draft calls for committing to serve the public’s interest over a person’s or group’s interest; acting respectfully and in line with bylaws or policies; and working in public. He said it also provides a framework to address bias and conflict of interest.

The draft draws heavily from other towns’ ethics policies, he said. He encouraged residents to review it at alna.maine.gov

Pentaleri also noted Alna.maine.gov has applications for Maine’s new property tax stabilization program.

Residents Jeff Philbrick, Gerry Flanagan and Jon Luoma are organizing an Alna-themed art exhibit next month at Village School at Puddle Dock. There could be enough items to hold multiple exhibits, Philbrick said. “There’s probably way more out there than we even know, collectively, so we might find that we have 500 photographs and ... all kinds of artifacts ... who knows.” Email alnaclerk@gmail.com or 1stselectmanalna@gmail.com to let organizers know of any items.

And Pentaleri said Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway Museum’s new running of its mountain extension is a great milestone for the Cross Road museum.