1999 Annual Report |
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It is with great Pleasure that we dedicate the 1999 annual Town Report to Mr. & Mrs. Merle Bickford. Through the initiative of Mr. Bickford, the Town was able to secure ownership of the former Pleasant Point Campground property prior to his passing on January 10, 2000. In 1960, Merle and his wife had the vision to transform this property into a campground for local people. For over 35 years, the Bickford family took great pleasure in the fact that this beautiful natural treasure was enjoyed by so many families, generation after generation. As the Town gets ready to begin management of this property, we will do our best to maintain the same commitment. At ninety-two years of age, Merle saw many changes occur within our community. The protection of the Pleasant Point property that he so dearly loved will never be forgotten and will be enjoyed by our citizens for years to come. Those of you who knew Merle will remember this life long Oakland native as a man of many talents who did many things. Those of you who didn't know Merle as well can take solace in the fact that he did some of his greatest work in the last year of his life by insuring that Pleasant Point would continue to be available to Oakland citizens.
To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: As we close one century and begin another, it is appropriate to look back on what we have accomplished and forward to what remains to be done. With a strong economy to help us the Town accomplished the following over the past five years. - Development and sale of a 6 lot subdivision on tax acquired property which netted $197,000 in revenue for the Town. - Installation of a new sewer line on Kennedy Memorial Drive and in the Pine Acres subdivision. - Acquisition of a 30 acre waterfront parcel on McGrath Pond - Pleasant Point. - Construction of a bulky waste landfill saving thousands of dollars per year in disposal costs. - Development of a new boat launch and swimming area on Messalonskee Lake. During this time, our tax rate has increased a very modest amount (7% total over 5 years). In addition, the Town has been able to sustain an adequate surplus and a capital improvement reserve fund. We are well positioned to handle an economic downturn should that occur in the near future. Regarding the future, we need to pay attention to the changes that are occurring all around us. We must be ready for them, whether we like them or not, because we will be affected. One of the most important things we can do is to involve as many of our citizens in a long range, strategic planning process. We can then help to control and shape some of the consequences of growth for our own benefit. I will do my best to insure that we continue this process in order for Oakland to become everything that it can be. Respectfully submitted, MICHAEL J. ROY Town Manager To the Citizens of Oakland: As we start the 21st Century, we are aware of how much the world and our own community are changing. Our population is every increasing and more homes are being built This has placed, and will continue to place, a heavy demand for municipal services. Our job as municipal officials is to balance those demands against our available revenues. In the very near future, we will have to examine the need for: - sewer system upgrades and expansion - construction of a town recycling building - development of a public recreation area - Pleasant Point Park - repair of older town buildings - especially the Library and Memorial Hall - a town wide Land Use Ordinance In addition, the development of FirstPark will bring more growth to Oakland which will force even more decisions about increases in fire, police and other services. Again, we will be constantly challenged to meet these demands and keep our tax rate at a reasonable level. Special thanks to the many people who serve on boards or committees and all those who have stepped forward to serve the community as volunteers. The Council wants all of you to know how we appreciate your time and efforts spent. Without these volunteers the cost to run our town would increase. I would like to express my special thanks to my fellow councilors, Ralph Farnham, Jr., J. Hobart Pierce, David Wooley and Byron Wrigley for their dedication, participation and understanding. It is dedicated people like these that make Oakland the great town that it is. Respectfully submitted, DENNIS MCLELLAN Town Council, Chairman
The following is, in part, duties performed by this office. 1999 RESIDENT LICENSESCombination 404 Hunt 264 Serviceman 3 Supersport 15 Junior Hunt 77 Fish 552 Archery 32 Small Game 2 Duplicates Hunt/Fish 23 Expanded Archery Season 24 Duck Stamps 50 Muzzleloading 46 Bear 24 Over 70 Complimentary 11 1999 RECREATIONAL VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS Boats 714
1999 DOG LICENSES Males/Females 192 Respectfully submitted, JANICE E. PORTER Town Clerk
To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: This past year we have reviewed a number of subdivisions scattered around town, indicating continued growth and interest in Oakland as a good place to live. Board activities slowed down during the winter months but applications are again on the increase as better weather arrives. We schedule our monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month and the public is welcome to attend. We welcome former Planning Board Chairman Bob Ellis as the new Code Enforcement Officer. This has been an easy transition for the Planning Board and we look forward to working with Bob in his new role. Thanks to the Town Council and the Town Office staff for their support this past year. Currently we have openings for (2) two seats on the Board. If you are interested, please apply to the Town Office. Respectfully submitted, DANIEL DUPERRY Oakland Planning Board, Chairman To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: The Board of Appeals would like to welcome Mr. Robert Ellis as the new Code Enforcement Officer. Although meetings were limited, I am sure Bob will do a fine job. We have had a limited amount of appeals over the past few years, and this year is not different. One variance request involved an applicant appearing before the board for the second time. The variance request was for a single family home to be converted to a multi-family unit. The applicant did meet all the requirements and was granted the variance. The other two requests never came before the board because a solution was reached before meeting time. I would like to thank the members of the Board for their participation and for learning and understanding all of the updated information concerning the Board of Appeals. Thanks also to the Code Enforcement Office for the help that we have received in understanding and interpreting the ever changing laws. Respectfully submitted, ROB BARTLETT Board of Appeals, Chairman To the Town Council and the Citizens of Oakland: In 1999, 27,100 items including books, periodicals, vertical files, and audio cassettes were circulated from the Oakland Public Library. Approximately 1,313 new books were acquired last year to make a total count of 19,392 volumes. Additionally, 164 new patrons registered for library cards during 1999, making the library patron total amount to 3,963 clients (this figure may include renewals). Again, this year, I would like to give an up-to-date status on the proposed library renovation/expansion project. Since the warrant article for the Library Building Fund was approved at last year's Town Meeting, the Library Advisory Board has been diligently working to raise the remaining $400,000 to add to the Town's committed $400,000. To this end, the Board recently devised and distributed a Building Fund Campaign brochure to Oakland residents. Additionally, grant request letters have been sent to many prospective organizations and individuals. Additional fund-raising projects are being planned. Thus far, through various donations and grant awards, the Library Building Fund presently amounts to approximately $155,000. Library Board members Desiree Wrigley, Chairperson; Dave Boardman, Bette Sturtevant; Howard Hardy; Stephanie Cheevers; Jeanne Berger; Maurice Anderson; Mary Jo Grant; Stephen Knight; Sylvia Jadczak; Alternate Alison Gagliardi; and I thank all of you for your continued support. It is only through your support and efforts that the library project will come to reality. The Friends of the Library have continued to provide books on tape purchased through the proceeds that the group earn through their annual book sales. The library currently has a total of 375 audio cassettes which circulate rapidly. We thank the Friends for their hard work and generosity. Our group of volunteers who gather weekly to help process new books continues to give of their time on a steady basis. Priscilla Jackson and Barbara Mathieu have recently joined the group of Betty Marshall, Connie Anderson, Dot Miner and Jean Holt ( a summer volunteer) to prepare new books every Thursday. We thank these highly devoted individuals for their time and thoughtfulness. The library staff would also like to thank the many who support the library and help make it an active, viable segment of the community. This would include those who help with book donations, storytimes, service projects, and art and showcase displays, to name just a few. We appreciate all of your contributions. Last summer, 134 participated in the Summer Reading Club, "Catch A Wave," with 66 completing the requirement of reading 10 or more books to receive a free paperback book. Also, special "water" programs held during the summer months included state biologist Linda Bacon's presentation of lake flora and fauna; science instructor Lyn Rowden's teachings about water pollution, erosion, and other "water" scientific terminology; science teacher Eugene Roy's experiments with the power of water;" and local dental hygienist Teresa Schwartzberg's program on good dental health. Other summer library presentations were Palermo storyteller Ellie Budzko and Sue Esty from the Waterville Yardgoods Center with her rubber stamp art program. Additionally, collaborating with the Waterville and Winslow Public Libraries, the Oakland Public Library brought all-round entertainer Marcus Gale and the Driftwood Players to the local area. Also, the summer reading club culminated with the annual Teddy Bear Picnic with more than 50 youngsters and parents participating in the "nautical" activities. The library thanks all of these presenters for their time and sharing of their talents. Special thanks to the Oakland Mothers Club for their generous donation to help defray cost of the programs. Back by popular demand, the Oakland Public Library with the Winslow Public Library co-hosted the "Let's Talk About It" book discussion program during the months of September, October, and November. The program, sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine State Library, focused on the theme of "Telling the Truth" with five autobiographical titles offered to the participants. It again proved very successful and the two libraries plan to offer a sequel to the program in the fall of 2000. In closing, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Town Council, Town Manager, and Town Office staff, other Department personnel, and my assistants Christine Bragg and Beverly Wescott for their cooperation and help in providing the best library services available to the residents of Oakland. We look forward to serving you. Library Hours: Labor Day - Memorial Day Tuesday 10-8, Wednesday 2-5, Thursday 2-5, Friday 10-5. Saturday 10-1 Memorial Day - Labor Day Tuesday 10-8, Wednesday 2-5, Thursday 2-8, Friday 10-4. Preschool storytime is held Friday mornings at 10:30 A.M. throughout the year. Respectfully submitted, CAROL A. COOLEY Librarian
AND HEALTH OFFICER To the Town Council and the Citizens of Oakland: First, I would like to thank Mike Roy, Town Manager and the Town Council members for hiring me last June. I started my new career and quickly realized that a lot of effort must be exerted to learn the job and to take all the necessary State Planning Department examinations for certification. I received a lot of assistance from Paul Lussier, now CEO in Waterville and George Taylor, the alternate Oakland Plumbing Inspector and the L.P.I. in Fairfield. I am happy to report that town business continued (and there was a lot of it!), while I was learning and becoming certified to do this job. 1999 was a low year for the Small Community Grant Sewer Funding program due to a shortage of funds from the Department of Environmental Protection. For this year of 2000, we have applied for a much larger piece of the pie and are waiting for the report back from D.E.P. with regard to allocation of funding. The national economy has extended to Maine and particularly to Oakland and as a result, the new houses, expansions, garages, septic systems and all have continued right through the winter. It did slow some during the winter months but as Spring, 2000, is moving along, it looks like this year will be quite active. With the normal activity proceeding, FirstPark on the verge of construction and the potential of the development on Shores Road, it looks like it could be a very active year. Although this has been a slow year for the Board of Appeals, a thank you to the volunteer members who are ready and able to meet and act as the need arises. Thanks to the Planning board and it's new chairman, Dan Duperry for their assistance and expertise. I shall enjoy continuing to work with both boards in the coming years. Finally, I really like this job. It is challenging and interesting and has caused me to develop a new trail - patience. Thanks again to Mike Roy, the Town Council and especially to all of the staff at the Town Office for their assistance. I couldn't have done the job without their help. Respectfully submitted: ROBERT L. ELLIS Code Enforcement Officer
To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: The Wastewater Treatment Plant had another great year in 1999. We continued to discharge quality effluent, preventing the Messalonskee Stream from blooming for the fifth straight year. We also have eliminated our only Combined Sewer Overflow (C.S.O.), preventing raw sewage from discharging to the Stream during spring runoff and heavy rains. This is a big achievement because all wastewater is treated at the Plant everyday of the year. Its another great commitment by all Town Officials toward the environment. We still do, however, have some bad sewer lines in town that contribute a lot of ground water into the system, which is expensive to treat and also very costly to replace. The plan is to replace some of these lines as money is available without raising the rates too much. We also have some old private lines on Church, Maple and Grove Streets that need to be replaced. Some of these old lines run in back of houses with no manholes to gain access should there be a serious plug up. The plan this summer is to install new main lines in these streets with manholes to avoid what could be a serious problem. Next year we plan to start work on Oak Hill Drive which contributes a lot of ground water from cellar and foundation drains. I would like to thank Mike Roy, the Town Manager, members of the Town Council and especially Bill Wood my assistant for another productive year. Respectfully submitted, DANIEL BOLDUC Treatment Plant Superintendent
To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: Our clearance rate for all criminal offenses for 1999 was 51.5% up from 47% in 1998. During 1999 the Oakland Police Department received a total of 299 criminal cases that required investigation compared to 282 in 1998 and 296 in 1997. The following is a report detailing the total number of cases, types of cases, values of properties stolen and/or damaged, as well as the value of property recovered. Included are the respective numbers for 1998 and 1997 for comparison. 1999 CRIMINAL CASES
CLASSIFICATION
In 1999, 111 check cases were turned over to the Oakland Police Department by local businesses and citizens. The total monetary value of these checks was $10,147.92. We have been able to clear 84% of these cases and recover $8,527.20 in money. Our officers checked Oakland businesses a total of 12,410 times in 1999. This averages out to 34 businesses being checked each night. We checked vacant homes 567 times for citizens on vacations or trips. There were over 30 requests for this service in 1999. The department investigated 139 reportable motor vehicle accidents and 89 non-reportable motor vehicle accidents. Of the 139 that were reportable, 30 resulted in personal injury. Alcohol was involved in 3 accidents down from 4 in 1998. The reportable accidents resulted in $217,450.00 in damages with over 376 people involved.
In closing, the year 1999 was fairly busy one. I would like to thank the following people: - Mr. Mike Roy and the Oakland Town Council for their much needed support. - Chief Charles Pullen, Oakland Rescue and Oakland Fire for allowing us to work as a team. - Public Works Director, Jeff Higgins and his crew for being there when we call. - A.J. Cain and Roger Grevois for all of their help. - Eric Seekins for his devotion to our children and elderly. - The ladies and gentlemen of the Town Office who are the wheels that make this place run smoothly. - To Kathy Paradis and Linda Bard - both who filled in for Kathy while she was on extended leave. - All other town employees who make working here an exciting experience. To Captain Tracy, Sgt. Fenlason and all members of the Oakland Police Department, a sincere thank you. With Kathy Gray and Gary Stevens out for an extended period of time, things could have crumbled, but because of your willingness to pull together, we were able to get through it. (We are glad they are back and doing well!) We were also able to continue with the K-9 Program, Learning for Life Program, DARE Program, Citizen Police Academy, and School Resource Officer Program. Officers spend a great amount of their time donating their services coaching and teaching the area youngsters. As a police agency, we also gave away hundreds of gun locks and bike helmets, during the past year. It is impossible to write in these few lines how proud I am of the people here. Finally, to the citizens of Oakland, thanks for one more year of support. The officers have worked hard to make the streets of Oakland a little safer for you and your families. Remember that we can not do it alone. Please stay involved with your community and with your police department. With your help we can do it. Respectfully submitted, KEVIN T. O'LEARY Chief of Police To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: We started our Spring season with the cleanup of winter sand and our annual spring clean up week. We then moved on to Pine Acres to finish the final phase of the three year project that consist of new sewer lines, new storm drain system and reconstruction of the roadways. We then moved to Oak Street, replacing curbing, sidewalks and repaving roadway from intersection of High Street and Oak Street north to entrance of high school. The next project was to grind and then replace curbing and pavement on a portion of Allagash Drive. Then on to Lewis Cemetery adding more lot space with the hope of adding more next year. Regarding paving work, we paved the following: Summer Street Portion of Oak Street, South Gage Road Portion of Allagash Drive, Portion of Pine Acres This year we replaced a wheeler plow truck, replacing one that was 18 years old. The following is a list of the public works crew: Jeff Hall, Wayne Knox, Gary McDaniel, Raymond Hewett, Keith Alexander, A. J. Cain I would like to thank Town Manager Mike Roy, for all of his support and a job well done. I would also like to thank Fire Chief Charles Pullen and Police Chief Kevin O'Leary for their assistance throughout the year as well as all of Town Office staff, Town Council and the citizens of Oakland. I would like to give special thanks to the Public Works Crew for all their hard work and team effort. Respectfully submitted: JEFFERY HIGGINS Public Works Director
OAKLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: This past year has brought the addition of traffic lights to the KMD, Main Street, Fairfield Street and Pleasant Street intersection. During an emergency response the lights can be controlled by the fire department. As each fire or rescue vehicle leaves the station a timer switch is activated. It turns all lights red with the exception of Fairfield Street. It will stay in that position for 55 seconds. We ask you to be patient for those few seconds. I know 55 seconds seems like a long time while you are waiting, but think of the people needing help. 55 seconds to them seems like forever. We tried to keep the time as short as possible, and by experimenting we found that 55 seconds was the shortest time required to safely move emergency vehicles through the intersection. I thank you for your patience and understanding regarding this issue. The price of home heating oil being at an all time high this past winter triggered a renewed interest in wood burning. I urge all of you to exercise extreme caution in this endeavor. If you have any questions as to the safety of your stove installation, call us. This department will send a member out to inspect your hookup. There is no charge for this service. If you burn wood it is more important than ever to have at least one WORKING SMOKE DETECTOR IN YOUR HOME. Remember SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES. If you don't have one or if you removed the batteries from yours, please take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. This department's goal is to have at least one smoke detector in every home in Oakland. If you can't afford one call us. We will see that you get one. As always I would like to thank the Ladies Auxiliary for their support this past year. Their help behind the scenes is not always known by the general public but is always greatly appreciated by this department. Also, thanks to Police Chief O'Leary, Public Works Director, Jeff Higgins, and Building Maintenance Supervisor A. J. Cain for their assistance throughout the year. Cooperation between all departments within the Town is outstanding. The following is a summary of all calls handled by this department for the last year.
The following is a list of all Oakland Fire Department Officers: Chief - Charles E.PullenFirst Assistant Chief - Ralph Farnham, Sr. Second Assistant Chief - Harland Taylor Rescue Captain - Charles Bridges Rescue Lieutenant Training Officer - Joseph Bolduc Fire Captain Training Officer - Vaughn Farnham Please feel free to contact any of these people if you have any concerns or questions regarding fire or rescue service. At this time I would like to thank all my fire and rescue personnel for all their untiring efforts that make the Oakland Fire Department second to none. Respectfully submitted, CHARLES E. PULLEN Fire Chief RECYCLING CENTER REPORT To the town Council and the Citizens of Oakland: The Town of Oakland is growing and so is the amount of mixed solid waste and recycling in Town. This makes the Transfer Station a very busy place. Again, the Town of Winslow and the City of Waterville hauled in over 7000 tons of MSW for bringing in revenue of over one hundred thousand dollars. We now accept the town of Winslow's Bulky Wastes on two days a week for added revenue to help defray the cost of running our Transfer Station. We lost our outlet for recyclable material last July due a fire at TDS Inc. In Fairfield. This made it difficult for us for a while but we now haul recycables to the Recycling Center in Waterville. It is time for the Town to consider building their own recycling center so we can do more recycling and in the long term it will save the Town more money. Think about it. The Town of Oakland's recycling rate was up again this year. Our rate for 1998 was 43% compared to 1997's rate of 38%. The 1999 numbers have not been confirmed by the State Planning Office yet but we had the following numbers to report: Cardboard 114.40 tons, Tin Cans 9.58 tons, Mixed Paper 120.13 tons, Glass 10.06 tons, Plastic, No 1 & 2 17.49 tons, Total 271.66 tons This was a deferral savings of $62.51 per ton for a total of $17,015 last year. I would like to thank the Town Manager, Mike Roy and the Town Council for their continual support with this operation. Please remember the recycling motto: REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE Respectfully submitted: Vaughn D. Farnham Transfer Station Manager To the Town Council and the Citizen of Oakland: In 1999, several improvements have been made at the Lewis Cemetery. A storage building was constructed at the cemetery as well as a well drilled to provide water for plants and grass. The Land was surveyed and sections of the cemetery were cleared and seeded with grass. Memorial stones were also uprighted or straightened and several dead trees removed. In December 0f 1999, the Council made several changes in the Oakland Cemetery Ordinance. One being that a section in the Lewis Cemetery will be set aside for cremation burials only. Lot sizes are smaller in this section and there are restrictions on marker sizes and plantings of shrubs or trees. (Cremation burials are still allowed in regular lots as before.) Another change in the cemetery ordinance made in December of 1999 was that people will not be allowed to walk their dogs in any of the towns cemeteries. At the Oakland Cemetery Committee's annual meeting on October 12, the committee voted to have the cemetery committee abolished and to have changes made in the ordinance to reflect those changes. Any questions or concerns about the town's cemeteries can still be brought to the Cemetery Sexton, A.J. Cain or to the Town Manager, Mike Roy. On behalf of the Town of Oakland, I would like to thank A.J. Cain and his crew for doing an excellent job on all the cemetery improvements as well as maintaining all the cemetery lawns. I would also like to thank Geraldine Southard, Geoffrey Dean, and Michael Hebert for serving on the Cemetery Committee, and Richard Lord and A.J. Cain for serving as ex-official members. Finally, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Alfred Wheeler for his willingness to share his concerns and his many years of experience with the cemeteries of Oakland. Respectfully submitted, Maurice C. Anderson Cemetery Committee Clerk To the Town Council and Citizens of Oakland: We the members of the Oakland Snowgoers Club would like to take this opportunity to thank the landowners for giving us permission to use your land for our snowmobile trails. We do thank you very much. The Town of Oakland has 330 registered snowmobiles. I would like to thank all of our members for their loyal support and give an extra special thanks to the members that volunteered their time to help clean up and maintain our trails. It seems to be a thankless job so, THANK YOU. The club now owns four drag sleds and drags 41 miles of trails (one way) in the town so I would like to thank the town for giving us the money they received from the state (a portion of snowmobile registrations) because it is very costly to maintain four drag sleds and try to keep 41 miles of trail smooth and safe. We would like to invite you to join the Oakland Snowgoers Club and support your sport. We are doing our very best to keep the trails as smooth and safe as possible. It is all volunteer work. For more information please feel free to call me at 465-9836. Please remember to "TREAD LIGHTLY". Respectfully submitted, DAN SWETT President, Oakland Snowgoers Club
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