Guilford considers putting cemetery maintenance contract out to bid
Staff Writer
GUILFORD — In 2012, the board of selectmen decided to wait a year before making a decision on whether to put the cemetery maintenance contract out to bid. The board agreed to wait another month on Feb. 5 to allow Town Manager Tom Goulette to discuss the town’s agreement with Sexton Alan Landry who is contracted to maintain the lot for $10,000.
The selectman want to see if Landry is willing to perform additional jobs around the cemetery not being done now for the same money.
“My thinking is for $10,000 it’s a big project and should be put out to bid,” Goulette said. “If he is willing to do the additional work for no additional money maybe the selectmen won’t put it out to bid. Or it might be in his best interest to put it out to bid. We’ll have to wait and see.”
The town has contracted with Landry for several years to perform the cemetery maintenance as part of his sexton’s duties. The board is expected to decide about the cemetery maintenance contract next month.
In other action, Goulette presented his 2013 annual municipal budget to the selectmen. He is proposing a $1,118,585 municipal operating budget which is a 1.65 percent increase over this year’s.
“It pretty much is flat funding in all departments. We won’t know the full impact on local taxes until we get information about the school and county budgets and the overlay.”
The budget committee reviewed Goulette’s recommendation. on Feb. 11 in the Piscataquis Community Elementary School cafeteria.
The board also tabled a request from the Maine Service Center Coalition to become a member. The town has been a member in the past, but decided against continuing due to the $500 annual dues.
Prior to the meeting, the board held a public hearing for a liquor license for the former Red Maple Inn building located on 6 School Street. The board unanimously approved the license for Lake Region Apartments and Renovations. The request was made by Craig Connery who represented the applicant. The establishment will be known as “Lisa’s Pub.”
The board was also informed that Goulette and SAD 4 Superintendent Paul Stearns will be making a presentation at a tri-county forum held in Hampden. A school superintendent and a town manager from Penobscot, Piscataquis and Hancock counties will speak on March 4 to update local municipalities about the impact potential budget proposals will have on the region.
The selectmen will meet next at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 5 in the municipal building.