Matinicus Board of Assessors

Meeting

Tuesday April 8th, 2025

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Attendees

Clayton Philbrook, Assessor

Laurie Webber, Assessor, MPEC office Manager

Ellen Bunker, Assessor

Dorian Edwin, Treasure

Samantha Philbrook, Tax Collector

Gretchen Kennedy

Phil Davies

Jim Shepp

Gabe McPhails

Craig Macleod

George Tarkleson

Agenda

1.) AOC Troy Peasely is on vacation until April 18th. Any emergency dog animal

issues should be referred to the Sheriff’s Dept.

2.) Maine Coast Heritage Trust will be coming to the island to review the property

they hold and easement for between Old Wharf Cove and the present Power

Station. No date was given. Clayton and others said they do this yearly.

3.) Galen Cole Family Foundation sent us an offer to participate in their American

Flag Program. Laurie will follow up on this.

4.) Staff Development was discussed. The Board of Assessors is asking anyone

who wishes to participate in training offered by MMA or other entity that

benefits the Plantation to submit a request. We will be encouraging the use of

Zoom meetings. Travel expenses will only be approved of off island training

not offered on zoom or if there is another appropriate reason to attend a live

class. Such as hands on fire training. Samantha feel she can’t do Zoom because2

of distractions. We will make arrangements whenever possible for her to have

a quiet area to take any class.

5.) The 2023 audit letter was signed by Clayton Philbrook and Dorian Edwin and

will be submitted to the auditor. Going forward the board will be reviewing

accounts and tax collecting information at meetings per recommendation of

the auditors.

6.) The line item budget was discussed. Dorian will put together a spreadsheet of

our first draft thought. There was discussion about the power company

subsidy. We had been asking 50k per year. It is recommended we ask 200k this

year. We are hoping to sell the new generator we have once the new power

station is in place and operational. This and a few other items that will no

longer be needed could help ease this burden a bit. We also discussed the

salary for the Administrator position. Our estimate on this is 60k including

possible health insurance. It was also discussed that the new Admin could be

allowed to receive payment for any grants he or she brings in. This salary will

be reviewed at next year’s budgeting session. Other line items were discussed

and lowered or slightly increased as necessary. The Board is very much aware

that this year is a jump for our mil rate. Dorian has been very focused on

finding any place we can save a few dollars as has the Board.

New Business

1.) Requests for mowing bids will be posted.

Notes

Meeting was adjourned at about 5:20pm. The Board went into executive session to

review the resumes received so far for the Administrative position. Four resumes

have been submitted so far.

Action Items

Dorian will post the request for mowing bids.

Next Meeting:

April 22nd, 2025 @ 4:00 pm Town office and Zoom