PLEASE NOTE THAT
THE MINUTES WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED FINAL UNTIL THE RPC HAS APPROVED THEM AT ITS
NEXT MEETING.
LISBON/M.S.A.D. NO. 75
REORGANIZATION
PLANNING COMMITTEE (RPC)
January
2, 2008
The Lisbon/M.S.A.D. No. 75 Reorganization Planning
Committee met at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 2, 2008, at
Committee members present were: (from Bowdoin) Tim Lavan, Leroy Letourneau
and Kim Totten; (from Bowdoinham) Kim Benjamin, Daniel Billings and Joanne
Reinhart; (from Harpswell) Elinor “Ellie” Multer, Joanne Rogers and James
Henderson; (from Topsham) Robert W. Hill; and (from
Not present were Stephen Harris, James Trusiani,
Gina Mason, and student representatives
Also present were Superintendents J. Michael
Wilhelm, (M.S.A.D. No. 75) and
Business Managers Ron Lavender (M.S.A.D. No. 75)
and Catherine Messmer (
Donna Frisoli of Harpswell Channel 14 TV was
present to record this evening’s meeting.
The meeting was moderated and facilitated by Jay
Bartner.
A. Call
to order
The meeting was called to order by C0-chair Robert
W. Hill at 6:30 p.m.
B. Approval
of minutes of the December 5, 2007, RPC meeting
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Lavan,
and VOTED (unanimously) to accept as
printed the minutes of the December 5, 2007, RPC meeting.
C. Public
comment
There was no public comment.
D. RPC
budget and request for “advertising funds” from the State
The RPC and each school system will receive $2,500
to alleviate costs surrounding these meetings.
The co-chairs recognized that this amount is insufficient and had asked
the Superintendents to request additional assistance.
Superintendent Welsh related that the Commissioner
has responded this is a State level policy decision and pointed out her feeling
that many others are facing having insufficient funds for these purposes. The Commissioner has sent the request to her
planning team and will return to us in early January. She had related that it seems logical that
funds would probably be available for the next series of public meetings. The funds would be used primarily for costs
of taping meetings and Becky Brillant’s support of the Committee.
● Governance
- Mrs. Rogers requested that the RPC approve the suggested timeline.
Superintendent Wilhelm noted that a recommendation
will be made that the process not include a budget validation referendum.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Smith,
and VOTED (unanimously) to approve
the suggested timeline, with the possibility of a change in the final
submission plan and also taking out the budget validation referendum.
Co-chair Hill clarified that establishing the
process for the RPC will incorporate the budget process for both systems.
Superintendent Welsh relayed that she heard the
Director of MMA state that Town Clerks are concerned about turnaround time to
run referendum votes.
M.S.A.D. No. 75 Business Manager Ron Lavender
pointed out that the referendum would consist of one question --- with no
numbers, with information being available.
Mrs. Rogers asked that the RPC establish the rate
of pay for RSU Board members at $25 per meeting.
Ms. Grant hopes that someone will advocate for an
increase in the rate. M.S.A.D. No. 75
Board members currently receive $20 for attending regular Board meetings, and
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers and seconded by Mrs.
Poliquin to establish the rate of pay for RSU Board members at $25 per meeting.
A motion made by Mrs. Grant to table this item DIED for lack of a second.
The motion made by Mrs. Rogers and seconded by Mrs.
Poliquin to establish the rate of pay for RSU Board members at $25 per meeting
was VOTED (12 yeas, 1 nay, 0
abstentions, and 3 absent).
Voting yea were Mr. Lavan, Mr. Letourneau, Mrs.
Totten, Ms. Benjamin, Mr. Billings, Ms. Reinhart, Ms. Multer, Mrs. Rogers, Mr.
Henderson, Mr. Hill, Ms. Poliquin and Mr. Smith.
Voting nay was Ms. Grant.
There were no abstentions.
Absent were Mr. Harris, Mr. Trusiani, and Ms.
Mason.
● Financial
– Ms. Multer noted that M.S.A.D. No. 75 has a lease-purchase agreement
involving a contract for energy savings which doesn’t fit into the Drummond
Woodsum template.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Ms.
Poliquin, and VOTED (unanimously) to
approve the following modification:
Additionally,
other bonds, notes and lease-purchase agreements issued by an SAD before the
operative day of the region shall be assumed by the region, provided the SAU
issued the bond, note or lease-purchase agreement in the normal course of its
management of the schools for an essential purpose to replace its existing
facilities and existing items of equipment that are no longer serviceable, to
keep them in normal operating condition, or to reduce operating costs.
It was moved by Ms. Multer to recommend RPC
approval of the following: With regard to all the other funds, the
Financial Committee makes the following recommendation: That the funds be turned over to the new RSU
with a stipulation that the current designated beneficiaries and other
conditions governing these funds be retained.
Ms. Multer withdrew her motion, asking that it be
revisited at the end of the meeting, following the sub-committee breakout.
● Employees & Bargaining –
It was moved by Ms. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Henderson,
and VOTED (unanimously) that under
the RSU, the Superintendents will re-negotiate contracts, as follows:
Administrators 2009
Teachers 2010
Support staff 2010
F. Sub-committee
breakout
The
Sub-committees met in breakout session from 7:00-8:00 p.m.
G. Sub-committee
reports:
● Governance –
Following the Commissioner’s review of the RPC’s
progress report, it was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Billings, and VOTED (unanimously) to amend the
weighted vote of Topsham RSU members to 66.
Mrs. Rogers announced that the Governance
Sub-committee is recommending the creation of RSU sub-committee as
follows: Finance, Facilities,
Professional negotiations, Support Staff negotiations, Curriculum and
Policy. The following are recommended to
be elected: Region Ten, Orion, Adult Education
Advisory, and
RPC members will be sent a packet of sample
required policies.
Mrs. Rogers noted that the Sub-committee had
discussed having three public hearings on formation of the RSU – one each in
Topsham,
Ms. Benjamin asked if discussion had been held
relative to advantages of holding one central meeting so that all attendees
could hear all questions posed.
Ms. Multer feels this question should go back to
the elected town officials.
Mrs. Totten prefers one meeting, as she feels this
would present less chance of mis-communication.
Mr. Henderson suggested producing informational
flyers, citing a risk of having too few citizens attend the meeting.
Ms. Benjamin asked if there are issues with holding
only one hearing. Ms. Grant indicated
there are.
Ms. Poliquin has a problem with citizens having
only one opportunity to attend a public hearing.
Mr. Lavan and Mr. Smith feel at least two meetings
are warranted.
Mrs. Totten expressed the need for the communities
to start coming together as one.
Mrs. Rogers echoed Mrs. Totten’s comment and hopes
those who are still thinking of the RSU as “two” will begin to think of it as
“one.”
Ms. Multer stated that in advertising the hearings,
the RPC could encourage people to attend, indicating that it’s the Committee’s
wish for all citizens to hear all questions.
● Financial
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Smith,
and VOTED (unanimously) to accept
the following recommendation presented by the Financial Sub-Committee: Except
for those funds for which the school lacks the legal authority to do so, trust
fund balances and agency, scholarship and enterprise funds be turned over to
the new RSU with a stipulation that the current designated beneficiaries and
other conditions governing these funds be retained.
Ms. Multer stated that the Sub-committee had
discussed division of start-up costs, estimated to be roughly $150,000. It had been recommended that this division be
based on 50% assessed valuation and 50% on student population.
Superintendent Welsh indicated that legal advice is
being sought on this question, as the State has no answer.
● Employees & Bargaining
Ms. Benjamin expressed the Sub-committee’s feeling
that the RPC needs to demonstrate to the Commissioner by the February deadline
what work has been done on those items marked “in progress” on the December
progress report.
The Sub-committee recommends directing the
Superintendents to forward lists of employees.
It was moved by Mrs. Rogers, seconded by Mr.
Henderson, and VOTED (unanimously) to
direct the Superintendents to submit lists of all current employees as required
by Law.
Co-Chair Hill added that
At its January 10th meeting the M.S.A.D.
No. 75 Board will vote on whether to ask the RPC to consider the request. The
Ms. Multer noted that
Mr. Letourneau was not agreeable to considering
H. Wrap-up
and schedule of meetings
The next meeting of the RPC will be held at 6:30
p.m. on Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at
Respectfully submitted,
Rebecca A. Brillant
Recorder