[0:00] We're live. >> All right. I like to thank everybody for

[0:03] coming out tonight. All councilors are present. Uh you'll see that our

[0:06] assistant town manager is filling in for our town manager. He's out of town on

[0:11] business. Think to ask somebody to lead us in prayer.

[0:17] [clears throat]

[0:20] We pray for our country at all times that all citizens are safe, healthy, and

[0:24] happy. We pray for wisdom for all those who guide and govern. Help this govern

[0:29] body in every situation to know and to do the things that are right and just

[0:34] with soundness of judgment and making vital decisions.

[0:37] We pray for the peacemakers that the holy lifegiven spirit may ever

[0:41] dwell in their hearts and the barriers of fear, suspicion, and hatred may fall.

[0:46] This we pray to the holy father. Amen. >> Amen. I aliance to the flag of the

[0:52] United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation

[0:57] under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

[1:06] » Public comment period. Podium's open.

[1:18] » Mr. Assistant Town Manager, you got the floor.

[1:20] » Uh, licenses and permits. We had uh an additional that was not added to the uh

[1:26] the packet came in today. It was [clears throat] a renewal for liquor

[1:30] license for the fish and game club uh which was approved by the town clerk. No

[1:35] motion needed on that. Justformational uh financial uh report. I'll uh I'll

[1:42] read off Aaron's memo. Um December financials uh closed with uh 175,245

[1:49] in our checking account. uh 500 in our investment account and uh 44289

[1:56] in outstanding payments for net cash position of 131,456.

[2:02] Uh revenue report once again uh indicates a skewed picture of actual

[2:05] activity for December. Uh we made tax collections of over $414,000

[2:11] uh for 2023 to 2025 taxes. Uh we also saw uh 1,000

[2:18] or 100 thou 200 123,000 revenue from uh revenue sharing which was a bit lower uh

[2:25] than what was projected um and 84,742 from the Betty reimbursement. Uh

[2:31] expenses were at 51.6% of projection at the end of December about 1.6 above our

[2:37] year-to- date plan which is 50%. uh if you am mortise onetime payments we

[2:43] make uh each year uh we would be under 50% on expenses for the year. So we you

[2:48] know we got those big payments that come out paving and school payments. Uh a

[2:52] monthly payment to MSAD20 at 227,000 uh which is 35% of all our expenses uh

[3:00] was our largest single expense. Uh we have paid uh nearly 1.4 million to the

[3:05] school in the first half of the fiscal year 2526.

[3:08] Uh we've not needed to tap in uh to the TAN uh yet, which is really good news.

[3:14] Uh we don't anticipate having to use the uh TAN in the near future and with the

[3:18] due date of taxes of February 1st, we may not need to at all, which is also

[3:23] very good news. Uhformational memo, uh no action at all requested. Any

[3:29] questions? I might answer them, I might not. I'm not sure.

[3:36] » [clears throat] >> Um,

[3:39] no AWS report uh this month, Mr. Ojeski, as you did not meet in December.

[3:45] » Me, too. >> Thank you. Uh, financial audit, town

[3:48] report. Um, staff met with Jazelle from Felch this month to discuss our pending

[3:53] audit. She took over the audit process and with additional information provided

[3:57] uh by the town has moved the audit through to completion. Uh we've reviewed

[4:01] the draft audit. Anticipate having the final audit well before the next council

[4:04] meeting. Uh the annual report is finished. It has been for some time. Uh

[4:09] waiting for a final audit copies uh to go with the annual report. Uh be sent to

[4:14] council members as soon as it's printed. Uh we anticipate anticipate posting the

[4:18] digital version of these documents on the town of Fort Prefield web page at

[4:21] the same time and printed copies will be available at the town office.

[4:31] Uh, I guess I'm doing the police department report uh for the month. I

[4:36] did send it to you guys via email, so you had a chance to approve uh to review

[4:40] it. Uh, I'll go through it. Um, normally it be up at the podium, but

[4:46] [clears throat] I'm not going to get up to to talk to you guys about it. uh two

[4:49] uh 2025 was yet another busy year for the Fort Fairfield PD, ending uh the

[4:54] year with 3,521 incidents.

[4:59] 119 of these incidents were referred to the district attorney's office for

[5:03] prosecution by either arrest, summons, or warrant requests, which is quite a

[5:08] substantial amount for a community our size. Uh notable cases for 2025 include

[5:13] the double fatal crash uh this summer which occurred on the Limestone Road

[5:17] which we charged a driver uh with two counts of manslaughter and OUI. Uh in

[5:23] December we received a 20-year sentence for the person who supplied drugs which

[5:27] killed two Fort Fairfield residents in Easter of 2024.

[5:31] Uh we are currently working to wrap up an overdose death case from the summer

[5:35] of 2024 where [clears throat] a man was found deceased from an overdose on

[5:38] Columbia Avenue. Uh we submitted the case to the district attorney and hope

[5:42] to have a grand jury indictment in the near future. Uh in 2025 we had 22 drug

[5:47] arrests ranging from fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine possession, and

[5:50] trafficking. We had 95 traffic crashes, over 600 traffic stops for various

[5:55] offenses, uh including many OUIs, cruel traffic summones, dangerous drivers. Uh

[6:01] we continue to try and be proactive with the drug, mental health, ne neglect, and

[6:05] domestic violence issues to work to improve the quality of life of our

[6:08] residents and visitors. I attached a list of the incidents and arrests with

[6:11] the council packet, so you guys can take a look at that. And if anybody has any

[6:14] questions on that, feel free to ask anytime. On the financial side of

[6:18] things, uh this past fiscal year, uh we came in under budget for the fourth year

[6:23] in a row. Uh we work hard to keep the cost down. As with any other department,

[6:27] the driving cost is labor. As we operate 247, this can be costlier than most

[6:31] departments. Uh the p uh this past year, we were able to secure close to $30,000

[6:36] in state highway safety grant funding to add additional patrols to address

[6:40] problem issues such as speeding, impaired, uh driving, and dangerous

[6:43] drivers. We continue to receive additional grant funding through MIMA uh

[6:47] Homeland Security to increase patrol to supplement border patrols. I continue to

[6:52] apply for and receive grants uh to assist us with equipment upgrades and

[6:55] additional patrols. Some good news this week. Um, I had applied for $51,000 in

[7:01] CDS funding through uh Congressman Golden's office that was approved. Uh,

[7:06] we should be receiving the funding soon. This was uh project specific, so I had

[7:11] to label out what we needed for equipment uh replacement. Um, I chose

[7:16] our radios, our invehicle repeaters, which allow our officers to communicate

[7:21] when they're outside of the car on their portable radios, our radar units, uh,

[7:25] bulletproof vests and trauma first aid kits. Definitely good opportunity to

[7:29] save money without um, by getting this equipment with this program rather than

[7:35] it coming out of the property tax base. Uh, 2025, we received a training

[7:39] reimbursement from the fire marshall's office for an officer that we had sent

[7:42] to the academy, [clears throat] left our employment. Uh with these funds, we were

[7:45] able to replace our police station camera system and we were able to add

[7:48] some cameras outside of the building because we didn't have any prior, which

[7:52] was problematic. Um we had been without a camera system for

[7:57] almost two years. Uh we replaced uh an aging cruiser we with a rebuilt one that

[8:02] uh we worked with Caldwells to uh to procure and repair the damage. Um we're

[8:07] also able to get some replacement parts through state surplus that really drove

[8:11] down the costs on that. Uh we replaced our handguns due to safety issues. Uh we

[8:16] completed several other equipment upgrades uh which we were not able to do

[8:20] because of the lack of capital equipment reserves. Uh we're on budget this year

[8:23] and continue to work hard to keep costs at a minimum. Uh we have not raised our

[8:28] operations budget for the last few years and only had to raise our budget because

[8:31] of increases in wages, benefits, and insurance. Uh we continue to partner

[8:35] with MSAD20 on our school resource officer and DARE program which is

[8:38] progressing quite well. Uh, Sergeant Cormier is very wellreceived in the

[8:42] district. Uh, we're reaping the benefits of the partnership. I hear consistent

[8:46] praise on the program. Uh, we're fortunate to have this partnership and

[8:50] we hope to continue to grow it. Officer Whipperman and K9 Titan continue to

[8:55] progress. We've had very notable success with this program so far and hope uh

[8:59] this will continue as he becomes certified on narcotics detection very

[9:03] soon. Community policing programs continue with our involvement

[9:06] coordination of the light parade uh which was pretty good success this year

[9:10] and that keeps uh that continues to grow each year. Uh the riding with Jacob

[9:14] campaign was a little little different last year but we made it work with the

[9:18] Rotary Club uh and the main potato blossom festivals. Uh our officers are

[9:22] busy and we're fortunate to have a dedicated team of professionals serving

[9:26] our community. Uh we continue to be fully staffed and rely on several

[9:29] part-time reserve officers to save on overtime. We've not had to fill a vacant

[9:33] shift using overtime in several months due to our the dedication of our

[9:37] part-time officers, which is a significant cost savings

[9:41] rather than than paying the overtime with the benefits. Uh I remain involved

[9:45] with the main chief of police association. I'll be sworn in as

[9:48] president in late September. Uh this has been a great opportunity to increase

[9:51] networking which is beneficial for our community and the department. That opens

[9:55] doors for funding, programming, equipment procurement which we have not

[9:58] had the opportunity um for prior. things are going smoothly and I'll be able to

[10:03] answer any questions at any time. Longwinded, but there you go. That's

[10:07] what's up. >> Thanks for all your hard work you did.

[10:09] » Thank you. Appreciate it. Uh economic development uh report uh

[10:16] memo from Aaron uh in December. Aaron attended the following training

[10:20] networking training sessions. NMDC executive meeting loan committee. Uh he

[10:25] met with Van Beer and town manager Luke Dyer to discuss strategies that he's

[10:28] found to be successful. uh community and economic development. He attended the

[10:33] Strong Towns organization orientation session, uh completed Strong Towns 101

[10:38] training session, started local uh conversations leading courses, attended

[10:43] the MCDA monthly uh meeting, attended finding a

[10:48] developer MCDA seminar, met with Ignite Prescy. um

[10:55] working on starting uh up or engaging with the main street ma uh main program

[11:00] that he spoke about last month and the strong towns program. Uh both are

[11:05] different parts of a healthy community and are not mutually exclusive. Uh he

[11:09] believes that both of these programs will benefit our efforts to revitalize

[11:12] and bring new business to Fort Fairfield.

[11:15] making progress with getting to know people, networking, um, and looking for

[11:19] programs, uh, to bring money into town, which, uh, [clears throat]

[11:24] we definitely need. Uh, so you'll also find the proposed budget schedule um,

[11:31] varies a little or differs a little bit from last year um, where we had the

[11:37] department heads all presenting on one night. Uh Aaron has presented

[11:44] two dates for department head presentation. Um so we'll plan to roll

[11:51] out the budget on March 23, 2026. Budget proposal available at the town office

[11:55] and on the website. March 25 uh budget uh head or department heads present to

[12:03] the town council and budget advisory committee. April one, the second group,

[12:08] uh, present to the town council and budget advisory committee. April 8th,

[12:13] uh, the council budget workshop.

[12:18] April 15, uh, the presentation of budget to the town council.

[12:23] April 29, the first public budget hearing.

[12:29] May 13, the second public budget hearing. in June 17. If all goes well,

[12:35] approve the budget. Um, any comments or questions or concerns on that? No. Um,

[12:42] he also indicated a a schedule of when uh department heads would be presenting.

[12:48] So, I think the one night is just you're you're drinking out of a fire hose of

[12:54] information for for budget uh for department heads and presenting their

[12:59] budgets and two nights would be a little bit more beneficial.

[13:03] Good. Okay. Uh leans uh foreclosed property update.

[13:10] Uh tax collector received 4,474 in payments on 2020 23 and 24 taxes fees

[13:19] and interest on eight properties with leans. As of December 31st, there are 40

[13:24] properties owing 58,676 and 23 taxes and 116 properties owing uh

[13:33] owing 117,000 in 2024 taxes. Uh notably, the staff sent out 45day notices of

[13:42] impending foreclosure for unpaid 2023 taxes to 40 uh property owners on

[13:47] December 31st. Uh, the town will foreclose on properties with unpaid 2023

[13:53] taxes in February. Additionally, staff sent a 90-day notice

[13:57] of intent to sell a property that was foreclosed on in 2022 for unpaid 2019

[14:03] taxes. Um, at that time, the resident had entered into an agreement, a payment

[14:08] agreement uh to get his account current, but has failed to adhere to the

[14:11] agreement. Uh, as with the other foreclosure sales, funds in excess of

[14:15] what is owed to the town will be returned to the former owner. Uh, staff

[14:20] has signed listing agreements for nearly all of the 2022 properties with dogs

[14:25] realy this week. No action requested.

[14:32] And uh we're on to old business with uh the uh updated emergency response plan

[14:38] with Chief Jalbert and Assistant Chief Gahhagen.

[14:44] Evening counselors. Um, I'm sure you guys have all had a chance to see that.

[14:48] I think Aaron said it digitally to you guys. So, what this uh emergency

[14:52] operation plan is is it's it's a revision of the old one that was last

[14:56] updated in 2015. So, what this new one does is it changes the format. It gets

[15:00] us more in streamlined with, you know, state

[15:04] EOPS and federal ones. So um and it provides a lot of lists of roles and

[15:11] responsibilities and things that we're going to do um you know in case of a

[15:15] natural disaster or flooding stuff like that. So it's just a matter of up you

[15:19] know getting your guys' approval to update to get it more streamlined and

[15:23] more modern here to answer any questions on if you

[15:26] guys have any questions on on the actual it's pretty long document but uh

[15:33] it's replacing like a 115 page document. So, it's a lot more streamlined than the

[15:37] old one.

[15:43] » Do we need a motion to approve it? >> Yes.

[15:46] » I move that we approve the updated emergency operations plan.

[15:51] » I'll second it. >> Motion and second. Any further

[15:53] discussions? All those in favor?

[15:58] » I. >> Thank you.

[16:01] Uh, next for old business is the executive session conduct uh policy.

[16:07] Each year, all council members, town manager, and department heads must sign

[16:11] an executive session conduct [clears throat] policy. This policy is

[16:14] to protect all people involved in executive sessions. And that will be

[16:19] sent around right [clears throat] now so we don't forget.

[16:34] There were two pens on the table. Are there still two? And or does anybody

[16:37] need one?

[16:41] » I use blue ink or black ink. >> Whatever ink color you want.

[16:45] » Okay. I got blue. >> Blue supposed to be blue on legal

[16:49] documents. >> Original signatures. That's the way the

[16:52] registry wants it. So that's why we did it.

[16:57] Can I use

[17:01] [clears throat]

[17:04] » a thing? So be [clears throat] it would be by the book. So it be by the book

[17:09] there. >> So we have to sign

[17:13] for >> Okay.

[17:25] We'll sign our own

[17:33] blue.

[17:45] 21st. >> Yes.

[18:04] [clears throat]

[18:20] Thank you. Uh new business. We're so inclined to

[18:25] approve uh budget advisory committee council appointments.

[18:31] part of the ordinance, we need two members of the council to be appointed

[18:35] to the budget advisory committee. I'll leave that to you folks.

[18:43] I'll take one. Do you folks know where I'm at? Yeah.

[18:49] » Sorry kids at home. >> Yeah.

[18:52] I didn't let me out right now.

[19:01] One more. [laughter]

[19:06] » Are you willing to continue where you're familiar with the process?

[19:09] » I've been on it for how long? Since it started.

[19:13] Like since it started before I was a counselor, I was on it.

[19:18] And I've been on it forever. >> They said they weren't an experienced

[19:22] member. [laughter]

[19:26] H

[19:29] you can keep me on it, but I will not guarantee that I'll be at all of the all

[19:33] of the meetings because it it's pretty tedious. There's a lot of council

[19:37] meetings already scheduled.

[19:41] » It sounds like we got two counselors.

[19:46] » Believe we need a motion for the record.

[19:51] » Make a motion that we accept the two councils that

[19:55] are going to be on the committee. >> Motion

[19:58] » second. >> Second. Any further discussion?

[20:03] » All those in favor? >> I.

[20:07] Thank you, counselors. >> We're looking uh next for the approval

[20:12] of the minutes of the December 17, 2025 council meeting.

[20:16] » Entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the December 17th, 2025

[20:20] meeting. I move we approve the minutes of the

[20:24] December 17th meeting. Second. >> Any discussions?

[20:30] All those in favor?

[20:34] » Entertain a motion to accept the minutes of the January 6 special meeting.

[20:39] » I move we approve the minutes of the January 6 meeting.

[20:42] » Okay. Second. Any discussions?

[20:46] All those in favor? I >> I

[20:50] » entertain a motion to accept warrant number 12 in the amount of $255,86025.

[21:00] » Make a motion we accept the warrant is red.

[21:03] » Okay. >> Second.

[21:04] » Second. Any discussions? All those in favor?

[21:09] » And warrant number 13. I'd entertain a motion to accept an amount of $457,2386.

[21:17] Make the motion we accept the warrant is ready.

[21:19] » Second that >> second. Any discussions?

[21:22] » All those in favor? >> I

[21:24] » I

[21:28] [snorts] >> I do not have anything under

[21:30] » You must have something. >> I do not do not.

[21:36] » Okay. Uh public comment period. Anybody has anything else?

[21:42] » My name is Cesky and I live right here in Puerto Rico. Uh I just wanted to

[21:46] mention that um chief comments failed to mention in his list of things that he

[21:49] does for us is he's on the pines health board of health uh board for us at Pines

[21:55] Health Services and we find that the cooperative that we're going to have

[21:59] with the police department is going to be incredibly helpful for us both in the

[22:02] ER and help take care of some of the problems on the street. So I think you

[22:05] should take credit for that as well. I thank you.

[22:08] » Let's give the chief a big round of applause.

[22:10] [applause]

[22:16] They make me blush. [laughter]

[22:22] » Anybody else? [clears throat]

[22:27] » Okay, I move that we adjourn. >> Second.

[22:31] » Any further discussion? >> All those in favor?

[22:35] » I not even 6:30.

[22:40] ah >> very efficient. [laughter]

[22:42] Um >> Januaries uh usually aren't uh much of a

[22:46] load for for council. So that's good.

Regular Town Council meeting January 21, 2026

Transcript