By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

HARRISON — Tim Pellerin really likes Harrison and the people he works with and for.

Local officials like Pellerin, as well.

Following an executive session last Thursday night to evaluate Pellerin’s performance, selectboard members voted 4-0 to extend the town manager’s contract to 2025.

"It is the unanimous opinion of the select board that Tim is doing an outstanding job of dealing with short-term, intermediate and long-term issues and opportunities. He truly cares about Harrison and all of our residents," said Board Chairman Matthew Frank

With about a year and a half worth of work in the books, Pellerin gave the selectboard a strong sampling of his municipal government knowledge and management style to decide if he is the right fit moving forward.

The former Rangeley manager signed a three-year contract to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of George “Bud” Finch following an extensive, lengthy search. Financial terms still need to be ironed out.

“We threw some numbers around, but nothing solid was decided. It will be added into the budget with the other employee reviews and increases when we do the budget process,” Pellerin said. “The only thing that was actually agreed to was the extension (to 2025).”

Frank pointed out that Pellerin will receive a raise on July 1, which starts the new fiscal year. "(It) is the traditional date for pay increases for all of our employees," Frank noted.

In other news:

Moment for Rob. Prior to the start of last Thursday’s selectboard meeting, chairman Matthew Frank called for a moment of silence in honor of Robert (“Robbie”) Baker, who passed away on Nov. 7. Baker served as Harrison’s code enforcement officer and licensed plumbing inspector from 1996 to 2006.

Keeping communication open. If power is lost, Harrison’s emergency personnel (fire department pagers and radios) and the Public Works Department will still be able to communicate.

The town recently completed construction of a new radio communications (repeater) site, outfitted with a propane generator on Sunset Drive on Summit Hill.

A 4 ft. by 4 ft. structure previously housed communication equipment for the past 22 years. If power went out, the equipment could operate an additional two hours running off a battery pack.

A second “repeater” was needed, but the existing building lacked space. So, a new 8 ft. by 10 ft. building with an electrical system, steel roof and siding was constructed at a cost of $4,200. Bringing in a propane-fueled generator system pushed the final tally to $17,200, (the project was budgeted at $20,000).

The building and 500-pound propane tank (that rests on a cement pad) sits on property owned by Jeff Raymond. In exchange for placing the system there, the town agreed to allow Raymond access to “excess power” created by the generator to power his home during outages. Raymond will contribute $2,500 to the project, reducing the final cost to $14,700.

Pellerin estimated that a full propane tank could power the system 24 hours each day for two weeks.

Chairman Matt Frank pointed out that Summit Hill is the highest point in Cumberland County, which is a prime spot to locate the repeater system. Signals from county dispatch actually are received at a tower (with communication dish) on property owned by Bill Winslow, and then transmitted to the repeater system.

Solar energy farm here? Not only is the town targeting a piece of its property off Route 117 as a possible site for a new Public Works Department garage, the “flat and open” trek located near existing three-phase power caught the eye of a Massachusetts company looking to develop a solar energy farm.

With the governor’s office offering incentives for development of clean energy sources, Harrison could be a target.

“It’s in the beginning stages,” Pellerin said regarding the inquiry. “We’ll wait to see what they are proposing.”

The process would be for the firm to bring the idea to the selectboard first since the location is town-owned property. The proposal would then go to the code enforcement officer and Planning Board for review, and then ultimately to a town meeting vote.

• Town positions. There were six applicants for the deputy town clerk post, and a committee conducted half-hour interviews. Pellerin said the town attracted “good candidates,” and one leader did emerge. Although Pellerin was unable to announce who landed the job (there were some details to be worked out), he said, “we’ll have a shining star.”

Saying Harrison is “a $6.1 million corporation,” Pellerin recommended that the selectboard bring back the financial director position (with an updated job description), and not an assistant bookkeeper or bookkeeper. The board approved the recommendation, 4-0.

Short takes. With selectboard member Henry Dumont absent due to illness, Pellerin tabled presenting the proposed Public Works site design, targeted for town-owned property off Route 117 (adjacent to the RADR Complex). Pellerin preferred to make the presentation with the full board in attendance, and tabled it to the Dec. 12 meeting.

• Keeping with standard practice, officials returned a tax-acquired property at 53 Depot Street (a two-bedroom ranch and garage) to Francis Manzi.

Pellerin explained that the property was foreclosed upon in February 2019. In talks with attorneys, it was learned that both owners had passed away and initially family members had no interest in the property. Then, there was a change of heart, and Manzi sought ownership. All back taxes and interest were paid in full ($7,000), and the selectboard granted a quit claim deed to Manzi.

• A 15-minute assessing meeting resulted in: abatement of $400.96 to Richard and Catherine DiBurro (Cape Monday Road); abatement of $65.75 to Ed and Martha Storey (Edes Falls Road); a supplemental (tree growth penalty) of $6,161 to Jessie Mason (Plains Road).

• Barry Richardson loved the outdoors and was a strong supporter of the town’s recreation program. He passed away at the age of 66 this past July. Family members want to honor his spirit for “always willing to go the extra mile” and his “warm smile and sense of humor” by placing a “memorial bench” in Crystal Lake Park.

Former and longtime Rec Director Paula Holt strongly recommended approval of the idea. The selectboard supported the idea, and town officials will determine in the spring where the bench should be placed.

There is a long memorial bench inside the town office meeting room donated by the Anastasio family in honor of their parents, Joe and Mary. It includes the saying, “Your lives forever in our hearts.”

•  Receiving no complaints regarding ATVs, officials renewed the ATV policy for one year. The policy allows the Otisfield Trail Blazers ATV Club to use and maintain ATV trails along specified roads in Harrison.

The “specified” roads are Plains Road to pipeline (.49 miles), Rich Road across Plains Road to Ryefield Bridge Road (.05 miles) and Ryefield Bridge Road (.37 miles).

• When trash was left behind following a private use of the Community Room, town employees had to clean the space.

“There were maggots in the trash, which had been there for a couple of days,” Pellerin told the board.

Pellerin reviewed the existing use policy for both the Community Room and gazebo at Crystal Lake Park. He found both policies lacked a liability clause, as well as specifics regarding room setup, use and cleanup (the facilities should be returned to the condition they were in when individuals arrived). Community Room users can use a vacuum there to clean up the space.

Pellerin noted there were complaints regarding alcohol use at the gazebo, which is prohibited, as is vaping.

• Anthony Drew was appointed as a Planning Board alternate.

• Quick numbers, Pellerin had 19 citizen visits and 28 calls since his last report to the board; there were 2,400 visits to the Transfer Station in October with 30,060 pounds recycled with a 1.3% contamination rate; five dead trees were cut and others trimmed by Q-Team at Crystal Lake Park.

• Now that ice and snow have returned, Pellerin noted that residents and taxpayers are welcome to take two five-gallon pails of sand per vehicle from the Transfer Station pile.

• Tree lighting is set for Wednesday, Dec. 4.

• Winter parking ban now in effect until April 15.