I ON SELECTMEN
AT ITS MEETING ON AUG. 22, THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN, CONVENING AS THE BOARD OF HEALTH:

PattyRoggeveen

• Denied a request for a waiver of a penalty fee from the owner of One Love market. The health department levied a $600 fee against the business on Aug. 6, maintaining that it was open and making sales prior to becoming licensed. The board denied the waiver because members said it was difficult to discern the circumstances according to testimonies from department agents and store owner Rohan Fowler, who said the business was not selling merchandise prior to licensing.

• Heard a status report on proposed long-term rental regulations that would require inspections of units rented for longer than 30 days to ensure they are safe, adequate in size for the occupants and contain required smoke, and if necessary, carbon dioxide detectors. Health Inspector Richard Ray said, "Understand that from a person who has dealt with this for far too long I think licensure (of landlords) is the way to go to shake it up. As a health officer I think I'm expected to stand on this side of the coin because that's my job." Ray said he cannot continue with the project without adequate personnel, office space and probably another department vehicle, but it is a mission he would like to pursue because he believes 70 percent of island renters are in unsafe or inadequate housing. In the near future, the selectmen want to invite representatives from other communities on the Cape to speak about their similar issues and solutions.

AllenReinhard

CONVENING AS THE BOARD OF SELECTMEN:

• Held a public hearing to consider applications for vacancies on the Capital Program Committee, Cemetery Commission Work Group, Commission on Disability and Parks and Recreation Commission for appointments on Sept. 5. As of Aug. 22 there had been no applicants for the Capital Program Committee, so the board decided to continue accepting applications for that post and later decide whether that committee should remain active or have its work absorbed by the town administration staff.

• Delayed approval on a request from the Department of Public Works for the cost of road resurfacing projects because there are differing prices for the projects. They include a portion of Broad Street from Centre to Easy streets; a portion of Orange Street from Main to Union streets; a portion of Fairgrounds Road and a portion of Vesper Lane. The total estimated cost to be funded is $655,000.

WhiteyWillauer

• Reviewed preliminary FY09 expense and revenue projections. Though Finance Director Connie Voges cautioned the board that preliminary projections will change during the budget process, she outlined the potential for a $69.7 million budget for FY09 not including departmental supplemental requests. Her breakdown shows 69 percent going to salaries and benefits; 14 percent to debt service payments and 17 percent to operating expenses. "We're moving more toward managing priorities," said Selectmen chair Whitey Willauer. "We're going to have to work this to endorse the project."

• Unanimously approved the town's pre-disaster mitigation plan.

CONVENING AS THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS:

• Closed a public hearing on a taking of a portion of Tennessee Avenue. Planning Director Andrew Vorce said the taking, which occurred a few months ago, led to a difference of opinion between surveyors but only affected six to eight properties in an insignificant way because the lot lines were off by a few inches.

BrianChadwick

There will be no selectmen's meeting Aug. 29 because it is the fifth Wednesday of the

month. The next regular meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the town building on Sept. 5.

- Compiled by Mary Lancaster

MikeKopko