CHESTERVILLE — The Board of Selectmen addressed over 30 residents at Thursday night’s board meeting about the town’s sand/salt supply, employee salaries and benefit, and new Town Office hours.

“Thank you. It’s impressive to have this big a turnout,” Chairman Guy Iverson said. “I applaud you for taking a night off to come hear what’s going on.”

He said the town is not holding back on the amount of sand and salt used. Less salt was ordered until repairs could be made to the salt shed, he said. “It’s not true that we are saving money at the risk of your safety.”

Road Foreman Mike Cote said the sand pile is the same as it was when he first began working for the town a year ago. 

“We’ve had more ice this year. It’s harder to treat; it’s harder to get around,” he said.

“You guys are doing a heck of a job,” resident Kim Lessard said.

Addressing the new office hours, Iverson said the reason for the change is to give staff time to reconcile the books at the end of the day. The board had learned that wasn’t being done. 

Iverson also addressed a rumor that he was increasing the town clerk’s pay. He said many have questioned what the pay and benefits of the position are. The position pays $30,000 per year.

“Last year we paid the town clerk $30,763. Don’t listen to rumors that lack facts to back them up,” he said.

“So, there are no ‘alternative facts’ in Chesterville,” one resident said.

Iverson said employee holiday and vacation benefits were changed to treat all employees equally. Some were receiving them, but others weren’t. Additional changes were made after speaking with employees.

Selectman Tyler Jenness said new job descriptions, using information from the Maine Municipal Association, were being developed for employees.

“Talk to the employees. Let us help you,” Code Enforcement Officer Brenda Medcoff said. “There’s a lot more to our jobs than you realize.

“One of our goals is to sit down once a month with the employees but other things have popped up,” Selectman Tiffany Estabrook said.

Iverson referred to complaints of spending too much money on paving.

Two companies bid on a project, which included three parts. Bruce A. Manzer Inc. of Anson submitted the lower bid for two parts and had the overall lowest bid. His bid was for hot top; Allstate would have used cold mix.

“We took the overall lower bid and got a better product,” Iverson said.

Resident Al Mackey said there are so many different perceptions of what’s going on. He said the beauty of Facebook is it creates transparency and a forum to keep information out there.

“It’s easy to start a fire and walk away,” he said.

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