Office of the Council Clerk Thursday, January 15, 2004
City of Gardiner, Maine Special Council Meeting
7:00 PM Executive Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rines called the meeting to order at 7:11
2. ROLL CALL
Jean Dellert, District 3 Richard Nickless, At-Large
Dennis Doiron, At-Large Richard Rambo, District 2
Steve Hanley, At-Large Michael Webster, District 1
Phil Hart, District 4 Mayor Brian Rines
Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Molly Gallant, Council Clerk
Motion by Councilor Webster and seconded by Councilor Dellert to add Addendum Items 1-2.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
1.1 Public Hearing for Liquor License Renewal for Gardiner Lodge of Elks #1293.
Public Hearing opened at 7:14 and closed at 7:15 with no public comment.
1.2 Public Discussion of Big Apple Store.
Many Gardiner residents met with the City Council and CN Brown representative to voice their concerns about the proposed Big Apple Convenience Store that will be located at the previous 7-Eleven Store site. Some of the concerns that were brought to the Council’s attention were:
Canopy – structure/sign
Traffic/concern over gas tanks
no formal process to notify abutters
landscape or buffer zone
stop sign at corner
canopy not consistent with neighborhood
amendment to city ordinance
Historic district/central business district boundaries
3. PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, & PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.1 Consideration of Comments from the Public on Issues that
Do Not Appear Elsewhere on the Agenda (Please limit comments
to five minutes.)
No Public comment.
4. NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Consideration of Sewer Fee Abatement Requests.
Motion by Councilor Hart and seconded by Councilor Dellert to Accept Sewer Fee Abatement Requests.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.2 Consideration of Commitment of Sewer User Rates.
Motion by Councilor Hart and seconded by Councilor Nickless to Accept Sewer User Rates.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
2.1. Consideration of Liquor License Renewal for Gardiner Lodge of Elks #1293.
Motion by Councilor Hanley and seconded by Councilor Rambo to Accept
Liquor License Renewal for Gardiner Lodge of Elks #1293.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
2.2 Update of Housing Program.
Manager Kobrock updated the Council on the Housing Program. Manager Kobrock has met with a Mr. Wlodylo to discuss an appeal that he had filed with the City of Gardiner concerning his Housing program application.
5. CITY MANAGERS REPORT
Manager Kobrock passed around drafts of the new city stationary for the Council to look at. The departments will also be having new stationary to view in the future.
6. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENT
Councilor Dellert stated that she was very pleased with the public turnout
tonight.
Councilor Doiron stated that he felt very sympathetic to the issue tonight and he hoped that the issue with CN Brown would be creatively dealt with in coming weeks.
Councilor Rambo remarked that he was surprised how the agenda can change from a light agenda to big one so quickly, and was pleased to see the public turnout.
Councilor Nickless stated that he was also pleased to see the turnout this evening, felt that there were some very good comments. Councilor Nickless hopes that the issue can move forward quickly and decisively. Councilor Nickless also stated that the he has had a lot of public comment about the traffic light at the bridge, and asked if the City has looked at the situation. Manager Kobrock stated that it is a prototype system with DOT installation, and that it has been a consistent problem over the years.
Councilor Hanley stated that he was very happy to see the public turnout this evening, and felt the people of Gardiner have felt let down, also felt CN Brown’s attitude has been a disappointment. Councilor Hanley also stated that the four way stop sign at Lincoln & School is missing.
Councilor Hart stated that he was glad to see the City Attorney present this evening, in the past statements have been made that shouldn’t have been, this makes the city look very professional.
Mayor Rines stated that there was a big celebration yesterday morning at EJ Prescott building when the last beam was placed. Mayor Rines reminded the Council about the Chamber Dinner on January 23rd. Mayor Rines stated that
the next Council meeting will have the Economic Development Workshop and Executive Session concerning a real estate issue. Mayor Rines stated that the Council thoughts and sympathies go out to Robert Belgrades family, he was very respected in many ways.
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION PER MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (C)
Real Estate
Postponed until next Council meeting.
ADJOURNMENT TO WORK SESSION – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING.
Postponed until next Council meeting.
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 9:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly M. Gallant
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