Office of the Council Clerk Thursday, April 29, 2004
City of Gardiner, Maine Special Council Meeting
7:00 PM Regular Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
Councilor Doiron in the absence of Mayor Rines called the meeting to order at 7:10
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 Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Molly Gallant, Council Clerk
Mayor Rines arrived at 7:15.
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.)
Dorothy Washburn presented to the Council a plaque of the 1803 Petition where Gardiner was separated from Pittston. Mayor Rines stated that the plaque should be hung in the hallway of City Hall, also to have a copy typed so everyone could read.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
4.1 Consideration of Accepting April 2004 Warrants
#40 04/01/04 029036-029118 $ 100708.47
#41 04/08/04 029119-029215 $ 119541.82
#42 04/15/04 029216-029320 $ 212205.22
#42 04/22/04 029321-029363 $ 287822.41
4.2 Consideration of Appointing Councilor Hart to sign May 2004
Warrants.
4.3 Consideration of Outdoor Functions Request from Gardiner Elks Club.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Hanley to accept Consent Agenda items 4.1-4.3.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Discussion of CN Brown Estimates.
Manager Kobrock stated that there had been a series of meetings this past Winter with Gardiner citizens & CN Brown. Citizens had complained to company officials that the canopy across the street from the Common was an eyesore. CN Brown responded by offering to alter the canopy slightly or make more significant alterations if the city or local residents were willing to pay for them. After a lengthy discussion the consensus was that neither side is interested in paying an estimated $16,000 to have shingles and a peaked roof put atop the existing canopy. Instead, they’re going to encourage the company to paint the white canopy, with large Citgo lettering with orange and blue stripes, a more subdued solid color. Mayor Rines stated that he would contact Jinger Duryea, President of CN
Brown, express the wishes of the Council and citizens and report back at the next meeting.
Mayor Rines asked if there were any objections to taking an item out of order, there were none.
5.10 Consideration of Appointment of Reserve Officer.
Motion by Councilor Hanley and seconded by Councilor Webster to accept the motion to Appoint Dan Murray as Reserve Officer.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.2 Consideration of Hiring Consultants for Waterfront Economic Analysis.
Manager Kobrock stated that a phone poll was conducted to put Frank O’Hara, Planning Decisions in place for Waterfront Economic Analysis.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Dellert to accept Recommendation of Planning Decisions for Waterfront Economic Analysis.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.3 Consideration of Recommendation on Design Firm for Shore
Stabilization.
Manager Kobrock stated that Kleinschmidt was recommended for the Design Firm for Shore Stabilization. The current budget stands at $400,000 with design fees expected in the $40,000 to $60,000 range. MDOT is funding $95,000 of the project costs.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Webster to Accept Recommendation of Kleinschmidt as a Design Firm for Shore Stabilization.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.4 Consideration of Recommendation from Economic Development
Committee & Housing Committee for Loan & Grant to Downtown Arts
Project.
Karen Adrienne and Dr. Rich Entel have 275-277 Water Street under contract. They plan to convert the building into a mixed-use property with an arts theme. The project budget is $150,000 to $180,000 depending on how many housing units are created. The Economic Development Committee has remmended the City Council use $70,000 of the City’s Revolving Loan Fund to assist in this project. The Housing Committee has voted to support the project and provide assistance of $7,500 per housing units for up to four units.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Webster to
Accept Recommendation from the Economic Development Committee &
Housing Committee for Loan & Grant to Downtown Arts Project.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.5. Consideration of Renaming Prosperity Street to Prescott Street.
Motion by Councilor Webster and seconded by Councilor Hart to Accept
the Renaming of Prosperity Street to Prescott Street.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.6 Consideration of Resolution 04-10, Amendment to Pine Tree Zone
Authorization.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Rambo to
Accept Resolution 04-10, Amendment to Pine Tree Zone
Authorization.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.7 Consideration of Resolution 04-11, Recognizing the Importance of
Community Development Block Grants.
Motion by Councilor Nickless and seconded by Councilor Dellert to Accept
Resolution 04-11, Recognizing the Importance of Community Development
Block Grants.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.8 Consideration of Sewer User Rates.
Motion by Councilor Webster and seconded by Councilor Rambo to Accept Sewer User Rates.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.9 Consideration of Sewer Fee Abatements.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Webster to Accept Sewer Fee Abatements.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
6. CITY MANAGERS REPORT
Manager Kobrock stated that the Barndoor Committee and the Planning Board are dscussing a phase out the non-conforming part of the structure and will be meeting on May 15th with City Solicitor present. Litigation will be expected if the option is adopted.
At the next meeting the Council will be asked to authorize the City to sell Tax Acquired Properties, it is not a very big list, but it is important to do on an annual basis.
It is likely that the Tax Cap will be on the November ballot not the June ballot as was expected.
There was a sobering fact sheet in the April packet concerning the Palesky Act, it will be put again in the upcoming packet.
Keith Edwards, from the Kennebec Journal, spoke to the City Manager and Ingrid Stanchfield concerning Boys and Girls Club shortfalls. There will be an article in the Kennebec Journal in the next couple of days. In a three year period the Boys and Girls Club overspent the actual budget leading to a total of $116,000. It was not a misappropriation of funds, there were budget shortfalls.
The budget will be coming to the Council tomorrow in E-budget form. It was just as tough a budget to develop as last year.
7. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Council Webster stated that the Council needs to be proactive about the Palesky Bill. Councilor Webster also stated that the junk on the corner of Adams Street and Highland Avenue needs to be cleaned up. City Manager stated that the City Clean-up starts the week of May 3rd for District 1.
Councilor Nickless thanked the City Manager for addressing the Spring Street residents’ concerns that he spoke to the Council about at the last meeting.
Mayor Rines stated that Shirley Hanley will be named Mother of the Year on May 20th at a Tea at the Blaine House, all are invited. Mayor Rines also stated that on May 5th there will be a discussion and debate concerning the MaineGeneral relocation issue, there will be also more meetings scheduled in the future. Mayor Rines also stated that he will be appointing a Water District Trustee at the next meeting, along with other appointments.
Marianne Johnson spoke to the Council concerning the new surface on Dresden Avenue, which has stopped around the sewerage blocks, asking why this was done. Manager Kobrock stated that it would be revisited and finished.
Mayor recessed at 9:20 to go into a workshop on assessment of projects/planning/codes/functional areas.
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (C)
Real Estate
Did not discuss at this time
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Hanley to go into Executive Session at 10:12 pm.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 –opposed Motion passes
9. EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (A)
Personnel
The Mayor was directed by the Council to continue with the process.
10. ADJOURNMENT TO WORKSHOP –ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS/PLANNING/CODES/FUNCTIONAL AREAS
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 11:00 pm to go into an Audit Workshop.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Gallant
Council Clerk
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