Office of the Council Clerk Thursday, June 19, 2003
City of Gardiner, Maine Special Council Meeting
7:00 PM Special Session
1. CALL TO ORDER
In the absence of Mayor Rines, Councilor Hanley called the meeting to order at
7:00 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Jean Dellert, At-Large
Dennis Doiron, At-Large Michael Webster, At-Large
Steve Hanley, At-Large Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Phil Hart, At-Large Francis Grey, Council Clerk
Mayor Rines, Councilor Staples & Thomas absent
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.)
Councilor Thomas arrived at 7:12 p.m.
John Shaw had a lengthy discussion with the City Council about helping Johnson Hall expand the performing arts center and considering granting $20,000 to hire an Executive Director towards helping set up a performing arts program. Many options were discussed on how the City of Gardiner could aid Johnson Hall in expansion. Councilor Doiron suggested that a committee could be formed of community and City of Gardiner members to discuss different options of financial assistance. Manager Kobrock stated that he could speak to Johnson Hall representatives and come back to the Council with ideas with how to proceed.
Christine Szeti Johnson, Gardiner representative on the Regional Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) spoke to the Council about her concerns about serving on the committee. She asked that Mayor Rines help her raise these issues with MDOT or perhaps Rep. Pat Colwell.
4. NEW BUSINESS
4.1 Consideration of Order 03-32, Abating Balances on Tax Acquired
Properties.
Motion by Councilor Dorion and seconded by Councilor Dellert to accept Order
03-32, Abating Balances on Tax Acquired Properties.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.2 Consideration of Pray Street Lease for Recreation Program.
Ingrid Stanchfield spoke to the Council about the Boys and Girls Club leasing the Pray Street school for the Recreation Program. A committee of 12-14 people consisting of school board members, board member of the Boys and Girls Club met many times to work out details and guidelines of a lease at Pray Street School. If the item is passed tonight and also passed by the school board the lease would begin on July 1, 2003. When the Boys and Girls Club is on their own, they would take over the lease from the City of Gardiner.
Motion by Councilor Doiron and seconded by Councilor Dellert to accept the Pray Street Lease as Amended by City Attorney.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.3 Consideration of Order 03-33, Extending Fiscal Year 03 and Approving FY 04 Depts. 210, 212, 222, & 311.
This a procedural item to extend the Fiscal Year 03 because the Budget is not
approved before July 1st, also approving supervision depts. Fire, Police, Public
Works, & Director of City Services.
Motion by Councilor Thomas and seconded by Councilor Dellert to accept Order
03-33, Extending Fiscal Year 03 and Approving FY Depts. 210, 212, 222 & 311.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.4 Discussion of Downtown Redevelopment Opportunity Program, “DROP”
Manager Kobrock stated that Chuck Applebee, Superintendent of the WWTP and Chris Paszyc, Economic Development Director have taken a negative situation and turned it into a positive one. Essentially the City of Gardiner is providing incentive for downtown redevelopment and marketing excess capacity that is available at the WWTP which is costing the existing rate payers money because the pie is split among fewer paying into it. Manager Kobrock stated that it is a wonderful piece of creative problem solving. Chuck Applebee stated that this proposal has been to the Economic Development Committee along with the Wastewater Advisory Board and approved by both committees. Chris Paszyc stated that this will make it more feasible for any business that uses a lot of water, such as a restaurant or Laundromat. The City Manager authorizes applications in the downtown district and reports to the Council, with the Council handling requests outside of the district.
Motion by Councilor Doiron and seconded by Councilor Webster to Add Addendum Item to Agenda, Ordinance 03-37.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
Motion by Councilor Doiron and seconded by Councilor Dellert to give a First Reading to Ordinance 03-37, to Adopt the Downtown Redevelopment Opportunity Program.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes.
4.5 Consideration of Order 03-34, Amending Order 03-10, Establishing a
Health Insurance Coverage Policy for Full-Time, Non-Union Employees.
A formal action of item already approved when the non-union compensation package was authorized earlier this year, the policy it self is being amended. This brings the non-union in line with the two bargaining units that negotiated 50 % dependent health coverage.
Motion by Councilor Webster and seconded by Councilor Doiron to Accept Order 03-34, Amending Order 03-10, Establishing a Health Insurance Coverage Policy for Full-Time, Non-Union Employees.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.6 Consideration of City Manager’s Recommendation Regarding Awarding
Insurance Bids.
Manager Kobrock stated that the City of Gardiner put the insurance coverage out to bid, because the market hadn’t been checked for a while. Two bids were received, very close in amounts. Maine Municipal’s bid was $69, 132.00 and Gosline Murchie’s bid was $68, 941.00. Manager Kobrock recommended that the City of Gardiner remain with Gosline Murchie Insurance.
Motion by Councilor Doiron and seconded by Councilor Dellert to Accept the Recommendation to have Gosline Murchie Insurance as the City of Gardiner’s Insurance Carrier.
Vote: 6 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
Mayor Rines is present
4.7 Consideration of City Manager’s Recommendation Regarding Police Chief,
Fire Chief and Buildings & Grounds/Public Works Supervisor.
Manager Kobrock recommended Jim Toman as Police Chief at a salary of $48,000, Mark Kimball as Fire Chief at a salary of $50,000, and Dave Cunningham as Building and Grounds/Public Works Supervisor at a salary of $42,000.
Motion by Councilor Webster and seconded by Councilor Hanley to Accept City Manager’s Recommendation Regarding Police Chief, Fire Chief and Buildings & Grounds/Public Works Supervisor.
Vote: 6 in favor 1 negative (Hart) Motion: passes
4.8 Consideration of Order 03-36, Forgiving Interfund Loan for Libby Hill
Business Park Parcel Purchase.
Mayor Rines takes over the duties of Mayor.
Manager Kobrock stated when Kathy Tyson spoke to the Council about financial statements the question about a 1996 loan in the statement. This is to clean up the financial statement by forgiving a loan that was given to the City of Gardiner back in 1996.
Motion by Councilor Hanley and seconded by Councilor Dellert to Accept Order 03-36, Forgiving Interfund Loan for Libby Hill Business Park Parcel Purchase.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.9 Consideration of Order 03-38, General Obligation Refunding Bond
Authorization (Wastewater SRF)
Chuck Applebee stated that this is a refinancing of an existing Bond, there will be a savings of $67,000.
Motion by Councilor Hart and seconded by Councilor Hanley to Accept Order 03-38, General Obligation Refunding Bond Authorization (Wastewater SRF)
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Manager Kobrock stated that on June 26th at 6:30 p.m., there will be recycling meeting at the West Gardiner Townhall.
The next council meeting will not be until July 17th, Manager Kobrock will be on vacation July 3-14.
Manager Kobrock and Paul Gray have continued to talk about Water District business on a regular basis, one of things discussed was billing. The Water District had been considering a software purchase, the City of Gardiner did not think there would be an advantage to having the City ask the Water District do their billing. One of the positions in the front office is funded through the Wastewater account, if the position was lost it would be very difficult to run the front office efficiently.
6. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Councilor Dellert remarked that she was very impressed with the Auditor.
Councilor Webster stated that the stop line is needed at the corner of Bridge and Water Streets, people go too close to the light in the line of trucks.
Councilor Thomas stated that Legislators remark to her all the time about the granite curbing at the common is unsightly, and needs to be fixed.
Councilor Doiron asked about the motorcycle police, Manager Kobrock stated that we have officers being trained.
Councilor Hanley reminded the Council about Celebrate Downtown Gardiner on June 21.
Mayor Rines reminded the Council about Employee Appreciation Day for Gardiner Employees, Thursday June 26th at the Boys and Girls Club.
1.1 EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (C)
Economic Development Negotiations.
Go into Executive Session at 10:04
Out of Executive Session at 10:40
The Council instructed the City Manager to continue negotiations on the Economic Development matter.
7. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 10:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly M. Gallant
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