Office of the Council Clerk Thursday, January 27, 2005
City of Gardiner, Maine Special Council Meeting 7:00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rines called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM
2. ROLL CALL
Jean Dellert, District 3 Rebecca Colwell, At-Large
Dennis Doiron, At-Large Michael Webster, District 1 Lewis Benner, At-Large Mayor Brian Rines
Phil Hart, District 4 Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Molly Gallant, Council Clerk
Councilor Rambo absent
3. EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (A)
Personnel
Canceled, discussions are being developed
4. PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, & PUBLIC HEARINGS
4.1 Public Hearing – Liquor License Renewal Gardiner Sportsmens Club.
Public Hearing opened at 7:12 pm and closed with no public comment.
4.2 Public Hearing – Liquor License Renewal Gardiner Elks Club.
Public Hearing opened at 7:12 pm and closed with no public comment.
4.3 Public Hearing – Brown’s Auto Graveyard.
Public Hearing opened at 7:13 pm and closed with no public comment.
4.4 Consideration of Comments from the Public on Issues that
Do Not Appear Elsewhere on the Agenda (Please limit comments
to five minutes.)
5. CONSENT AGENDA
5.1 Consideration of Liquor License Renewal Lucky Strike Lanes. Inc.
5.2 Consideration of Liquor License Renewal Kennebec Brewing
Company.
5.3 Consideration of Liquor License Renewal Gardiner Express House of
Pizza.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Webster to Accept Consent Agenda
Items 5.1 -5.3.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
Councilor Rambo present.
6. NEW BUSINESS
6.1 Consideration of Brown’s Auto Graveyard License
This item was postponed from December Agenda because of the hiring of a new Code Enforcement Officer. Barbara MacPheters, Code Enforcement Officer, recently inspected Brown’s Auto Graveyard and had these specific recommendations:
1. The portions of the property containing vehicles, component parts of vehicles and/or materials meeting the terms “Junkyard” and “Automobile Graveyard” as defined in Maine State Statute, Title 30-A, Section 3752, adjacent to Brunswick Avenue (Route 201) shall be removed from the property or enclosed by a visual screen consisting of fencing or vegetation. The objective of this condition shall
be a clear, observable reduction in vehicles and materials adjacent to Brunswick Avenue. Removal shall be monitored by the Code Enforcement Office by on-site inspections on the following dates:
A. March 1, 2005
B. June 7, 2005
C. September 6, 2005
D. December 6, 2005
After each inspection, the Code Enforcement Officer shall provide the City Council with appropriate material representing the inspection results.
2. Vehicular entrance/exit and parking shall not interfere with Brunswick Avenue traffic flow and shall be on-site at all times.
3. The property owners shall continue to provide and maintain clear paths and roads for emergency vehicles and personnel access to the rear property and all buildings and structures at all times.
Motion by Councilor Hart and seconded by Councilor Webster to Accept the Brown’s Auto Graveyard License with the Code Enforcement Conditions.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
6.2 Discussion of Water District Governance Issues.
The City Council had a discussion regarding the setting up of the Water District Governance Committee. There will be three representatives from Gardiner, two from Farmingdale, and two from Randolph, the Chairman will be selected from the Gardiner membership.
6.3 Consideration of Appointment of Organizational Analysis Task Force.
Manager Kobrock stated that the membership list was in last weeks packet, the committee will meet next week.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Colwell to Accept the Appointments of Organizational Analysis Task Force.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
6.4 Discussion of FY06 Budget Review.
Manager Kobrock stated that it was time to start thinking about the budget schedule and asked the Council for input. Councilor Rambo stated that he would like to see the schedule start earlier, with trying to be brief but to define the process. Other Council ideas:
· Hold no Council vote after 10:00 pm
· During the work session process, if there is Council concern on an item, get it flagged so it can be revisited easily. Before the pre-reading process, go through the flagged items.
· Receive the goal statement early in budget process.
Manager Kobrock stated that the goal statement will be drafted and circulated soon.
6.5 Discussion of MDOT 2005 Road Projects.
Pat Gilbert stated that in the last Council packet there was a memo that outlined the projects.
· Route 201-Pierce Street north of Northern Ave. in Farmingdale. Beginning.12 miles northerly of Pierce St. and extending northerly 1.35 miles to the Farmingdale side of Northern Ave. The City has 38 manholes that may need to be raised. The project is 1400 feet of sidewalk (approximately $25,000 to construct) to be replaced. Normally the State does not construct sidewalks but if there is an existing sidewalk the State may replace the sidewalk at their expense. Pat Gilbert will be meeting with MDOT to get more details and report back to the Council.
Councilor Doiron asked about the cost of raising manhole covers, Pat Gilbert
stated that the State does not pay for the cost, it would be a cost to the City.
6.6 Discussion of Hatch Hill Fees.
On December 13, 2004 the Augusta City Council approved the proposed fee increases for Hatch Hill with the exception of the per capita fees. The current fee is $10.50 per capita per year and is scheduled to rise to $15.00 per capita per year on January 1, 2006. Currently the City February 5, 2005 Pat Gilbert will meet with representatives from the City of Augusta to discuss the issue. The Council asked Pat Gilbert to talk with Augusta and report back with findings at a later date.
6.7 Discussion of Code Enforcement “Voluntary Compliance” Policy.
Manager Kobrock stated that this item was a issue discussed from the last Council meeting. The Council received a memo from Code Enforcement Officer Barbara McPheters in the packet regarding current policy regarding voluntary compliance. Some of the issues discussed were changing the timeline of notices, perhaps stronger enforcement but generally the policy was endorsed.
7. CITY MANAGERS REPORT
Manager Kobrock asked that Council to start thinking about scheduling an Executive Session for union negotiations with Dave Barrett on February 10th and a Tax Increment Financing workshop the same week or the following week.
The city has an agreement with the school district about the Fuel Depot that expires in May. Work continues toward arranging a new agreement.
Manager Kobrock stated that there has been a written complaint against the Police Department, which has been discussed with the City Attorney, Erik Stumpfel. Manager Kobrock wanted to let the Council know, that a process will be pursued and a report issued.
8. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Councilor Dellert thanked the City Departments that worked so hard on clearing the streets and sidewalks after the storm.
Councilor Rambo stated that he is looking forward to the first meeting of the Organizational Task Force next week. Councilor Rambo also stated that he hoped to see Mayor Appointment list on the February 8th agenda.
Councilor Benner stated that Organizational Analysis Task Force membership looked like a good group of people.
Councilor Hart asked for an update of the Anthony Auto situation, Manager Kobrock stated that it has been referred to the City Attorney.
Mayor Rines stated that the Portland Chamber Music Festival will be at the Christ Church on February 5th at 7:30 pm.
Councilor Webster stated that the Augusta Sympony Orchestra will be performing on February 13th.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 10:29 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly M. Gallant
Council Clerk
| 
