Office of the Council Clerk Thursday, March 31, 2005
City of Gardiner, Maine Special Council Meeting 7:30 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rines called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM
2. ROLL CALL
Jean Dellert, District 3 Richard Rambo, District 2
Dennis Doiron, At-Large Michael Webster, District 1
Lewis Benner, At-Large Mayor Brian Rines
Phil Hart, District 4 Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Rebecca Colwell, At-Large Molly Gallant, Council Clerk
3. PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, & PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.1 Public Hearing – Liquor License Renewal for Smith Wiley Post # 4
Public Hearing opened and closed at 7:09 pm with no public comment.
3.2 Consideration of Comments from the Public on Issues that
Do Not Appear Elsewhere on the Agenda (Please limit comments
to five minutes.)
There were no public comments.
4. CONSENT AGENDA
4.1 Consideration of Liquor License Renewal for Smith Wiley Post # 4.
4.2 Consideration of Permit for Outdoor Consumption of Alcoholic beverages for Smith Wiley Post #4.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Webster to accent Consent Agenda Items 4.1 & 4.2.
Vote: 8 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Review Proposed Waterfront Boardwalk Design
Manager Kobrock stated that this item was discussed a couple of meetings ago, the engineers provided information for the recent Council packet, it was very informational. Manager Kobrock asked the Council for a consensus as to move forward with the project. The Council strongly recommended to proceed.
5.2 Report from Planning & Development Dept.—Parking Regulations in Current and Previous Ordinance, Parking Review in Current Site Plan Process and Previous Conditional Use Process
Barbara McPheters, Code Enforcement Officer wrote a summary of non-issues on Route 201 for the recent Council Packet. There was further clarification of the parking issue at Anthony Auto, the ordinance was silent when the parking was permitted, it would be different if it were to come to the Code Enforcement Office today. The City of Gardiner is proceding with legal action with Anthony Auto with the issues that exist. Cindy Sirois stated that she had spoken with the chief counsel at MDOT and is expecting a letter on April 15th, the Council stated that she could report back with additional information.
5.3 Northwest Quadrant Project Update.
Pat Gilbert, City Services Director, recently sent a memo to residents that reside in the Northwest Quadrant. The Northwest Quadrant Advisory Committee has been working over the winter with Dirigo Engineering in developing plans that will soon go to bid. The residents were invited to attend an informational meeting on Monday, April 11, at 6:30 pm in the Council Room at City Hall.
5.4 Discussion of Non Profit Funding Practice.
In the past it has been the practice to fund Non Profits but in 1996 in an effort to safe money the Council adopted a policy to not use the City of Gardiner’s taxpayer money to give to organizations. Councilor Colwell asked the Council to reconsider the way it is handling requests at this time, especially organizations that give services to Gardiner residents. Councilor Colwell and Councilor Webster will meet informally to discuss the criteria and report back to the Council.
Mayor Rines asked if there were any objections to taking an item out of order, there were no objections.
5.6 Consideration of Library Revenue Plan.
Anne Davis, Library Director, spoke to the Council concerning the town meetings that she attended. She was very pleased to report that the citizens of Pittston and West Gardiner voted unanimously to continue their town membership with the Gardiner Public Library. Unfortunately, the attending voters at the Farmingdale meeting voted against funding town membership for the next year. The select board did not put our request on the warrant but instead asked the town vote to set aside $10,000 for residents to get reimbursed when they purchase a non-resident household card from a library of their choice. Anne is trying to talk to the town selectmen and will report back with any information that she receives. Anne presented a financial plan that will replace the lost revenue by marketing cards to a broader audience. Council accepted that plan.
6. CITY MANAGERS REPORT
Manager Kobrock stated that a workshop is set for Saturday morning at 9:00 am to tour the Wastewater Treatment Plant and Public Works. Councilor Rambo asked if it will postponed with the rain predictions, the Council decided to continue on with the plan. Also a joint workshop with the Water District has been planned for April 11th at 7:30 pm at the Pray Street School to discuss grant proposals.
There have been a couple of meetings with MDOT concerning manholes, and the bids have come back in below $40,000, so the city will proceed.
The Wastewater Advisory Board has been talking with area churches concerning sewer charges, there will be an explanatory memo in the packet with a letter that went to the churches.
There has been a recent inspection at Brown’s Autograveyard and a report will be in the packet soon.
There has been concern about the church without a structure above it as to whether the city could have any authority to mandate the church to build a structure above it. The city has no authority in this matter.
The Front Office will be closed on Monday April 25th. In the budget there has been a small amount set as for updating the office, the crew will be working on the office throughout the weekend and finishing up on Monday.
There will be no Council meeting on April 24th because of school vacation and a workshop with the Boys and Girls Club on April 28th is planned.
There will be a high flood potential this weekend with heavy rains predicted. Chief Kimball has been meeting with MEMA and has notified the businesses of potential flooding for Saturday night through Tuesday.
7. COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND PUBLIC COMMENTS
Councilor Dellert stated that she has received many calls about the potholes in the streets, Pat Gilbert stated that Public Works is working on patching them.
Councilor Doiron stated that the downtown is looking very clean and swept.
Councilor Rambo asked if there would be any possibility of holding Spring Cleanup yearly with alternating the districts.
Councilor Colwell stated that her home phone number is listed wrong on the website, Manager Kobrock stated that it would be fixed.
5.5 Review New Website Design and Functionality.
Pat Gilbert City Services Director showed the Council the design changes that will be taking place on the website very soon.
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 10:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly M. Gallant
Council Clerk
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