Office of the Council Clerk Thursday, January 19, 2006
City of Gardiner, Maine Special Meeting 7: 00 PM
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rines called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
Rebecca Colwell, At-Large
Dennis Doiron, At-Large Richard Rambo, District 2
Lewis Benner, At-Large Mayor Brian Rines
Phil Hart, District 4 Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Molly Gallant, Council Clerk
Councilor Dellert absent.
3. PETITIONS, COMMUNICATIONS, RESOLUTIONS, & PUBLIC HEARINGS
3.1 Public Hearing for Brown’s Exit 27 Auto Graveyard License.
Public Hearing opened and closed with no public comment at 7:08 pm
3.2 Public Hearing CDBG – T.W. Dick Co., Inc.
Public Hearing opened at 7:08 pm. Dan Bailey said he served as the chairperson for the Cobbossee Corridor Master Plan Committee, there has been a lot of work done to clean up the area. The Gardiner Paperboard building is one of the highest priorities in the whole Cobbossee Corridor plan, and is very happy to see things happening so quickly.
Andrew MacLean, the current chair of the Economic Development Committee, also supports this project. He said that returning an old industrial building to an industrial use is very appropriate, and adding new jobs in manufacturing is very exciting for Gardiner.
Clarence McKay stated that he is the former chair of the Downtown Revitalization Committee and the present chair of the Historic Preservation Commission. He wholeheartedly supports this proposal. He said many Gardiner citizens worked in the building since it was first built as the Hollingsworth Whitney Paper Mill, including the late Romeo Cormier, who served for many years on the City Council and on several community boards and committees. He said he congratulates T.W. Dick for their ambitious undertaking to put new life into those historic buildings that will have a great impact on the Downtown Historic District and the economy of the entire City of Gardiner. The Public Hearing closed at 7:17 pm.
3.3 Public Hearing for Liquor License Renewal for Lucky Strike Lanes.
Public Hearing opened and closed with no public comment at 7:18 pm
3.4 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. CONSENT AGENDA
4.1 Consideration of Liquor License Renewal for Lucky Strike Lanes.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Hart to Accept Liquor License Renewal for Lucky Strike Lanes.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5. NEW BUSINESS
5.1 Discussion of West Street Sewer.
Manager Kobrock stated that Chuck Applebee, Wastewater Superintendent and Pat Gilbert, City Services Director recently spent quite a bit of time on the West Street sewer odor problem. They went over a list of different procedures and tests that was performed on the sewer in the past months and plans of tests in the future. Recently a RFP was put out for assistance in the project, with Earth Tech being the lowest bid of $7600. They will go over the procedures and give recommendations with costs on how to proceed. There will be a report back to the Council in the future.
5.2 Consideration of Renewal of Browns Exit 27 Auto Graveyard License.
Manager Kobrock stated that the City was delayed on the normal timeframe waiting for the hiring of the new Code Enforcement Officer, David Cichowski. Mr. Cichowski spoke to the Council outlining his concerns with the Brown’s Exit 27 property:
• Owners to provide acceptable plan (sketch) for designating six customer parking
spaces, well marked and kept open for such use. (Feb. 1)
• Owners to reduce the number of used vehicles for sale in the front lot to 75.
Current estimate is 100 and no parking spaces. (May 1)
• Owners to meet conditions of prior permits and keep the fire lanes clear and open
around all buildings. (Immediate)
• Owners to cap or limit the number of vehicles behind the fence at 150. Current
estimate is 200. (June 1)
• Owners to reduce and cap the number of vehicles in the parts yard and the back
fields to 1000 by the end of 2006. Current estimate is 2000. (Sept/Oct. 1)
• Owners to manage proper fluid storage and disposal and conform to any new state guidelines. (Immediate)
• Inspection dates for 2006 are: March 1st, June 1st, September 1st and last
December 1st (all at 9:A.M). Report back on status after each inspection.
After a lengthy Council discussion, the item was deferred to February 2nd meeting.
5.3 Consideration of Resolution 06-01, Community Development Block Grant – T.W. Dick Co., Inc.
The purpose of the grant is to provide funds to T.W. Dick Co., Inc. for operating capital and non-capital equipment involved in relocating the steel fabrication business. The following is a list of highlights describing the project and how it relates to the grant application.
• The grant application is for $200,000. The 50% match will be provided by T.W.
Dick, with $0 coming from the City.
• T.W. Dick has purchased the old paperboard mill located off of Route 126, next to Cobbossee Stream.
• Grant funds are requested to allow the implementation of a project that benefits
the community, and creates and/or retains jobs of which at least 51% will be taken
by LMI persons. T.W. Dick is planning to create 7 new jobs over the next two
years.
• Redevelopment of the paperboard mill site fits within the goals of the City’s
Cobbosee Corridor master plan.
• The current site on Summer Street restricts expansion of the business. The new
location will allow for increased production and safer delivery and trucking of
product and materials.
• Grant funds would pass through the City and require that an agreement be made
with T.W. Dick to create the number of new jobs, while meeting the LMI (income
requirement).
• Grant application is due February 10th.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Hart to Accept Resolution 06-01, Community Development Block Grant – TW Dick Co., Inc.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
Mayor Rines asked if there were any objections to taking items out of order, there were none.
5.5 Consideration of Sewer Abatements
Manager Kobrock stated that in mid-November Mr. Dickey of Washington Avenue found out that he had been paying his sewer bill based on a two family home instead of a one family residence for a long time. The staff has no authority to approve any abatement over $150.00, so it comes before the Council. Mr. Dickey overpaid in the amount of $940.82. Councilor Doiron stated that the Council should establish limits of abatement amounts for the future.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Nickless to Accept Sewer Abatements, and Allow a Refund to Mr. Dickey.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.4 Consideration of Regional Dispatch Plan.
This is a continuation of an item from the January 5, 2006 Council Agenda. Pat
Gilbert, City Services Director updated the Council on what has been done to
move forth on the Regional Dispatch Plan.
• On Friday January 6, 2006 City Staff ordered the radio transmitters, the Zetron
fire alert system and the building security system (the door locking mechanism).
Also ordered was the Camera system which will monitor the lobby area, booking
room, and the outside entryway. The ringdown phone system was also ordered
which will enable direct communication from the Public Safety Lobby to
CMRCC.
• January 6th The City Manager sent a letter to the affected unions giving them the
opportunity to present possible impacts to working conditions that they feel may arise.
• On Tuesday, January 10, 2006 City Staff and the City’s radio technicians met with
CMRCC personnel and supervisors as well as their radio technicians to discuss the
details of the installation of the radio equipment, the Fire alert system and their
monitoring of the security camera equipment. Further discussions were held as far as the details of integrating our Fire and Police dispatching needs into their operation for a smooth transition and minimal disruption or deviation of daily operations for our frontline personnel. At the conclusion of the meeting the Gardiner Public Safety
Departments were asked to furnish all policies, procedures, rosters and schedules etc.
to CMRCC by the 16th of January 2006. This will allow CMRCC to set up their
system to accommodate our needs.
The remaining dispatch employee remains as transitional dispatcher/receptionist till June 30, 2006.
What’s left to be done to complete the transfer of service to CMRCC:
• Furnish CMRCC the Police and Fire Departments procedural guides by January 16,
2006.
Motion by Councilor Colwell and seconded by Councilor Rambo to Authorize the City Manager to Contract for Dispatch Services with Central Maine Regional Communication Center.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.6 Consideration of Sewer User Rates.
Motion by Councilor Doiron and seconded by Councilor Nickless to Accept Sewer User Rates.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5.7 Consideration of North West Quadrant Financial Plan.
The Northwest Quadrant Project was bid this past summer and one bid was received $500,000 over the project bid. Now the project has been reconfigured so the City can afford it, and there have been talks with Rural Development discussing how they would require Grant Funds to be allocated for the elements of this project. So now the Council needs to look over a new financial plan. The project will go out to bid on January 23rd, due back on February 23rd, the Northwest Quadrant Committee will look at on the February 28th and it will come before the Council on March 2nd.
Motion by Councilor Nickless and seconded by Councilor Colwell to Accept North West Quadrant Financial Plan.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Benner to Accept Addendum Items.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
1. Consideration of Accepting Economic Development Administration Grant.
Manager Kobrock stated that the City needs to act within 30 days so the City doesn’t lose the opportunity to move forward on the Economic Development Administration Grant of $856,400.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Benner to Accept Economic Development Administration Grant.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
3. Consideration of Ordinance 06-02. Amending City Code, Title 1, General Provisions, Chapter 5, Licenses, Section 151, Issuances.
Manager Kobrock stated that this is to codify the existing policy concerning not issuing permits to those with balances due to the City. The language to be inserted is from City Solicitor Erik Stumpfel. This would be the first reading of the Ordinance. Councilor Hart asked if there could be an addition about life threatening issues, Manager Kobrock stated that it could be added at the second reading.
Motion by Councilor Rambo and seconded by Councilor Nickless to Accept Ordinance 06-02. Amending City Code, Title 1, General Provisions, Chapter 5, Licenses, Section 151, Issuances.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 –opposed Motion: passes
Motion by Councilor Nickless and seconded by Councilor Rambo to go into Executive Session at 9:45 pm.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
Out of Executive Session at 10:05 pm.
4. EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (A)
Personnel
City Council authorized the City Manager to proceed with advice from Council.
3. Discussion of Recycling.
Deferred
6. CITY MANAGER REPORT
Deferred
7. COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Deferred
8. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 10:05 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Molly Gallant
Council Clerk
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