City Council Minutes September 20, 2006
Office of the Council Clerk Wednesday, September 20, 2006
placeCityCity of Gardiner, StateMaine Regular Session 7:00 pm
1. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Rines called the meeting to order at 7:07 PM.
2. ROLL CALL
PersonNameJean Dellert, District 3 Philip Hart, District 4
Lewis Benner, At-Large Richard Nickless, District 1
Mayor PersonNameBrian Rines
Jeffrey Kobrock, City Manager
Molly Gallant, Council Clerk
Councilors Colwell, Doiron, and Rambo 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.)
No public comment.
4. NEW BUSINESS
Councilors Doiron and Rambo present.
4.1 Consideration of Order 06-29, Declaring a Dangerous Property.
Manger Kobrock stated that this item was postponed from the last meeting. The property on addressStreet55 Highland Ave. has a history of documentation of dangerous property. By declaring this a dangerous property the City can abate it.
Motion by Councilor Hart and seconded by Councilor Nickless to Accept
Order 06-29, Declaring a Dangerous Property.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.2 Presentation of Preliminary Site Study – Smith Reuter Lull Architects.
Smith Reuter Lull Architects gave a presentation to the City Councilor concerning City Hall Site Study.
Manager Kobrock asked the City Council what the next step should be, the Council suggested that a different group to evaluate and look at different site ideas soon.
4.3 Update on Dispatching Services.
Chief Jim Toman and Chief Mark Kimball spoke to the Council regarding a recent transition to the Regional Dispatch Center, stating that it has gone relatively smooth, with an occasionally bump in the road. The biggest problem has been the internal phone system, which has recently been fixed. Another problem has been the fact that citizens seem to uneasy using the yellow telephone box outside of dispatch. The transition seems to be improving daily.
4.4 Discussion of Voting Place Consolidation.
On July 26, 2006, Resolution 06-21 was passed to Consolidate Voting Districts so that all voting, regardless of district, will vote at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club, formerly known as Pray Street School on the condition that the City could still offer voting to the South Gardiner Residents at Riverview School without considering it a voting place. South Gardiner would be set up for residents to vote by absentee ballot, which would then be brought to the Boy’s and Girls Club for processing. This would be similar to how the Front Office has handled voters on Election Day who were never sure where they were supposed to vote or voters that would need a ballot delivered to them because for some reason they were not able to get to the polls. The City would have to
consider South Gardiner to be a “Satellite Clerk’s Office” on Election Day.
While training on the new Statewide Voter Registration System, City Clerk Deirdre Berglund was able to speak to Julie Flynn, Deputy Secretary of State. They fully support the consolidation of voting places for Gardiner and are seeing more towns following suit, however they have concerns about the “clerk’s office” in South Gardiner. The City’s request is not considered “illegal”, however, it is not necessarily encouraged either for a few reason—such as, the administrative work involved with Absentee Ballots by Clerks for reporting purposes, the promotion of Absentee Ballots on Election Day and the voters not necessarily knowing they are not going to be able to process their ballot on the spot and that Gardiner is not that large of a City or Voter
Base. Since Absentee Ballots are available for the month of October at the Clerk’s office; they were wondering whether this “Satellite Clerk’s Office” would be necessary. On another note, in the November 7 election all municipalities will be using two entirely new systems. One is the Statewide Voter Registration System, and the other is Accessible Voter System which will allow people with Disabilities to vote independently at the polls for the first time because of the Help America Vote Act. City Clerk, Deirdre has gone through training for both systems, and they both very exciting advancements in the election process. It is fortunate timing for her that we will be able to work through two systems at one consolidated location.
Manager Kobrock and Deirde have discussed a mailing she has created and intend to send to all the voters regarding the consolidation and making them aware of the absentee ballot process either by mail or in person in the City Clerk office. For this mailing, she will need to know if the City Council is still interested in keeping a satellite clerk’s office open in South Gardiner on Election Day.
The City Council discussed and decided that they would like to try the satellite Clerk’s Office in placePlaceNameSouth PlaceNameGardiner PlaceNameRiverview PlaceTypeSchool for at least one voting day to see how it works out.
4.5 Consideration of Order 06-30, Authorizing Carryover Funds from FY 06 to FY 07 to Fund Paving Program and City Hall Site Analysis.
:
191-400 Paving $ 4000.00
317-390 Site Study $45,710.00
Motion by Councilor Nickless and seconded by Councilor Benner to Accept Order 06-30, Authorizing Carryover Funds from FY 06 to FY 07 to Fund Paving Program and City Hall Site Analysis.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
4.6 Consideration of Order 06-31, Appropriation from Contingency.
941-0285 Plumb Associates 1500.00
941-0285 Assessing 3000.00
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Nickless to
Accept Order 06-31, Appropriation from Contingency.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes
5. CITY MANAGER REPORT
Manager Kobrock stated that it was thought originally the Council would be meeting next week with the Water District and the Maine Turnpike Authority; the parties are not ready so it will have to be rescheduled.
In an upcoming packet a report on Brown’s Exit 27 will be for the Council to look at, it is positive.
In a recent email Mayor Rines asked about the taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, do non-taxpayers revenues come with the TABOR proposal. Yes, with grants, bonding, and any revenues. Council will have authority to bond but not to spend, which will require a referendum “override:.
Manager Kobrock gave an update on the staff reorganization, there is a October 1st target date, there are discussions still with the union, not expected to be done by October 1st but should be done soon after that.
The City of CityplaceGardiner is trying something new with online recruitment, newspaper advertisement has become very expensive. Manager Kobrock stated that we will have to see if it generates the kind of candidates that the City is looking for.
6. COUNCIL DISCUSSION
Councilor Benner mentioned a recent letter suggesting gas to be run from CityRichmond to the PlaceNameplaceLibby PlaceTypeHill PlaceNameBusiness PlaceTypePark, Manager Kobrock stated that it was previously researched and we will look into it again. Councilor Benner also remarked that the paving on Libby Hill and addressStreetCapen Road look great. Councilor Benner asked if the property belonging to Mr. Stevens on the other side of the interstate is designated as high density commercial, the owner is upset. Manager Kobrock stated that it needed to be discussed by the Planning Board.
Councilor Hart asked if the agendas online could be linked.
Councilor Rambo stated that he had a delivery of Council mail on Sunday saying that it was a shame to have the police having to deliver.
Councilor Nickless asked if the Rapid Renewal problem had been fixed, Manager Kobrock stated that it had. He also asked about signage on addressStreetAdams Street. Councilor Nickless stated that the addressStreetPope Street road work has been very long and some of his neighbors have felt that it lasted a very long time.
Mayor Rines stated that he received a letter from the Common Cause Committee asking for vested authority to be a City Committee. Mayor Rines also stated that Norman Gosline recently resigned from the Ambulance Advisory Board. He also stated that there have been recent vacancies on the Housing Committee, and Water District. If the Council could be thinking of replacements and think of anyone to let him know soon.
Motion by Councilor Dellert and seconded by Councilor Nickless to go into Executive Session at 9:35 pm.
Vote: 7 in favor 0 – opposed Motion: passes.
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (A)
Personnel
8. EXECUTIVE SESSION per MRSA, Title 1, Chapter 13, Section 405 (6) (A)
Personnel
9. ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Rines adjourned the meeting at 10:10 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
PersonNameMolly Gallant
Council Clerk
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