 |
MAYOR’S OFFICE
WEEKLY MEMORANDUM
TO: Councilors and Department Heads
FROM: Mayor Andrew MacLean
DATE: March 5, 2010
RE: Weekly Memo
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Next Week's City Meetings are available on our Calendar
It is my pleasure to provide the weekly memo this week in the transition from interim City Manager and returning Library Director, Anne Davis to our new City Manager, Scott Morelli. Anne is completing a well deserved vacation and Scott has had a few days' break between his job with the Town of Framingham, Massachusetts and beginning with the City of Gardiner on Monday, March 8th. Anne has served ably and with good humor as our interim City Manager and the Council very much appreciates her willingness to step up to that position for almost a year. I am anxious to have Scott on board and oriented so the Council and staff can get back to work on the important issues that face our City. A priority topic of discussion at the Council meeting next Wednesday, March 10th will be an overview of the challenges in the next
fiscal year's budget by Finance Director Sandy Runyon. Shortly after this, the Council will begin its work on the budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. Also, within Scott's first month on the job, I envision Council workshops on Council/Staff roles and responsibilities and the most recent Council Goal Statement from early 2009. At 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10th prior to the Council's 7:00 p.m. business meeting, we have scheduled a reception to welcome Scott and I encourage any Gardiner resident who would like to meet Scott to join us. This week we also will be welcoming another new leader in our community as Chris West relocates from Michigan to Gardiner to assume the role of Executive Director of Gardiner Main Street. GMS has planned a welcome reception for Chris and his wife Heather from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. tonight, March 5th, at the new Sweet Love/Baxter Tea Company location on Water Street.
We all have been watching carefully the ice on the Kennebec River and I am relieved that Chief Cody and our state emergency management staff have withdrawn flood warnings this week. We have been fortunate to have weather allowing a moderate thaw in recent days. Planning & Development Director Jason Simcock is working on plans to repair the ice damage to the waterfront, along with his continuing work on Phase II of the waterfront project.
Last Monday morning, the City hosted an open house at the Public Works garage offering anyone interested to see the new pellet boiler heating system. A good mix of state agency representatives, City officials, and citizens attended to see the new system that we anticipate will save money over time and will transition the City from its dependence on the volatile oil market for heat to a renewable resource that may be purchased from Maine businesses.
The Crematorium Committee has initiated its work and is scheduling its meetings into April. The Council appreciates the service of the five citizen members of that group and looks forward to hearing its report.
I wish everyone a great weekend as the weather sounds terrific for outdoor activities!
| |
