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WEEKLY MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor MacLean, Members of the City Council, and Department Heads
FROM: Scott Morelli, City Manager
DATE: December 23, 2010
RE: Weekly Memo
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Next Week's City Meetings are available on our Calendar
Below please find an update on recent City activities:
- As part of the City’s overall marketing strategy, this week we unveiled a new, stand alone website for the Libby Hill Business Park at www.libbyhillbusinesspark.com. I encourage you to check out Libby Hill’s new web presence and see for yourself how this website will prove to be an invaluable tool when reaching out to potential buyers. Congrats to the Planning Department and consultants Perry & Banks for their efforts on this site.
- Speaking of the business park, I am sure we were all pleased to hear the good news that the State has overturned the decision of the Lottery Commission to award the lottery contract to an out of country firm, resulting in the loss of jobs at Scientific Games, based in the Libby Hill Business Park. The City sent in two letters of support for overturning the decision and members of the Council were in contact with our State legislators and officials from the Lottery Commission.
There is still the possibility of an appeal and/or a re-bidding of the contract but for now there remains hope to keep a business and jobs here in Gardiner!
- As a member of the Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Policy Committee, I recently had the privilege of voting on a legislative priority package for the upcoming session. These pieces of legislation cover tax policy, revenue sharing, State mandates, the Right to Know law, and more. You can view a synopsis of the legislative priorities by visiting MMA’s website.
- This past Monday the City had its new server installed. Due to some difficulties with our financial software, this migration will take longer than expected for that portion of the upgrade. However, we expect this new server – combined with our recently upgraded internet speed – to significantly reduce the server “crashes” and slow public safety software processing times that have plagued City Hall for over a year. This should also greatly reduce the reliance on our technology consultant and thus save us money in that budget line. Thank you to the Council for approving this expensive but critical piece of technological infrastructure.
- Speaking of technology, FairPoint Communications recently announced that it has expanded broadband service to an additional 437 homes and businesses in Gardiner, Richmond, West Gardiner, Litchfield, Pittston and Randolph. FairPoint high-speed Internet is available for the first time to eligible customers in on parts or all of the following streets in Gardiner: Barnett, Booker, Briand, Brunswick, Doyle, Enterprise, Fountain, Holiday, Libby Hill, Loon, Moss, North, Spring Cove and Weeks.
Please remember that City Hall will be closed on the following dates:
- Thursday, Dec. 23 – Closed at noon (employee holiday luncheon)
Friday, Dec. 24 – All day (Christmas observed)
Friday, Dec. 31 – All day (New Year’s observed)
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to serve the people of Gardiner as City Manager.
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