TOWN OF ORONO

COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL CHAMBER - MUNICIPAL BUILDING

 

MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2006 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

MINUTES

 

Town Manager Catherine Conlow stated that in the absence of the Council Chair, a Chairman Pro Tem should be elected among the Council members. 

 

Moved by Lianne Harris and seconded by John Bradson to nominate Terri Hutchinson.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

1.      Roll Call

 

Present:  Chairman Pro Tem Terri Hutchinson, John Bradson, Lianne Harris, Tom Spitz, Mark Haggerty, and Town Manager Catherine Conlow.  Absent: Council Chair Geoff Gordon and Jo Carol Alford.

 

2.      Approval of minutes of February 13, 2006 and March 1, 2006

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

3.      Public Hearings

 

a.      A Victualer’s License for Miralam K. Mohmand d/b/a Orono Thriftway,

                        153 Park Street.

 

Public hearing a. opened at 7:40 p.m.  Ms. Conlow stated that the property was inspected recently by the Code Enforcement Officer and the Fire Inspector, and was inspected in December 2004 by the State.  It was found to be in compliance with all local and state regulations, and the staff is recommending approval of the license.  Opponents:  None.  Proponents:  None.  Mr. Mohmand was present to answer any questions.  Public hearing a. closed at 7:42 p.m.

 

            Order 06-31    Order, approving a Victualer’s License for Miralam K. Mohmand

                                    d/b/a Orono Thriftway, 153 Park Street.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

4.      Acknowledgments by Council Members

 

Tom Spitz acknowledged that Derek Breton of the Penobscot Times will be joining the U.S. Marines soon and wished him luck in his new endeavors.

 

 

John Bradson thanked everyone involved in Orono’s 200th Birthday Celebration and the 200 cakes on Sunday, March 12, 2006. 

 

Mr. Bradson acknowledged the University students who are doing service work in Central America during spring break.  He noted that it will benefit the people there, this community and the students themselves.

 

Mark Haggerty stated the 200th Birthday Celebration was a wonderful event for the community.  He acknowledged the grant received for renovations to the Birch Street School.  Mr. Haggerty encouraged everyone to vote during the Municipal Election, March 14th.

 

Lianne Harris stated that the 200th Birthday Celebration was an amazing event; the community spirit was overwhelming.  She thanked the Bicentennial Committee and the Historical Society for all their efforts.  She also thanked the Bangor Daily News and Penobscot Times for their Bicentennial news supplements.  Ms. Harris commented this was the end of her three-year term and thanked everyone for their support and efforts.  She acknowledged the emergency service work of the fire and police departments.

 

Terri Hutchinson stated that the 200th Birthday Celebration was heartwarming.  She thanked all the bakers and everyone involved for baking the 211 cakes.  She noted that it was also the end of her three-year term and thanked everyone for their support.  Ms. Hutchinson encouraged residents to vote Tuesday, March 14th at the Municipal Building Council Chamber between 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

Ms. Hutchinson acknowledged a framed picture given to the Town by the Bangor Daily News of the Orono Bicentennial Supplement cover.  She also acknowledged a citation given to the Town and signed by the State of Maine Senate and Legislative leaders in recognition of Orono’s bicentennial year.

 

5.      Unfinished Business - None

 

6.      Consent Agenda

 

  Order 06-32  Order, appointing Cynthia Blease to the Trails Committee to fill an

unexpired term until April 2007.

 

  Order 06-33  Order, appointing the following people to the University/Town Relations

Committee:

Town Staff/Gov’t 3-year terms:  Cliff Wells (Public Safety), Wanda Cunningham (OVA), Catherine Conlow (Town Manager).

University Staff/Faculty/Admin. 3-year terms:  Angel Loredo (Dean of Students Office), Deborah Mitchell (Public Safety).

Orono Resident 3-year term:  John Bradson.

University Students:  Adam Kirkland, Jessie Ouellette, Elizabeth Nichols.

 

              Order 06-34  Order, appointing Dr. Walter Doefler as the Orono Health Officer to fill

                                    an unexpired 3-year term until April 2008.

 

Order 06-35  Order, approving a License to Operate Games of Chance to the University of Maine American Marketing Association to be held at the Memorial Union on April 23, 2006.

 

  Order 06-36  Order, setting April 10, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. as the date for a public hearing to consider oral and written comments on approving a temporary easement, effective until December 2007, on Taylor Road starting from Forest Avenue to the Hinds-Keleti property for the purpose of hauling gravel.

 

     Order 06-37    Order, committing a true list of sewerage service assessments to Wanda J.

                             Thomas, Treasurer, in the amount of $126,846.36.

 

Moved by Lianne Harris and seconded by John Bradson to approve the consent agenda.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

7.      New Business

 

Order 06-38    Order, approving the amendments to the Ordinances of the Town of

                        Orono, Chapter 18 Land Use, by repealing Section 18-136 Planned Unit

                        Development in its entity and replacing it with a new Section 18-136

                        Clustered Development and amending related sections.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

Ms. Conlow stated that the amendments presented represent a yearlong process of revamping the Planned Unit Development Ordinance.  Extensive work was done through the Council, Planning Board and staff with the assistance of Planning Consultant Evan Richert to rewrite the ordinance, repealing the PUD Ordinance and adopting the Clustered Development Ordinance.  The major issues addressed were development density and open space.

 

Ms. Conlow noted that Mr. Richert has agreed to sign on as the Town’s Planner/Community Development Director on July 1, 2006.

 

Order 06-39    Order, approving amendments to the Town of Orono Fee Schedule for

Emergency Medical Services as follows:

                                   Base Rate-Advanced Life Support (ALS I) $400    $475

Base Rate-Advanced Life Support (ALS II)            $500    $550

Base Rate-Basic Life Support (BLS)                       $325    $350

Base Rate-Special Care  Specialist on Board          $570    $650

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

Ms. Conlow stated that the changes to the EMS fee schedule reflect the changes made on an annual basis by Medicare and are adjusted to match.

           Order 06-40    Order, awarding $64,584 to Hayes Pump, Inc. for pre-purchasing

                                   Gorman-Rupp Equipment for the Stillwater Avenue and Penobscot Street

                                   Pump Stations Project to be drawn from the WPCF Capital Reserve

                                   Account.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

Ms. Conlow stated this request is a sole source purchase to obtain the same equipment that is being used at the other pump stations for ease of operation, maintenance and parts on hand.  This purchase was reviewed by the Finance Committee.

 

Order 06-41    Order, accepting a Quitclaim Deed for the purchase of land located on Penobscot Street and/or Shore Drive (Tax Map 28-1, Lots 33 and 34) from PPL MAINE, LLC for the sum of $100.00 for the purpose of facilitating the Penobscot Street pump station project.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 5-0.

 

Ms. Conlow stated that PPL Maine, LLC has offered to sell the property at the Penobscot Street pump station for $100 through a Quitclaim Deed, which will allow the town to have ownership of the .08 acre site.

 

8.      Future Agenda Items/Items of Concern

 

Lianne Harris stated she talked with Congressman Mike Michaud at the Bicentennial Celebration and encouraged him to travel on the Bennoch Road to see the road’s poor condition.  She noted that he agreed to do it and speak with the Governor.

 

John Bradson asked about the status of the property near Gould’s Landing that has code violations. Mr. Sands stated that he and the Code Enforcement Officer visited the property, the Code Officer developed a list of code issues, and gave them to Attorney Tom Russell to develop a contract.  He noted that due to other issues taking precedence, Mr. Russell has not had a chance to work on it.  The Council requested that Ms. Conlow follow up on this issue.

 

Mark Haggerty asked about the status of using LED lights for cost efficiency of the streetlights.  Ms Conlow stated she would be looking into this for the budget.  She commented that the technical difficulty may be the cost of installing the lights.

 

9.      Public Petitions - None

10.  Public Comments - None

11.  Adjournment

 

At 8:15 p.m., John Bradson moved and Lianne Harris seconded to adjourn.  All voted in favor,

5-0.  

Minutes are not verbatim.  A tape-recorded version is available in the Town Office.

Respectfully submitted, Nancy W. Ward, Administrative Assistant