TOWN OF ORONO

COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL CHAMBER - MUNICIPAL BUILDING

 

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

MINUTES

 

1.       Roll Call

 

Present:  Geoff Gordon, Chair; Tom Spitz, Terri Hutchinson, John Bradson, Lianne Harris, Mark Haggerty, Tom Perry and Town Manager Cathy Conlow.

 

Geoff Gordon thanked council members for their confidence in him electing him Chairman for another year and thanked Terri Hutchinson for filling in for him in his absence.

 

2.      Approval of minutes of March 5, 12 and 19, 2007

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Terri Hutchinson to approve the minutes as presented. All voted in favor.  7-0

 

3.      Public Hearings

 

a.      To consider a Victualer’s License for Stillwater One Stop, 10 Stillwater Ave.

 

Hearing opened at 7:31pm.   Cathy reported that the Code Officer, Fire and Police had inspected the premises and there were no issues.  Taxes and sewer have been paid.  Approval of the license is recommended.  There were no proponents or opponents.  Hearing closed at 7:32pm.

 

            Order 07-47    Order, approving a Victualer’s License for Stillwater One Stop,

                                    10 Stillwater Ave.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Terri Hutchinson.  All voted in favor.  7-0

 

4.      Acknowledgments by Council Members

 

a.       Tom Spitz thanked public works crew for their efforts during what he hoped would be the last snowstorm of the season.

b.      John Bradson congratulated the Fire Department for their work writing a grant for the new fire truck.

c.       Tom Perry noted the passing of Fred Burpee, age 90, a life-long resident who was a former selectman, owned a Hardware Store and was a wonderful person.

d.      Lianne Harris expressed appreciation for: Evan Richert’s time and research on a variety of planning issues, the Ladder Truck Team and the Town Office team who have worked hard in Nancy’s absence.  She also thanked the hiring team for putting forth three good candidates for Assistant Town Manager.

 

e.       Geoff Gordon reminded people of the Stream Cleanup on May 19th and acknowledged the success of the Middle School Chess Team as State Champs, who will now be competing in Kansas City.  He also acknowledged the elementary DI team for winning the State Division, who will be going to Knoxville, Tennessee to compete.  He noted it was Cathy Conlow’s birthday today.

 

5.      Unfinished Business - none

 

6.      Consent Agenda

 

      Order 07-48   Order, committing a true list of sewerage service assessments to   Wanda J.  Thomas, Treasurer, in the amount of $102,760.74.

 

             Order 07-49  Order, appointing John Robichaud as Plumbing Inspector.

 

            Order 07-50   Order, appointing Andrew Jacobs and Charles Heinonen as Alternate Plumbing Inspectors.

 

 Order 07-51   Order, confirming the following appointments of the Town Manager:

                                   Town Clerk                                         Wanda Thomas

                                    Town Treasurer                                 Wanda Thomas

                                   Tax Collector                                     Wanda Thomas

                                   Finance Director                                Betty Ann Brown

                                   Assessor                                             Richard Sands

                                   Building Inspector                              John Robichaud

                                   Code Enforcement Officer                John Robichaud

                                   Electrical Inspector                            John Robichaud

                                   Tree Warden                                      Calvin Smith

                                   Town Forest Fire Warden                 Norman Webb

                                   Deputy Forest Fire Warden              Bryan Hardison         

                                   Deputy Forest Fire Warden Mikele Spearing

                                   Deputy Forest Fire Warden Robert St. Louis

                                   Road Commissioner                          Calvin Smith

                                   Assistant Town Manager                  Maria T. Weinberger

 

           Order 07-52    Order, appointing Andrew Perkins and Peter Hall as Alternate Electrical Inspectors.

 

Order 07-53    Order, proclaiming Friday, May 11, 2007 as the official day for the celebration of Arbor Day in the Town of Orono.

           

Order 07-54    Order, signing the Municipal Warrant for the prosecution of unlicensed dog owner-keepers.

 

 

 

            Order 07-55   Order, Certifying Benefit Assessment Installment Payments for 

                                    Outer Forest Avenue Sewer Main Project:

The Orono Town Council, in its capacity as the municipal officers of the Town of Orono hereby certifies that the following installment payments on the benefit assessments for the Forest Avenue Sewer Extension Project are due to be paid to the tax collector on or before May 15, 2007:

 

            Name of Owner(s)                  Lot or Parcel of Land        

     Against Whom Assessment                   Assessed            Installment                         is Made                            (Tax Map Lot No.)  Amount  Due

 

Dianna M. & Aaron Queheillalt       Map 19-3, Lot 24       $508.53

Kimberly D. Taylor                            Map 19-3, Lot 33       $763.94

 

Any installment not paid by the due date shall be subject to a special tax, equal to the amount of the total unpaid assessment.  This certification shall be filed with the tax collector for collection.

 

Moved by John Bradson.  Second by Tom Perry.  All voted in favor. 7-0

 

7.      New Business

          

           Order 07-56    Order, awarding a bid to Greenwood Fire Apparatus  for a Tower

                                   Ladder Fire Truck in the amount of $846,000. Funding to be as

                                   follows: 

                                               Federal Grant -   $498,500

                                               Old Town –          $173,750

                                               Town of Orono -  $173,750   Capital Equipment Reserve

 

Moved by Lianne Harris.  Seconded by John Bradson.  All voted in favor.  7-0

 

Fire Chief Webb stated he was happy we had gotten to this point.  Mark Haggerty asked about financing and the 50/50 sharing with Old Town.  Cathy stated she has high expectations of receiving the financing from Old Town and has no reason to believe they won’t agree to it.  The two towns are working on mutual aid, haz mat and evaluating equipment needs. We have one year to purchase the truck and in accepting the grant council indicated they would purchase it. 

 

Mark Haggerty asked about the UM component.  Cathy Conlow explained that she would approach them separately on sharing our portion.  She has set up an appointment to talk to them.

 

            Order 07-57    Order, approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the

                                     Department of Public Safety Liquor Licensing Division of the State of

                                     Maine to permit the Town to enforce administrative liquor laws and

                                     authorizing the Police Chief to sign the agreement.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Terri Hutchinson.  All voted in favor. 7-0

 

Chief Duquette explained that this program has been in place for a year and the PILOT program has worked out well. The Town Attorney has given his approval, an officer will be trained and he, in turn, will train the other officers.  All licensed premises were notified of tonight’s meeting.  Chief Duquette was asked to go door to door or drop off the details of the memorandum and to encourage liquor license holders to take advantage of TIPS training offered by the River Coalition.

 

           Order 07-58    Order, setting May 14, 2007, 7:30pm as the date and time for a public

                                    hearing to consider amendments to the Town of Orono Ordinances,

                                    adding a new Chapter 13, Environment, Article III,

                                   Non-Stormwater Discharge Ordinance.

           

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Tom Perry.  All voted in favor. 7-0

 

Cathy Conlow pointed out we need to move forward to be in compliance with the MS4 Stormwater program, as this is a state and federal requirement.  This is to protect the watershed and illicit discharges into the system.  A follow up needs to be made on specific businesses affected by this ordinance.

 

8.      Future Agenda Items/Items of Concern

 

Mark Haggerty asked about a public hearing in Old Town regarding the West Old Town Landfill/Biomass.  Cathy stated she would confirm the date.  John Bradson stated overweight trucks have gone from 3% to 7%, with the highest carrying 70 tons. (The limit is 50 tons)  Logs of the trucks are available, but must be requested.

 

Tom Perry told about the recent education plan to consolidate to 80 districts with 2500 students in each.  He asked if there had been any discussion with the School Committee or if it might take place.  Cathy stated she had met with Superintendent Kelly Clenchy and he has had discussions with Old Town, Glenburn, Veazie and Union 90.  A joint meeting will be set to meet with the School Committee.

 

A lengthy discussion took place about snow removal and the need for a snow and ice policy.  The Town Manager stated she would be working on the policy over the summer.  Complaints were received regarding the removal of snow from sidewalks.  Cathy explained the various reasons for the delay, which included: plows clearing 2” an hour of heavy wet snow, plows getting stuck, manpower shortages and temperature and climate changes.    A new sidewalk plow is included in this year’s budget which would be a big help.  The snow blower is not effective in heavy, wet snow.

 

Citizens were encouraged to call the town office to let us know if a street or sidewalk is blocked.  Cathy Conlow explained that calls were fielded on the snow day and passed on to Public Works to address emergencies in a systematic way.

 

Mark Haggerty agreed that the Public Works crew does a good job and that an adopted policy would let people know what to expect.

 

9.      Public Petitions - none

 

10.  Public Comments - none

 

10.  Adjournment

 

At 8:09 pm, John Bradson moved to adjourn.  Seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor,

7-0.

 

These minutes are not verbatim.  A taped version is available at the town office.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Wanda J. Thomas

Town Clerk