TOWN OF ORONO

COUNCIL MEETING

COUNCIL CHAMBER - MUNICIPAL BUILDING

 

MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2006 AT 7:30 P.M.

 

MINUTES

 

1.      Roll Call

 

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

 

2.      Approval of minutes of November 13, 2006

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

3.      Public Hearings

 

a.      To consider a Victualer’s License for Quizno’s Sub, 6 Stillwater Avenue.

 

Public hearing a. opened at 7:31 p.m.  Catherine Conlow informed Councilors that the Code Enforcement Officer and Fire Marshal inspected Quizno’s and are recommending approval of the license.  She noted that the Fire Marshal has listed some issues that they will address soon.  She also noted that the State was not able to conduct their inspection due to a water line issue, but would be back to do it soon.  Proponents:  None.  Opponents:  None.  Public hearing a. closed at

7:34 p.m.

 

            Order 06-208  Order, approving a Victualer’s License for Quizno’s Sub, 6 Stillwater

                                     Avenue.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Lianne Harris and friendly amended to approve the Victualer’s License contingent upon Quizno’s meeting the requirements outlined by the Fire Marshal in the letter dated December 1, 2006.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

4.      Acknowledgments by Council Members

 

Mark Haggerty acknowledged and congratulated the Orono students for their recent performances and musical events.

 

Tom Perry thanked the Orono High School orchestra for their performance at Pat’s Pizza Friday night.  He also recognized the town employees for their benchmark years of service.  He specifically acknowledged John Robichaud and Wendell Young for 35 years of service and Ron Dube for 25 years of service.  He extended everyone a wonderful holiday season.

 

 

Lianne Harris thanked the Bicentennial Committee for the outstanding job they have done throughout the bicentennial year.  Some of the items/events outlined were:  The Orono cookbook, commemorative coins, postcards, stamp cancellation, bonfire, 200th birthday cake celebration, parade, garden tour, and holiday home tour.  She thanked all the volunteers involved.

 

Tom Spitz wished everyone a safe and happy holiday season.  He thanked the town employees for all they have done throughout the year.

 

Terri Hutchinson thanked the residents in the Sailor Development for being patient and enduring a total reconstruction of the sewer/stormwater system.  She also thanked the local businesses and churches for their holiday light displays.  She wished everyone a happy and safe holiday season. 

 

John Bradson thanked Norm Poirier and the entire Parks and Recreation crew, along with members of Orono Village Association, for their involvement in the tree lighting ceremony.  He thanked the town employees and wished everyone a safe and happy holiday.

 

Geoff Gordon read the names of the employees receiving awards for 5, 10, 15, 25 and 35 years of service.  He also announced that the Town of Orono would be holding a flu clinic Wednesday, December 13, 2006 from 3:00-6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber.

 

5.      Unfinished Business - None

 

6.      Consent Agenda

 

Order 06-209  Order, setting January 8, 2007 at 7:30 p.m. as the date for a Public Hearing to consider authorizing the Town Manager to negotiate a Sale of Municipal Property to Mohamad Musavi for the purpose of constructing a Public Way to connecting Page Place Extension to Gilbert Street.

 

Order 06-210  Order, authorizing employee recognition awards for those employees

                        completing five, ten, fifteen, twenty-five, and thirty-five years of service.

 

                        5-Years                                               10-Years                          

                        Willie King                                         Dennis Bean

                        Richard Rideout                                 Scott Scripture

                        Nancy Ward

                                    15-Years                                            25-Years

                                    Sue Hart                                             Ron Dube

                                    Maida Robichaud     

                                   

                                    35-Years

                                    John Robichaud

                                    Wendell Young

            Order 06-211  Order, approving an Application for a License to Operate a Bingo

Game on February 11, 2007 at the Asa Adams School to benefit the Orono High School Project Graduation.

 

            Order 06-212  Order, confirming the appointment and contract of Norman (Buddy)

                                    Webb as Fire Chief for the Town of Orono, effective December 11,

                                    2006 to December 10, 2008.

 

            Order 06-213  Order, confirming the appointment and contract of Gary Duquette as

                                    Police Chief for the Town of Orono, effective December 11, 2006 to

                                    December 10, 2008.

 

            Order 06-214  Order, authorizing the Town Manager to execute an amendment to

                                    the Transfer Agreement by and between Ernest C. Cechetto and

                                    Valerie L. Cechetto and the Town of Orono dated January 20, 2005,

                                    regarding property related to the Black Bear Heights Subdivision;

                                    such amendment to cause the Term of the Agreement to expire on

                                    February 15, 2009. 

 

            Order 06-215  Order, committing a true list of sewerage service assessments to

                                    Wanda J. Thomas, Treasurer, in the amount of $139,542.84.

 

Moved by Tom Perry and seconded by John Bradson to approve the consent agenda.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

Geoff Gordon noted that the contract end dates for the Fire Chief and Police Chief are incorrect and should be December 31, 2009.

 

Moved by Terri Hutchinson and seconded by Lianne Harris to reconsider the previous order.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

Moved by John Bradson and seconded by Terri Hutchinson to approve the consent agenda items, except for Order 06-212 and Order 06-213 which will be taken up separately under New Business.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

7.      New Business

 

            Order 06-212  Order, confirming the appointment and contract of Norman (Buddy)

                                    Webb as Fire Chief for the Town of Orono, effective December 11,

                                    2006 to December 10, 2008 31, 2009.

 

Moved by Terri Hutchinson and seconded by Lianne Harris to approve and friendly amend the order to correct the contract end date to December 31, 2009.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

 

 

            Order 06-213  Order, confirming the appointment and contract of Gary Duquette as

                                    Police Chief for the Town of Orono, effective December 11, 2006 to

                                    December 10, 2008 31, 2009.

 

Moved by Lianne Harris and seconded by Tom Perry to approve and friendly amend the order to correct the contract end date to December 31, 2009.  All voted in favor, 7-0.

 

       Order  06-216     Order, accepting a bid and awarding a contract to Apex

                                    Construction

                                   of Rochester, NH for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrade

                                   Project in the amount of $8,746,300 to be funded from WPCF bonds,                                            USDA R&D grants and WPCF Capital Reserves, and authorizing the

                                   Town Manager to sign and execute all documents

 

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

 

Paul Wintle, Superintendent of the WPCF, recommended awarding the contract to the low bidder, Apex Construction.  He noted that after the bid is awarded there will be a change order reducing the project amount by $342,000 due to a reduction in the project scope.  Mr. Wintle also gave a status report on the Mainewood/Gilbert Street area reconstruction project.

 

Bill Olver of Olver Associates gave a detailed explanation of the major components of the wastewater treatment facility upgrade project.  He spoke of the state-of-the-art equipment that will be installed for nutrient removal, the use of UV filters as disinfectants and sludge digesters.

 

Mr. Wintle thanked everyone that assisted him in this project, recognizing staff members, the advisory committee, Olver Associates, Rural Development and the Department of Environmental Protection. He summarized that this project will establish a strong infrastructure, provide for a cleaner environment and provide for the needs of the community for the next 40 years.

 

           Order 06-217  Order, accepting a bid and awarding a contract to Lumus Construction of Woburn, MA for the Renovations to the Birch Street School/Senior Center in the amount of $296,500 as part of the Birch Street CDBG Grant, and authorizing the Town Manager to sign and execute all documents.

 

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

 

David Struck noted that this project is part of the second phase of renovations to the Birch Street School/Senior Center and utilizes CDBG funds with the matching funds required shared by The Housing Foundation, the Orono Health Association and the Town of Orono.  The renovations will allow the ADA accessible standards to be met and include upgrades on the ramp, bathrooms, kitchen and sprinkler system.

 

Mr. Struck stated that nine bids were received; Lumus Construction was low bidder and meet the Federal requirements. 

Lianne Harris acknowledged the Birch Street School Committee for their efforts throughout the past few years on restoring the building.  She specifically thanked Sherm Hasbrouck and Michael Lewis for their contributions.

 

8.      Future Agenda Items/Items of Concern

 

Mark Haggerty asked about the status of appointing members to the new Rural Zoning Working Committee.  Nancy Ward responded that 10-12 residents have completed applications to date and they will be coming before the Community Development Committee before the next Council meeting.

 

9.      Public Petitions – None

 

10.  Public Comments

 

Ms. McLain voiced concerns about receiving a ticket for criminal trespassing at Bear Brew Pub.  She stated that the ticket was unwarranted and her level of involvement was to ask the Bear Brew Pub to turn down the noise volume.  She requested the charges be dropped, there be a public apology by the police department and that the Council consider revoking the Bear Brew Pub’s entertainment license.

 

Geoff Gordon stated that she should make an appointment with the Town Manager to discuss this issue further.

 

11.  Adjournment

 

At 8:25 p.m., John Bradson moved and Tom Perry seconded to adjourn.  All voted in favor, 7-0.  

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

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Nancy W. Ward

Administrative Assistant