PRESENT: Chairman Friedman, Councilor Cheney, Councilor Hathaway, Councilor Kelly and Councilor Hogan; Manager Reed, Assistant Clerk K. Gifford, CEO Allan Thomas, Deputy Treasurer Julie Reed, Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney, Planning Board Members Chris Cronan, David Wardrop, John Manter, Terrill Studley, Harold Pinkham and Suzanne Malis-Anderson; Community Master Planner Terrance Dewan and Amy Seigal; Members of the Public Sandra Patterson and Marilynn Bishop.
ITEM 1. The July 14, 2003 Veazie Town Council was called to order at 7:03 PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of minutes: Motion By: Councilor Kelly—to accept June 30, 2003 minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, Voted 4-0-1 in favor. Councilor Hathaway abstained.
ITEM 4a. Community Master Planning Presentation (taken out of order)
Terrance Dewan and Amy Seigal were present to discuss the concept of community planning. Planning Board Chair, Chris Cronan, stated that hopefully the Town can use Terrance Dewan’s expertise and develop a master plan. Hopefully it will bridge the great divide between developers and the people who want to keep Veazie the way it is.
Terrance Dewan stated that Manager Reed had e-mailed some issues that Veazie needs to address. He put together a few examples of projects that he is working on that pertain to the sort of issues Veazie is dealing with. His examples included the Great American Neighborhood, which is a hot topic in the Saco area. There was also an open space project for Brunswick. Terrance Dewan outlined that these are just examples, Veazie can take a different approach.
Terrance Dewan discussed the project he is working on in Falmouth. About three years ago Falmouth had a problem with a lot of subdivisions being built that ended with cul-de-sacs. There were no real connections between neighborhoods. Workshops were held where eight to ten people sat down around a table with computers and did what-if scenarios. Terrance Dewan stated that if things continued as they were there would be a lot of dead end roads with cul-de-sacs. The group then did other what-if scenarios using FLUP (Future Land Use Proposal). Terrance Dewan outlined that this proposal includes country estates (houses on 10-12 acre lots), compact neighborhoods (small house lots and apartment complexes) as well as conservation neighborhoods which preserve open space, wildlife and forests
while still incorporating neighborhoods into the area.
Terrance Dewan discussed the Great American Neighborhood concept. He explained that houses are close to the road and close to one another. There are sidewalks and most people know their neighbor. This is a hot topic in the Saco area.
Planning Board Chair, Chris Cronan, asked to what extent did natural resource features contribute to the layout and landscape of the Falmouth project. Terrance Dewan stated trails, a wetland, a stream, as well as a gravel pit.
Councilor Hathaway asked Terrance Dewan to talk about the thought process involved for arterial roads and conventional roads. He outlined that you don’t want to have people that paid a high price for property on a dead end street only to have the road become an arterial road because the land gets developed behind the original subdivision. Terrance Dewan outlined that he does not advocate that sort of thing. These are the practical problems that occur in the middle of the game so to speak. Those people on a dead end road would be very upset to find out that there would be an extra 100 cars a day traveling that road. However, if those same people had bought into the neighborhood with the understanding that the road is going to stop temporarily but is ultimately going to continue on, in
theory they shouldn’t have the ability to complain.
Manager Reed outlined that he would like to have Terrance Dewan come back and meet with the Planning Board and start the Town on a course forward. Terrance Dewan has already been provided with the GIS data and the Town’s comprehensive plan. A half day workshop will be planned to gain the input of the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda
Chairman Friedman stated that Town would like to recognize a Town employee and a Councilor for going above and beyond the call of duty and making the Veazie 150th celebration a success. Manager Reed also put together an outline of the events. He outlined that the Veazie Revue was fantastic, there was an estimated 350 people there. The open house at the Town Office had a light turnout, the staff did provide dessert and punch for those who did come. Councilor Cheney stated that she attended the open house for the Senior Center and there was about 36 people who attended. Manager Reed stated that the street dance had a good turnout considering the weather. Beano on Saturday had a low turnout. Councilor Cheney put together a children’s parade at the last minute which went very
well. The fireworks were fantastic. Manager Reed added that a lot of people mentioned that they would like to see this type of thing every year.
Manager Reed outlined all of the publicity methods the Town used to promote the 150th celebration. A banner was strung across State Street at the Orono end of Town. Posters were posted around Town, as well as advertising on the cable channel and newsletter. The Bangor Daily News wrote two or three articles on the event and also put out the insert for the event. Manager Reed outlined that Channel 2 News and Channel 5 News also did stories on the event.
Administrative Assistant Karen Gifford was presented with a framed print in recognition of all her hard work on the celebration. Councilor Cheney was also presented with a framed print for her hard work and contribution to the celebration. Manager Reed also thanked Councilor Hathaway for coming up with such a great schedule for the event. A lot of good things came from his schedule of events.
ITEM 5a. Employee Assistance Program Presentation
Manager Reed stated that included in the Council packets was a copy of the final proposal from the University of Maine’s Employee Assistance Program. The Town started working with them last fall and ran into problems with HIPPA. Manager Reed outlined that the Town is exempt from HIPPA until 2004.
Motion By: Councilor Hogan—to authorize the Manager to execute the Employee’s Assistance Program agreement with the University of Maine. Seconded: Councilor Cheney, Voted 5-0 in favor.
ITEM 6. Comments from the Public
Member of the public Marilynn Bishop was curious to see how many Councilors attended committee meetings, the ceremony in March, the potluck supper in May and the Veazie Revue. She also inquired whether there was a recall provision in the Town Charter. Manager Reed stated that there is a recall provision.
Chairman Friedman stated that he attended some of the functions when he could. He outlined that the Council had one member at the committee meetings to represent the Council.
Chairman Friedman stated that the Town is considering having something like the celebration every year, a children’s day or Veazie Day. Chairman Friedman added that someone had mentioned to him at the time capsule burial that there was another capsule that was buried back in the seventies. Deputy Clerk Beckie Woods and Assistant Clerk Karen Gifford will look back in the old minutes to see if there is anything mentioned.
Sandra Patterson stated that the Church ran out of food at the baked bean supper. The church served 110 people and had to turn 10 people away. Councilor Hathaway stated that he thought a few people had been missed during the recognitions. Tom Logan freely gave his time for the last few weeks and put together an amazing performance without any guidance. Councilor Hathaway thought that Tom Logan should recognized with a Veazie print. He also thought that Rufus Kellem, Tom Broad and Gonzalo Garcia of Duke Energy should also be awarded a print as well.
Motion By: Councilor Kelly—to send a print to Rufus Kellem, Tom Broad, Gonzalo Garcia and Tom Logan. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, Voted 5-0 in favor.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report
a.) The Council reviewed a copy of the Veazie Police Department’s quarterly report.
b.) The Council reviewed a copy of the goals and objectives for 2003-2004.
c.) The Council reviewed a copy of the quarterly financial summary report.
ITEM 8. Requests for Information/Council Comments: Councilor Cheney stated that she was very impressed to see that the Council seems to be on the same page on Town objectives. There were a lot of similarities in the goals and objectives lists submitted by councilors. She is looking forward to a good year.
ITEM 9. Warrants: Town Warrant 1, 1A & 1B, Town Payroll 1, School Warrant 1 and School Payroll 1 were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Councilor Cheney—to adjourn July 14, 2003, Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, Voted 5-0 in favor. There was no further discussion. Meeting adjourned at 8:57 p.m.
Respectively submitted,
Karen Gifford
Assistant Clerk
| 
