PRESENT: Chairman Hathaway, Councilor Cheney, Councilor Hogan, Councilor Friedman and Councilor Kelly.
Also present were Town Manager Wm. Reed, Deputy Treasurer J. Reed, Firefighter/ EMT Nick Sirois, Fire Captain Peter Metcalf, Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney and Denis St. Peter of Civil Engineering Services.
ITEM 1. The January 13, 2003 Veazie Town Council was called to order at 7:00PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of minutes: Motion: Councilor Kelly—to accept the December 16th, 2002 minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, There was no discussion, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda: One item was added to the agenda Item 6C. Senior Housing update.
ITEM 4. Public Comments: There were no comments from the public.
ITEM 5a. CES Proposal
Denis St. Peter of CES was present to discuss services that Town staff were recommending to the Town Council pertaining to the Storm Water permitting. It was noted that the Town of Veazie is now considered an urbanized community after the last census. New State and Federal regulations will require the review of storm water management planning and local ordinances.
The consensus of the Town Council was for the Town to handle the permitting with the understanding that the Town’s planning board and CEO should work with the Sewer District on this issue.
Denis St. Peter outlined that the estimated cost of permitting would be roughly $10,000.00. It was noted that if the State acquired a program that the Town could utilize that additional savings might be possible.
Several Town Councilors expressed the need to expedite the permitting process along and to ensure that the Town Manager understood that the consultant should be given the go ahead to start the permitting project. The consensus of the Town Council was to proceed with the project as outlined and to have updates from the consultant at future meetings while work is proceeding.
ITEM 5b. Fire Department Presentation
The Fire Department gave the Town Council a presentation on the services offered and preformed by the department over the past six months. The department outlined future goals and objectives that they are looking to address. The consensus of the Town Council was to have the Fire Department have the Life Pac vendor at the Town Councils next meeting to demonstrate the new machine. Several Councilors expressed that if this new machine saved just one life it would be worth the cost. There was much discussion of how the department’s membership seems to have achieved a new level of service. It was noted that at the present time the department has a record number of EMS / EMT's certified personnel (10). Much discussion entailed about the intense training required of the Fire Department personnel to meet State and Federal
requirements.
The department then gave an overview of the Town’s new ISO rating and what the Town would be doing to address matters to improve the Town’s rating in the future.
The Town Council thanked the department for their presentation and for the department’s commitment to community service.
ITEM 6a. Software Conversion and Update
Deputy Treasurer J. Reed gave a brief update on the Town’s software conversion and update status. It was noted that the software delivery date was moved back an additional week so that training of staff members could take place on a non-business day. The Town Manager and Deputy Treasurer also outlined that the program that the Town would be now acquiring would be ADS’s most current windows program. Deputy Treasurer J. Reed outlined that she had spoken with several communities that use the new program and all had provided positive feedback. Manager Reed outlined that he believed that Deputy Treasurer J. Reed had done a lot of review on the matter and that since her position would be dealing with the software on a daily basis that he would concur with her decision to move to the newest ADS software
format.
Several Councilors outlined that the network and software conversion process must continue and that the project had taken a long time to accomplish and still had a ways to go before completion.
Manager Reed concluded that Deputy Treasurer J. Reed had been assigned to take over this part of the project (software implementation) and that CEO Thomas would be focusing on the physical network (server and wires).
ITEM 6b. Over-site Flow Chart
Manager Reed gave a brief overview of the revised management plan for the administrative office. Manager Reed outlined that Deputy Treasurer J. Reed will be the administrative office’s departmental head. The manager outlined that he had originally thought of having the Planning and Assessing Department under the same administrative unit department. He outlined that after much thought he decided to keep the two units separate. The manager outlined that the new departmental break down would be as follows: Fire, Police, Public Works, Administrative, and Planning / Assessing / Codes. In general, the Administrative Department head would oversee the general office staff members. The manager outlined that he and Deputy Treasurer J. Reed still had to meet to review the proposed job description and pay scale.
Consensus of the Town Council was for the manager to continue the development and address all items outstanding.
ITEM 6c. Senior Housing Update
Chairman Hathaway gave an update on the Senior Housing project. It was noted that the project was almost complete and that final inspection would be occurring shortly. The Chair discussed that Stephen Moores of Penquis CAP was interested in building 20-22 additional units in the coming year. The Chair outlined that Stephen may have a proposal ready by February 2003.
Several Councilors expressed their pleasure in seeing such a wonderful development that will address community needs, affordable senior housing and senior meeting space, come from the former blighted school facility.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report:
The following items were included in the Manager’s Report:
a. A letter requesting the last reimbursement pertaining to the Veazie Senior Housing Project from Stephen Moores of Penquis CAP.
b. A copy of the “Factors That May Affect the Size of Cohort Survival”. The manager outline that the school department would be following up on this matter in the coming months.
c. A copy of the Orono - Veazie’s Water districts monthly meeting minutes.
ITEM 8. Request for information and comments by Council:
Councilor Friedman expressed that he felt that all of the Town’s workers were doing a fine job and that appreciation days or programs should be maintained.
Councilor Cheney outlined that she knew of a member of the public who might be interested in being on the Conservation Commission. The manager outlined that all an individual would have to do is send a letter or a brief memo of interest to the office so he or she can be presented to the Town Council for final approval.
Council Chair Hathaway expressed his concerns pertaining to the coming State budget crisis and how all communities will be affected in the coming year. It was noted that the State budget problem looked to be worse than the 1991 budget problems.
ITEM 9. Warrants: Town Warrant 14, Town Payroll Warrant 14, School Warrant 14 and School Payroll Warrant 14, were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Chairman Hathaway—to adjourn January 13, 2003 Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Cheney, there was no further discussion. Voted 5-0. Meeting adjourned 9:35 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
William Reed
Town Clerk
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