PRESENT: Councilor Hogan, Councilor Perkins, Councilor Cheney and Councilor Champaco; Town Manager B. Reed, Assistant Clerk K. Humphrey, Code Enforcement Officer Allan Thomas, Office Administrator Julie Reed, Police Chief Mark Leonard, Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney, Fire Chief Gerry Martin, Public Works Superintendent Butch Free, Paul Urquhart of Public Works, Operations Manager Bob Sparks of Waste Management, Member of the Public Kent Tableman. Chairman Friedman was absent and excused.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to nominate Councilor Cheney as Protem. Seconded: Councilor Champaco, Voted 3-0-1.
ITEM 1. The January 10, 2005 Veazie Town Council was called to order at 7:00PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of minutes: Motion By: Councilor Perkins —to accept the December 13, 2004 minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, There was no more discussion. Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda: Manager Reed outlined that he would like to discuss the regional grant application for a planning study for fire/emergency services. This was added as item 5b.
ITEM 4a. Furnace Report
Superintendent Butch Free and Paul Urquhart of Public Works were present to give an update on the furnace. Pictures were provided to the Council members. Superintendent Free outlined that most of the furnace had been installed in 1978 when the building was built. The entire system was in disarray, the fire bay had little or no heat as well as the police bay. There were also several leaks that needed to be repaired as well as a lot of corrosion. Paul Urquhart stated that there is a controller on the wall that needs to be replaced and would cost around $250 to replace it. Superintendent Free outlined that Paul Urquhart has a burner license and was able to do most of the repairs instead of the Town having to pay a third party. Paul Urquhart stated that the further they got into
repairs the more they saw that needed to be repaired so they ended up tearing everything out of the boiler room and starting over.
Superintendent Free stated that there are still a few items that need attention but the boiler is up and working. There are some zone valve problems throughout the building and those valves should be replaced. Paul Urquhart outlined that the boiler itself is not in good shape and could foresee it possibly needing to be replaced in the near future. He added that a new eighty gallon hot water tank has been installed. In the past, in order to have hot water in the summer the boiler would have to run all day, every day. With the permission of the Council he would like to rewire the boiler this summer to eliminate this and provide a savings to the Town in fuel costs. Superintendent Free outlined that they have a heater that will be installed into the police bay.
Councilor Hogan outlined that the Town should consider replacing the controller that Paul Urquhart had mentioned considering the Town has been written up for it and replacing it would put the Town in compliance.
ITEM 4b. General Assistant Maximums
Motion By: Councilor Hogan—to open a public hearing to obtain public comment on the proposed revisions to the General Assistance ordinance’s appendixes as required annually. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 4-0 in favor.
There were no comments from the public.
Motion By: Councilor Champaco—to close the public hearing on the proposed revisions to the Town of Veazie’s General Assistance ordinance appendixes. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 4-0 in favor.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to approve and adopt the revisions to the General Assistance ordinance’s appendixes as recommended by the State of Maine and as prepared and submitted by the Maine Municipal Association for review and approval by the Town of Veazie. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 4c. Support Letter for PVCOG Grant
Manager Reed outlined that the Town participates in or with some fourteen or more regional programs and organizations in order to share mutual benefits. This grant application is meant to study the possible expanding of what a number of local communities, of which Veazie is one, have been doing for years in regards to group purchasing to a larger region. Manager Reed stated that the town of Hermon will be the main sponsor of the grant and Veazie will be a co-applicant. Councilor Champaco inquired whether there was a cost for applying for the grant. Manager Reed stated that the Town is already a member of PVCOG (Penobscot Valley Council of Government) so there is no cost involved.
All Council members supported the grant and Manager Reed will sign the letter of support on behalf of the Town Council.
ITEM 5a. Solid Waste/Recycling Contract
Enclosed in the Councilor’s packets was a copy of the final proposed curbside solid waste and recycling service agreement. Manager Reed outlined that the past contract was based on a high of 120 stops for recycling and 650 stops for curbside solid waste collections. Currently the number of stops for recycling ranges from a low of 170 to a high of 300. The number of stops for curbside solid waste collections ranges from a low of 718 to a high of 752. He noted that the number of housing units have increased in the trailer parks and in subdivisions over the last three to four years. This has driven Veazie’s numbers upward in stops. Tonnage delivered to Penobscot Energy Recovery Company (PERC) has also increased greatly over the past three years from 619 tons to an estimate of
850 tons.
Manager Reed outlined that the new contract also stipulates a new penalty rate increased to $1.00 per stop. If Waste Management misses a street and are notified and do not make a reasonable attempt to collect the Town can penalize them for each stop missed.
Manager Reed outlined that if the Town’s numbers increase 10% or more a new contract will have to be negotiated. He added that Waste Management has maintained the same cost to the Town over the last three years even though the Town’s stops and tonnage have increased.
Councilor Champaco stated that it would have been nice to see a comparison of prices for other trash vendors. Manager Reed outlined that there are only two vendors in the area that could provide the Town with service: a transfer station for residents’ use, Wednesday collections and free collection containers. He added that when the Town put out a request for proposals on its trash and recycling service Waste Management was the only company to submit a bid. It was also noted that Waste Management had two option years in the current contract and the Town Council instructed the Town Manager to negotiate a new contract for the two year option and one additional year.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to authorize the Town Manager to sign and execute the contract with Waste Management. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 5b. Regional Grant Application for Study on Fire/Public Safety Services
Manager Reed outlined that this item is the same idea as the support letter for the PVCOG grant. This study will be to see if regionalization is a cost savings idea. Old Town, Orono and Bangor withdrew from this grant application. Councilor Hogan inquired if anyone knew why the other towns withdrew. Fire Chief Gerry Martin stated that it seemed they did not want to commit to the idea. He added that they don’t want to have to give something up.
Manager Reed explained that there is no cost involved with this study and it is just to explore the option of regionalization. Manager Reed outlined that regionalization has to be a region to work. The Town could not just join with Orono because the cost to the Town would increase. It would be the same if Veazie joined Bangor. Regionalization is about deploying people effectively and efficiently, it is not so much about the equipment.
Councilor Champaco outlined that it didn’t make sense to participate if Old Town, Orono and Bangor were not included. The other towns participating, Brewer, Eddington and Holden, are on the other side of the river.
Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney stated that even the towns who are not involved in the planning will most likely be mentioned in the final report.
Councilor Cheney inquired if Glenburn and Levant were involved in this planning study. Assistant Chief Tenney stated that he couldn’t say.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to support the regionalization grant. Seconded: Councilor Hogan, Voted 3-1 in favor.
ITEM 6. Public Comments: There were no comments from the public.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report:
a. The Council reviewed a copy of a letter that the Sewer District sent to them as well as the Town Manager. Manager Reed outlined that the Town’s Code Enforcement Officer has always communicated that contractors need to contact all utilities when doing any interconnection work. Also enclosed was a follow-up action plan submitted by Code Enforcement Officer Allan Thomas. CEO Thomas has revised his building permits to contain a bold notice that individuals must notify the water and sewer districts when conducting new construction and requires their signature that they acknowledge this. He also requested a letter from the Sewer
District that he can give to building permit applicants.
b. The Council reviewed a copy of an email from Councilor Perkins following up on item 7a.
c. The Council reviewed a copy of a letter from the Sewer District outlining that the generator offer was nice but the generator is too big for their present use. Manager Reed inquired whether he should direct an offer to Penquis CAP to see if they are interested in it for the senior housing facility. It was the consensus of the Council to do so.
d. The Council reviewed a copy of a letter to resident Paulette Blue regarding property tax pro-ration.
e. The Council reviewed a copy of a letter from Assessor Allan Thomas to Barb Dalton regarding her concern over the assessed value of a lot in the Dalton Pines Subdivision.
f. The Council reviewed a copy of a letter of resignation from Officer Christian Greeley.
g. The Council reviewed a copy of a memo to the Budget Committee regarding a Budget Committee meeting on Monday, January 24th. Council members were invited to attend. Attached was a balance sheet and income and expense reports through December 31, 2004.
h. The Council reviewed a copy of the financial statements for the Maine Municipal Association Property and Casualty Pool program.
i. The Council reviewed a copy of the proposed and approved 2005 Penobscot County Budget.
j. The Council reviewed a copy of the agenda and meeting minutes of the Penobscot Valley Council of Governments.
k. The Council reviewed a copy of a memo from Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney regarding the regionalization press release as well as an email from Brewer Fire Chief Rick Bronson.
l. The Council reviewed a copy of the School Committee’s minutes and agenda.
m. The Council reviewed a copy of the Fire Department’s monthly report for December.
n. The Council reviewed a copy of a comment submitted on the website.
ITEM 8. Requests for Information/Council Comments: There were no requests for information or comments.
ITEM 9. Warrants: Town Warrant 14 & 14A, Town Payroll Warrant 14, School Warrant 14 and School Payroll Warrant 14 were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Councilor Champaco—to adjourn the January 10, 2005 Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Perkins—there was no further discussion. Voted 4-0, Meeting adjourned at 8:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Humphrey
Assistant Clerk
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