PRESENT: Chairman Friedman, Councilor Champaco, Councilor Perkins, Councilor Cheney; Manager W. Reed; Assistant Clerk K. Humphrey; Tax Assessor A. Thomas; Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney; Brian Stoyell of Public Works. Councilor Hathaway was absent and excused.
ITEM 1. The October 3, 2005 Veazie Town Council was called to order at 7:00PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of the Minutes
Motion By: Councilor Champaco—to accept the September 19, 2005 minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Cheney. There was no more discussion. Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda
Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney was present to inform the Council of a FEMA Grant that the department received. This was added as item 4c.
ITEM 4a. N.P.D.E.S Update
Code Enforcement Officer Allan Thomas was present to give the Council an update on N.P.D.E.S. (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System). CEO Allan Thomas stated that 7 municipalities formed the Bangor Area Storm Water Group to help each other with the required mandates. He outlined that all the municipalities were in the same predicament, they knew what they were suppose to do, but was unsure of how to do it. The storm water group was proven very beneficial for all involved.
The group is hiring an Americorp individual to do storm water education in all of the area schools. This will be a 10 month opportunity in which the Bangor Area Storm Water Group will pay for 6 months and the Cooperative Extension Service is picking up 4 months. The group will be utilizing a second Americorp individual in the spring to head-up a storm water mapping effort in the region. Currently Veazie and Brewer are the only communities that have their outfalls already mapped.
CEO Allan Thomas informed the Council that on May 20th, all 7 towns are planning a regional stream clean-up. The group will be offering an SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) training for municipal employees on October 18th and 19th in Orono. The training includes clean-upprocedures on pollution, hazardous materials and cleaning storm drains.
CEO Allan Thomas outlined that the Maine Air National Guard has purchased over 1500 rubber duckies for handouts for the campaign. The City of Brewer purchased a storm water model that can be used in all the area schools.
CEO Allan Thomas invited the Councilors to the Bangor Area Storm Water Group’s next meeting on October 13th at the Brewer Waste Water Treatment Plant. There will be a presentation recognizing Collabric for their contribution to the group’s storm water booth.
He outlined that at the previous Council meeting he had announced that Deputy CEO John Ellis had resigned. In speaking with Manager Reed and Public Works it was discussed that Brian Stoyell of Public Works would fill the vacancy. He will work one day a week doing stormwater issues. The other four days he will remain in Public Works. CEO Allan Thomas outlined that he would like to have Brian Stoyell appointed Deputy Building Inspector that way he can send him to training.
Chairman Friedman outlined that Brian Stoyell had come to the Town from the Sewer District and had brought with him several licenses.
CEO Allan Thomas stated that he would like to have Brian Stoyell eventually be an alternate Code Enforcement Officer, however if the Council appointed him to that position he would have 12 months to be certified in each code, ie. building, plumbing and electrical. That would be impossible so he would like to just start out with ‘Deputy Building Inspector’.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to appoint Brian Stoyell to Deputy Building Inspector. Seconded: Councilor Champaco, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 4b. General Assistance Ordinance
Councilor Champaco inquired on the General Assistance Program. Manager Reed outlined that it is a program required by the State that provides assistance with rent, food, heating fuel, etc. He added that the State reimburses the Town for 50% of the assistance granted to its residents. Councilor Cheney inquired whether the Town budgets money each year for General Assistance. Manager Reed stated that the Town did and it is usually $2,000 each year.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to open a public hearing on the General Assistance Ordinance Appendixes A-C. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 4-0 in favor.
There were no comments from the public.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to close the public hearing on the General Assistance Ordinance Appendixes A-C. Seconded: Councilor Champaco, Voted 4-0 in favor.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to adopt the MMA Model Ordinance GA Appendixes (A-C) for the period of October 1, 2005 –October 1, 2006. Seconded: Councilor Champaco, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 4c. FEMA Grant
Assistant Fire Chief Carl Tenney outlined that every year the department applies for the FEMA Grant. The first year the department applied it received a grant to upgrade their vehicle and handheld radios. The second year it purchased a thermal imaging camera. The third year the department did not receive a grant, however this year the department received a $40,000 grant to install an exhaust removal system in the fire bay. Each apparatus will have a pipe attached to it while it runs in the fire bay, when the vehicle drives out of the bay it will automatically disconnect.
Assistant Chief Tenney added that in order to receive the grant the Town will have to contribute $2,000 toward the cost of the system.
Councilor Cheney asked if the department had to work on the vehicles outside the fire bay. Assistant Chief Tenney stated that if the vehicles were to be running they would have to be parked outside. Councilor Cheney inquired whether the fire bay had carbon monoxide detectors. Assistant Chief Tenney stated that there were not carbon monoxide detectors installed in the fire bay, however, there were detectors installed in the municipal building.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to accept the $40,000 FEMA Grant and transfer $2,000 from the Fire Department carry-forward to apply to the purchase of the exhaust removal system. Seconded: Councilor Champaco, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 5a. Municipal Facilities Update
Manager Reed outlined that in the Councilors packets were photographs of projects completed in the Public Works Department. This included a retaining wall, a calcium chloride shed and the new salt shed. Also included was a picture of the new furnace and of the old furnace. A licensed burner technician and will be installing the new furnace and billing the Town. This is due to the issue of insurability. The Town will be purchasing the furnace separately.
ITEM 6. Comments from the Public
There were no comments from the public.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report
a. The Council reviewed a copy of Mary Silver’s obituary. Manager Reed outlined that Mary was a member of the Town Council and community volunteer for many years.
b. The Council reviewed a copy of a fax from Councilor Hathaway pertaining to “Children at Play” signs. Also, attached was a copy of a news article that Councilor Hathaway was referring to. Councilor Cheney recalled asking for the signs in 1995 when her children were little. She stated that she was in favor of the signs. Manager Reed outlined that the Council had voted to take down the signs because the State said they did not work and they gave a false sense of security. Currently it is not written policy that the Town does not use this sign. The policy that the Town follows is if someone calls the Town requesting
a sign, the request goes through the Police Chief and a determination is made and recommendations are forwarded.
c. The Council reviewed a copy of the PVCOG annual open house packet.
d. The Council reviewed a copy of Community Services that PVCOG offers.
e. The Council reviewed a copy of the Municipal Review Committee’s nomination form. Also, included was a copy of the MRC audit.
f. The Council reviewed a copy of a follow-up memo that Office Manager Julie Reed had sent to Councilor Hathaway pertaining to the discount that R.H. Foster gives the Town.
g. The Council reviewed a copy of an update on the HAVA (Help America Vote Act) federal mandate that the Town and State is working on.
h. The Council reviewed a copy of a notice that the Town received pertaining to the County Budget Advisory Committee.
ITEM 8. Requests for Information and Town Council Comments
Councilor Champaco inquired on when the School Committee met next. Manager Reed stated that their next meeting was Tuesday, October 4th.
Councilor Cheney wanted to acknowledge the work the State did on State Street.
Councilor Champaco inquired when they Council was going to start looking at the budget. Manager Reed outlined that they will start meeting with the Budget Committee once the financials are completed for the July 1 – September 30 quarter. Manager Reed outlined that a budget meeting would be scheduled for the end of October.
ITEM 9. Town Warrant 7, Town Payroll 7, School Warrant 7 and School Payroll 7 were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Councilor Cheney —to adjourn the October 3, 2005 Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Champaco–there was no further discussion. Voted 4-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:17 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Karen Humphrey
Assistant Clerk
| 
