PRESENT: Chairman Friedman, Councilor Champaco, Councilor Hathaway and Councilor Perkins; Manager W. Reed; Deputy Clerk K. Humphrey; Assessor A. Thomas, Office Administrator J. Reed, Police Chief M. Leonard, Fire Chief G. Martin, Public Works Superintendent B. Free. Councilor Cheney arrived late and was excused.
ITEM 1. The April 3, 2006 Veazie Town Council was called to order at 7:00PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of the Minutes
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to accept the March 20, 2006 minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Hathaway, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda
Chairman Friedman added a 4d under new business to discuss his and Manager Reed’s meeting with John Cashwell and Susan Hawes.
ITEM 4a. Pavement Projects
Public Works Superintendent Butch Free stated that he has looked over a couple areas that he feels needs some immediate attention. There is a section on the Chase Road from Longmeadow Drive to Mt. View Drive that is badly broken up. He outlined that he is concerned about the area since the Davis family might be building a subdivision in the big field on the Chase Road. The other area he feels needs attention is on Main Street. The swale area is all broken up starting at Lemon Street going toward Orono.
Superintendent Free stated that last fall he had met with Wayne Heath on the Chase Road and he had thrown out some ideas on what to do with the road. Milling, filling and paving seemed to be the best option, however the cost is high. The plan now is to shim the lane that goes from Bangor to Veazie and do leveling and maintenance on both sides. It will cost $27,000 to do the Chase Road.
Manager Reed informed the Council that the Sewer District would be doing some sewer work on Mt. View Drive in April. The Town is looking to do the work on Chase Road in May.
Councilor Cheney stated that she was impressed with the communication between departments, ie. Public Works, Sewer District and Town. She also inquired as to what a swale was. Superintendent Free explained that it was a trench that has been paved for water to run down. He added that the plan is to eliminate the trench and to have a flat edge with curbing.
Councilor Cheney outlined that where she lives the road is very broken up, she wondered if that came from the salt. Superintendent Free stated that he thinks it came from the weather this winter, the fluctuation from warm temperatures to cold temperatures and back again.
Councilor Champaco inquired why Public Works would want to fix the Chase Road if it was known that big trucks were going to drive over it. Superintendent Free explained that if the road was not fixed the damage would be more detrimental because the road would break up and cars would not be able to drive over it. It would end up costing the Town more money in the end to repair it.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to authorize the paving project on Main Street and the Chase Road. Seconded By: Councilor Champaco, Voted 5-0 in favor.
ITEM 4b. Manager’s Annual Review
Manager Reed obtained a new evaluation form from another community that he was referred to by Maine Municipal Association.
Councilor Cheney inquired whether the department heads evaluated Manager Reed. It was outlined that they did not. She noted that they seemed to have good communication and a sense of rapport with the manager.
Councilor Champaco stated that the evaluation from was an improvement from what they had before. However, she feels that Manager Reed should go through each one and write what he has done to accomplish the prior year’s goals. Councilor Cheney concurred.
It was decided that Manager Reed would complete an evaluation of himself and include with it a list of tasks that he had at the beginning of the year and if he has accomplished them. The Councilors would then complete their own evaluations for Manager Reed and meet back together. Manager Reed was given until May 1st to complete his evaluation.
ITEM 4c. Bangor Humane Society Service Agreement
Police Chief Mark Leonard was present to discuss a service agreement with Bangor Humane Society. They would charge a per capita fee which would be $1.36 per person. The monthly fee would be $224.56 and it includes shots, euthanizing, boarding and quarantining. The only thing it doesn’t cover is major medical expenses.
Councilor Champaco inquired whether pet owners pay anything when they pick their pets up at the Bangor Humane Society. Chief Leonard stated that there is a section in the contract that if the Town would like to charge a fee it can. Councilor Champaco stated that she agreed that they should have to pay a fee.
Councilor Hathaway inquired whether that fee comes back to the Town. Chief Leonard stated that it does. He suggested letting the first offense be free and then charging a fee for second and third time offenders.
Chairman Friedman stated that currently the Town is tying up a police officer and a cruiser to transport an animal to the kennel, he agrees that the Town needs to charge a fee.
Councilor Champaco inquired whether the officers return dogs to their homes if they have a tag. Chief Leonard stated that the officers will check with the Town Office for the owners name and address if there is a tag.
Councilor Hathaway stated that the Town should look at a fee schedule. The Town should be charging a fee if officers are returning pets to their home.
Chairman Friedman asked the Chief to provide the Council with statistics on how many dogs and cats they have had to deal with over the last couple years.
Manager Reed outlined that staff would look into what other towns charge and come back with a fee schedule.
Motion By: Councilor Cheney—to authorize the Town’s Police Chief to execute the sheltering service agreement on the Town’s behalf with the understanding that a fee schedule will be created for offenders. Seconded: Councilor Hathaway, Voted 5-0 in favor.
ITEM 4d. Meeting With Bangor’s New Mayor John Cashwell & Councilor Sue Hawes
Chairman Friedman outlined that he and Manager Reed met with Mayor John Cashwell and Councilor Sue Hawes from Bangor to see what services Bangor and surrounding communities could come together and offer on a regional basis. They also inquired whether Bangor would be willing to have a meeting with other communities such as Old Town, Orono, Brewer as well as Veazie. They were willing to have a regional meeting however, he was not sure how many other communities would be willing to meet.
Manager Reed outlined that he had expressed some reservations regarding mutual aid with Fire as well as County Hazmat. It was pointed out that mutual aid with Police has worked well.
Chairman Friedman stated that the meeting hopefully opened up dialogue between Veazie and Bangor and it is a good start to working together on regional issues.
ITEM 5a. Personal Property Tax Discussion
Assessor Allan Thomas stated that the Governor was pushing the passing of LD2056. If it passes it will affect Gagne Precast and American Concrete however it will not affect the power plant. Overall Assessor Thomas did not think that it would drastically affect the Town but the Town would feel the impact over the course of time.
ITEM 5b. Meeting Schedule
Manager Reed stated that next scheduled meeting falls on Patriots day and he is proposing that it be moved to Monday, April 24th since the Council will be meeting with Senator Schneider and Jim Rier from the Department of Education. It was the consensus of the Council to do so. It was noted that the agenda would be kept very short and the one subject should be the primary focus of the meeting.
ITEM 6. Comments from the Public
Code Enforcement Officer Allan Thomas stated that the Garden Show was being held on the coming weekend at the Bangor Auditorium. His Stormwater Group will have a display there.
Fire Chief Gerry Martin stated that the power plant had a shutdown for a week and the Fire Department was able to have a confined space training there. He also reminded the Council that there will be a Public Safety Day on Saturday, May 13th here at the municipal building.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report
a. Manager Reed outlined that he and Deputy Treasurer Julie Reed met with staff from the Superintendent’s Office. He added that the School Department has created a budget with a modest 4.5% increase.
b. The Council reviewed a copy of a memo from Deputy Clerk Karen Humphrey regarding recognition plaques for the Parks & Recreation Committee.
c. The Council reviewed a copy of the Bangor Area Storm Water Group’s meeting minutes.
ITEM 8. Requests for Information and Town Council Comments
There were no requests for information or comments.
ITEM 9. Town Warrant 20, Town Payroll 20, School Warrant 20, School Lunch Warrant 20 and School Payroll 20 were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Councilor Hathaway —to adjourn the April 3, 2006 Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Perkins—there was no further discussion. Voted 5-0. Meeting adjourned at 8:44 p.m.
A true record, Attest:
Karen Humphrey
Deputy Clerk
Town of Veazie
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