PRESENT: Chairman Friedman, Councilor Parker, Councilor Perkins, Manager W. Reed, Deputy Clerk K. Humphrey, Fire Chief G. Martin, Police Chief M. Leonard. Recreation Director R. Young. Councilor Hathaway and Councilor King were absent and excused.
ITEM 1. The March 17, 2008 Veazie Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of the Minutes
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to accept the March 3, 2008 meeting minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Parker, Voted 3-0 in favor.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda
There were no additions to the agenda.
ITEM 4a. Fire Department Discussion/Update
Manager Reed stated that Bob Bourgault, the union representative, outlined that they have accepted everything the Town has proposed. The Town Attorney had e-mailed him the Resolution to Ratify the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Councilor Perkins inquired with the Fire Chief if he and the Assistant Chief were paid hourly and whether they were covered under the agreement. Fire Chief Martin stated that he and the Assistant Chief are salary and they are not covered under the agreement. Councilor Parker asked if the agreement just covered the two full-time firefighters. Manager Reed stated that it covers all firefighters that work for the Town.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to resolve to ratify the collective bargaining agreement between the Town of Veazie and the Orono Firefighters Association for the period of July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2011. Seconded: Councilor Parker, Voted 3-0 in favor.
ITEM 4b. Recreation Department Discussion/Update
Recreation Director Rob Young stated that he has not been able to get middle school aged kids involved in the program as much as he would like. He has come up with an idea of a teen center at the Community Center that would be open after school and an afternoon on the weekend. It would be a place they could come and hang out and would get them off the streets.
Chairman Friedman asked what he was thinking in terms of programs. Director Young stated that it would just be a place for them to do homework, maybe play ping pong, mainly it would be a place that they would be supervised. In lieu of the incident last month with the teenager and the meth lab it is important that they have someplace to go so that we can deter these kinds of things.
Councilor Parker stated that he liked the idea but would like to see it somewhere else besides the Community Center. He rather the Town got rid of the building and it be used for commercial use so that the Town could receive tax money from it.
It was the consensus of the Council that they liked the idea. Director Young will come back to a future Council meeting with more information.
ITEM 4c. Mutual Aid Agreement
Manager Reed stated that the Town Attorney reviewed the mutual aid agreement and found it acceptable. Manager Reed outlined that one of the nice things about the agreement is that if we find something we don’t like the Town can always give 30 days notice and cancel the agreement.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to authorize the Town Manager and Fire Chief to execute the mutual aid agreement on the Town Council’s behalf under any and all conditions that he or the Town Attorney deems necessary and/or appropriate. Seconded: Councilor Parker, Voted 3-0 in favor.
ITEM 5a. Leasing Resolution
Manager Reed stated that Municipal Services Group wanted a resolution documented in the Town Council’s meeting minutes in order to finish our lease purchase.
Motion By: Councilor Perkins—to adopt the lease purchase resolution dated March 17, 2008 as submitted by staff and advisors. Seconded: Councilor Parker, Voted 3-0 in favor.
ITEM 6. Comments from the Public
Fire Chief Martin gave a quick department update. He outlined that the department will be changing over to Orono’s frequency in another week or two. The department will also be taking part in a mass casualties exercise out on the Air Guard base. He also mentioned discussions about Veazie’s call firefighters covering events at the University of Maine. It would give them a chance to make some extra money was well as provide income for the Town.
Chairman Friedman inquired on if a firefighter got injured at one of these events who would they be covered under. Manager Reed stated that they would be covered under the Town’s workers compensation. Chairman Friedman stated that he would like to see a working agreement first, he is concerned about the Town’s firefighters getting injured. Fire Chief Martin stated that he will have a packet for a future meeting.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report
a. The Town Council reviewed a copy of the School Committee’s meeting minutes and agenda.
Manager Reed stated that the School Committee will be attending the next Council meeting. There will also be a presentation from the Fire Department on their trip to Florida for the new E-One Typhoon Pumper.
ITEM 8. Requests for Information and Town Council Comments
Councilor Perkins noted an article on the front page of the Bangor Daily News regarding State Aid to Education and the amount that Veazie will be receiving. He inquired whether it was a misprint because it was an increased amount. Manager Reed stated that the amount in the newspaper is the Governor’s revised budget and he’s not sure which number is right. He stated that Superintendent Kelly Clenchy should have the correct number by the next Council meeting.
ITEM 9. Warrants: Town Warrant 19 & 19A, Town Payroll Warrant 19, School Warrant 19, School Lunch Warrant 19 and School Payroll Warrant 19 were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Councilor Perkins—to adjourn the March 17, 2008 Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Parker—there was no further discussion. Voted 3-0. Meeting adjourned 7:49 pm.
A true record, Attest:
Karen Humphrey
Deputy Clerk
Town of Veazie
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