PRESENT: Councilor Hathaway, Councilor King, Councilor Parker, Councilor Perkins, Manager W. Reed, Deputy Clerk K. Humphrey, Assessor A. Thomas, Police Chief M. Leonard, Superintendent Kelly Clenchy, Members of the Public Gary & Cathy Brooks. Chairman Friedman was absent and excused.
Motion By: Councilor King—to nominate Councilor Hathaway to serve as Protem Chair. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 3-1-0 in favor. Councilor Hathaway abstained.
ITEM 1. The April 14, 2008 Veazie Town Council meeting was called to order at 7:00PM.
ITEM 2. Consideration of the Minutes
Motion By: Councilor King —to accept the March 31, 2008 meeting minutes as written. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 4-0 in favor.
ITEM 3. Consideration of the Agenda
There were no additions to the agenda
ITEM 4a. School Department Update
Manager Reed stated the RSU discussion could just be tied in with the school department update. He outlined that he spoke with Superintendent Clenchy regarding the transfer of fields and what other towns were doing.
Superintendent Clenchy stated that in terms of Orono and Glenburn, they are subdivided as school property and town property. If it goes beyond common use they are keeping it as town property. Manager Reed outlined that all of the school property is under the Town’s legal name but the school parcel has been assigned to the school’s jurisdiction/site control.
Protem Chair Hathaway stated that there is an upcoming RSU Committee meeting coming up and he would like to go to the meeting with an idea of what the Town wants to do.
Member of the public Gary Brooks asked what would happen if the fields are given to the RSU and the Recreation Department wants to use the fields. Manager Reed and Superintendent Clenchy stated that there would be a joint use agreement.
Motion: Councilor King—to have Assessor Allan Thomas draft a map that includes the school, playground and athletic fields for proposal to transfer to the future RSU. Seconded: Councilor Perkins, Voted 4-0 in favor.
There was discussion on the budget referendum election that will need to take place 7 days after the Town Meeting. The vote will to be to approve the school budget voted on at Town Meeting.
Councilor Perkins inquired about the school lunch budget. Superintendent Clenchy stated that the RSU will take it over.
Superintendent Clenchy stated that the Town will be receiving some $218,000 in increased funding. This increase offsets the need for local funding and the school will only need some $2500 in increased local funds.
ITEM 4b. Manager’s Review
It was the consensus of the Council to use the same review method as last year. The Council requested a salary history and last years evaluation to go with this year’s self evaluation.
ITEM 4c. Police Cruiser Update
Chief Leonard stated that the weather this past winter brought up the issue of purchasing a SUV to the forefront. He looked at an Expedition, Explorer, Yukon and a Durango. He would like to award the purchase to Bangor Dodge, they had the most competitive price and the department also has a good working relationship with them. Chief Leonard added that purchasing a Dodge Durango is actually cheaper then purchasing another Dodge Charger.
Councilor Perkins inquired what the department currently had for vehicles. Chief Leonard stated that they have 2007 and 2006 Dodge Chargers. Councilor Perkins asked when the department took delivery of the last Charger. Chief Leonard stated he thought it was in December 2007.
Protem Chair Hathaway inquired what the mileage was on the 2006 Charger. Chief Leonard thought it was approximately 78,000 miles. Protem Chair Hathaway inquired what kind of mileage the Durango would get considering the price of gas was going to be $4 a gallon. Chief Leonard stated that the Charger gets 12-15 miles per gallon, the Durango is quoted as getting 15-19 miles per gallon. The Durango has a smaller engine that the Dodge Charger.
Chief Leonard stated that the 2006 Charger would become the Chief’s unmarked vehicle, his current vehicle would go to the Fire Chief and the department would have the 2007 Charger and the new Durango as its two in-service marked cruisers.
Councilor Perkins commented on making the vehicles last longer. He outlined that the Town doesn’t have very many miles of road. He inquired how often Orono replaced their cruisers. Chief Leonard stated that he didn’t know of any department or agency in the area that didn’t replace a cruiser every year.
Protem Chair Hathaway outlined that he considered a car with 78,000 miles to be a late model car, but to residents in town it’s a relatively new vehicle. Residents aren’t aware of the miles on the car or the breakdowns the car has had. Protem Chair Hathaway stated he would like to see a little longer life on the vehicles.
Member of the Public Cathy Brooks outlined that Veazie’s taxes are far too high for a town of 2000 people. She stated that the town needs to curb its purchase of cruisers, fire trucks, etc.
Manager Reed outlined that last year the municipal budget only increased 3% which was less than the allowed growth cap. However, Veazie voters voted to approve a school budget that exceeded the allowed growth cap.
Councilor Perkins explained that the purchase of the fire truck does not affect Veazie’s taxes, the truck was purchased with TIF money.
Member of the Public Cathy Brooks inquired why the TIF money couldn’t be applied toward the relief of taxes rather than a fire truck. Manager Reed explained that it is illegal to take money from a TIF for something other than the agreed upon use. It was outlined that the TIF was intended to pay for public safety equipment such as the two fire trucks, infrastructure, sidewalks and roadway within the district and economic development for the district.
Protem Chair Hathaway asked Chief Leonard if he could come back to a future meeting with statistics on the two cruisers, like their mileage and maintenance costs.
ITEM 5a. RSU Discussion
This was included under item 4a School Update.
ITEM 6. Comments From The Public
Gary Brooks, Superintendent of the Sewer District, outlined that it has some liens on the Crowe properties and would like to know what is happening with the properties, it was his understanding that the Town now owned them. There was discussion on when the liens matured. Manager Reed outlined that a letter was sent to Mr. Crowe giving him notice and currently there has been no reply. Manager Reed will come back to the next meeting with a timeline of dates for the lien and foreclosure process.
ITEM 7. Manager’s Report
a. The Town Council reviewed a copy of the School Department’s 2008-2009 budget.
b. The Town Council reviewed a copy of the Regionalization Planning Committee’s meeting minutes.
Councilor Perkins asked whether staff could put a write-up in the newsletter explaining the growth cap, how the town budgets, etc.
ITEM 8. Requests for Information and Town Council Comments
Protem Chair Hathaway outlined that he had a comment from a citizen regarding whether the Town had a parking ban. Manager Reed outlined that the Town does have a parking ban. Protem Chair Hathaway stated that the citizen complained of cars parked on the corner of Rock Street and Olive Street. Chief Leonard stated that normally if they come across a car parked on the road they contact the owner and they move it immediately.
Councilor Perkins inquired whether the $22,000 price for the Dodge Durango included equipment. Chief Leonard stated that it does not and that it should cost about $2,500 for the equipment.
ITEM 9. Warrants: Town Warrant 21, Town Payroll Warrant 21, School Warrant 21, 21A & 21B and School Payroll Warrant 21 were circulated and signed.
ITEM 10. Adjournment: Motion: Councilor King—to adjourn the April 14, 2008 Town Council Meeting. Seconded: Councilor Perkins—there was no further discussion. Voted 4-0. Meeting adjourned 8:53 pm.
A true record, Attest:
Karen Humphrey
Deputy Clerk
Town of Veazie
| 
