VEAZIE TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

JUNE 24, 2013

Members Present: Chairman Tammy Olson, Councilor Joseph Friedman, Councilor Chris Bagley, Councilor Karen Walker and Councilor Robert Rice, Manager Mark Leonard, Secretary Julie Strout, Julie Reed, Rob Young, Capt. Pete Metcalf, Nick Sirois, Laura Rose Day and Cheryl Daigle from the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, Steve Raymond from Sargent Corporation and various members of the public.

Members Absent: None

ITEM 1: Call to order

Chairman Tammy Olson called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.

ITEM 2: Secretary to do the roll call:

All present

ITEM 3: Pledge of the allegiance:

ITEM 4: Consideration of the Agenda

Councilor Joseph Friedman wanted to add as 13-4 to discuss and advertise and move in the direction of forming a charter commission committee with about 3 to 5 people and to have it all together by July 22nd, 2013 and add 13-5 to discuss with Councilors to have only one public comments section on the agendas from here on out.

Chairman Tammy Olson wanted to add as 8a to set a procedure for calling Special Meetings for the year. Move Item 17 Fire truck sale discussion as Item 9b after Item 9 River restoration celebration presentation. Councilor Karen Walker wanted to add as item 11b for hiring a sexton.

ITEM 5: Approval of the June 11th, 2013 and June 17th, 2013 Special Meeting Minutes

Councilor Chris Bagley made a motion, seconded by Councilor Robert Rice to accept the June 11th Meeting Minutes as amended. Voted 4-0-1. Councilor Karen Walker abstained. Motion carried.

Councilor Joseph Friedman made a motion, seconded by Chairman Tammy Olson to accept the June 17, 2013 Special Meeting Minutes as written. Voted 3-0-2. Councilor Chris Bagley and Councilor Karen Walker abstained. Motion carried.

ITEM 6: Public Comments:

There were several comments made from the public.

New Business:

ITEM 7: Election of Council Chairman

Councilor Chris Bagley nominated Councilor Joseph Friedman to be Chairman. Councilor Karen Walker seconded Voted 0-5-0. Motion failed. Councilor Joseph Friedman nominated Chairman Tammy Olson to be Chairman, seconded by Councilor Robert Rice. Voted 3-1-1. Councilor Chris Bagley opposed and Chairman Tammy Olson abstained.

ITEM 8: Setting of Council meeting dates and times

Councilor Robert Rice made a motion, seconded by Councilor Joseph Friedman to set the Town Council Meeting dates to the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month, starting at 6:30pm and at the discretion of the Chair and with the agreement of the Council they will last only an hour and a half unless voted upon by the group. Voted 4-1-0. Councilor Karen Walker opposed. Motion carried.

ITEM 8a: Special Meeting Procedures

Councilor Karen Walker made a motion, seconded by Councilor Chris Bagley to set the procedure for any special meetings to whatever state statues are in existence in that regards and can be called by any member of the Council. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

ITEM 9: River restoration celebration presentation

Laura Rose Day updated the Council on the River restoration project.

Steve Raymond from Sargent Corporation updated the Council on his role in the project.

Cheryl Daigle who is the Community Outreach Coordinator spoke on the River restoration celebration to be held on July 22nd for the breaching of the dam.

There will be a morning ceremony, presentations and a press conference. People can view the breaching. It will be live streamed. Community BBQ from 12-2, Tours from 2-4 along the Penobscot and activities for the family from 4-7pm at the Riverview Park.

ITEM 9a: Fire Truck sale discussion

Councilor Karen Walker made a motion, seconded by Councilor Joseph Friedman to sell Fire truck #191 to the Penobscot County Commissioners for $30,000.00 and to allow Manager Leonard to sign the agreement with Penobscot County Commissioners Office. Voted 4-1-0. Chairman Tammy Olson opposed. Motion carried.

Councilor Karen Walker made a motion, seconded by Councilor Robert Rice to have the $30,000 go into the Capital Fire Dept. Reserve account. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

ITEM 10: Reappointment of John Larson as Code Enforcement Officer, Building Inspector, Local Plumbing Inspector, Addressing Officer and E-911 Office Councilor Chris Bagley made a motion, seconded by Councilor Karen Walker to reappoint John Larson as Code Enforcement Officer, Building Inspector, Local Plumbing Inspector, Addressing Officer and E-911 Officer. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

ITEM 11: Reappointment of Benjamin F Birch Jr. as Tax Assessor

Councilor Joseph Friedman made a motion, seconded by Councilor Robert Rice to reappoint Benjamin F Birch Jr. as Tax Assessor for the Town of Veazie. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

ITEM 11b: Discussion of hiring a sexton

Manager Leonard is looking at all options to fill this position. Due to not having enough information for this meeting, it will be discussed at the next meeting on July 8th or if something comes up sooner, there will be a special meeting called to take care of this matter.

ITEM 12: Office closure on June 28th

The Council agreed that the Town Office will be closed at 1:30pm on Friday, June 28th, 2013 for closing out the fiscal year 12/13.

ITEM 13: Recommended transfers

Fire Department transfer

Councilor Chris Bagley made a motion, seconded by Councilor Joseph Friedman to transfer $1600 from the Fire Dept Revenue to the EMS equipment line. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

Recreation Department transfer

Councilor Joseph Friedman made a motion, seconded by Councilor Chris Bagley to transfer $720.00 from the Zumba Revenue line to the Zumba Expense line. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

Perpetual Fund transfer

Councilor Joseph Friedman made a motion, seconded by Councilor Karen Walker to transfer $21,120.50 from the Cemetery Trust Fund to the General Fund to reimburse and zero out the account that has accrued over the last several years. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

Discussion on advertising and forming a charter commission.

Councilor Joseph Friedman wanted to recommend probably 3 to 5 people, one from the Council and 4 residents. Councilor Robert Rice suggested legal council should be present. Chairman Olson and the Councilors agreed that we will start advertising for the charter review commission volunteers and invite the town attorney to the next meeting so we can review our legal obligations.

Discuss cutting down public comments on agenda to one.

Council agreed that there will only be one public comments section on the agendas. The first public comment section will be removed from the current agenda.

ITEM 14: Reappoint Council Member to the Fire Dept. Reorganization Committee

Councilor Chris Bagley made a motion, seconded by Councilor Joseph Friedman to nominated Councilor Karen Walker to the Fire Dept. Reorganization Committee.

Chairman Tammy Olson made a motion to nominate Robert Rice, no one seconded. Motion failed.

Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried

ITEM 15: Appoint a Council Member to the Gateway Senior Center Advisory Commitee

Councilor Joseph Friedman wanted to nominate Robert Rice for the Gateway Senior Center Advisory Committee. Councilor Joseph Friedman withdrew his motion. The Council will table this until next meeting.

ITEM 16: Cemetery Grounds repair proposals

Councilor Joseph Friedman made a motion, seconded by Councilor Robert Rice to award the bid and to allow Manager Leonard to sign into a contract with the By Us Co. for a total project of $4000.00. Voted 5-0-0. Motion carried.

ITEM 17: This item was changed to 9b.

ITEM 18: Manager’s Report

Manager Mark Leonard reviewed his report with the Councilor’s.

ITEM 19: Comments from the Public

There were several comments made from the public.

ITEM 20: Requests for information and Town Council comments

ITEM 21: Review & Sign of AP Warrant # 26

The warrant was circulated and signed.

ITEM 22: Adjournment

Councilor Joseph Friedman motioned to adjourn

Councilor Robert Rice seconded. No discussion. Voted 5-0-0

Motion carried.

Adjourned at 8:36pm

A True Copy Attest:

Julie L Strout

Deputy Town Clerk