Town Council Regular Meeting Minutes 01/08/2008
REPORT OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GORHAM TOWN COUNCIL
JANUARY 8, 2008
Chairman Loveitt opened the meeting at 7:04 pm.
Roll Call: Present: Chairman Loveitt, Councilors Caldwell, Csoros, Moulton, Phinney, Robinson & Willett, Town Manager, David Cole, and Town Clerk, Christina Silberman.
Moved by Councilor Csoros, seconded by Councilor Phinney, and VOTED to accept the minutes of the November 29, 2007 Special Meeting and the December 4, 2007 Regular Meeting. 7 yeas.
Open Public Communications
Noah Miner, 32 Green St., expressed concern with the future of the Town Clock. the Town Clock is currently being leased to the church. Mr. Miner would like to have the clock restored with the hourly chime back in the steeple of the church. He feels that the town should take ownership of the clock.
Councilor Communications
Councilor Csoros informed the Town Council that Superintendent Sharp met with him to inform him about some of the issues before the School Board. Councilor Csoros stated that the Superintendent, as well as the Town Council, are prepared for the legislative changes. He assured the townspeople that the Town Council is being proactive concerning the School Department especially concerning the budget and any administration changes that may come up.
Councilor Willett expressed concern with the petition drive on changes to excise tax. She would like the Town Council to provide information to the citizens on the effects of the proposed excise tax changes to the town. Chairman Loveitt reported that MMA has some information on their website that we could link to the town website.
Councilor Moulton reported that the Finance Committee met with Roger Lebreux and Casey Leonard of Runyon, Kersteen, & Ouellette to review the town’s annual audit report. They had nothing but good things to say about town finances and Mr. Moulton feels credit goes to Maureen Finger, the former Finance Director who will be sadly missed. The town received a clean unqualified opinion. The Finance Committee also discussed the new policy for tax acquired property that is on the agenda tonight. The tax collection rate is currently 96.5% which has been stable over the past ten years. They also discussed meeting with the School Department Finance Committee throughout the spring to better understand the changes due to the school consolidation laws. Mr. Moulton proposed that a workshop be
scheduled between the Town Council and the School Committee prior to February to review the changes. Mr. Moulton commended the Public Works Department for doing a great job with snow removal and keeping the roads safe.
Chairman’s Report
Chairman Loveitt reported that citizens have volunteered compliments to the Public Works Department and the work done by the Public Works Department is appreciated.
Dr. Loveitt reported that the Adams family was burned out yesterday and they are very grateful for the services of the Fire & Rescue Department. Councilor Caldwell also commended the Fire & Rescue Department and reported that there was a call for a head on collision 5 minutes prior to the fire call and the Department responded to both calls at the same time and did an excellent job.
Town Manager’s Report
Town Manager David Cole reported that the Town Clerk is currently accepting applications for people that would like to be appointed or reappointed to various boards and committees. Applications are due by February 1, 2008. Information on the various boards and committees is available on the town website.
There is a Town Council Goal Setting Workshop scheduled for next Tuesday at 6 pm here in the conference room.
School Committee Report
School Committee Chairman Jim Hager reported on the following;
· School Department Admin Team and the School Committee met for their annual “Dine and Discuss” workshop and discussed some budget issues
· White Rock school project is coming along slow and steady. The preferred site is the Stevens property. A public meeting is planned for Tuesday February 12th,here at 7:00 pm. The next meeting of the project committee is February 6th
· The School Finance Committee hopes to have a joint workshop with the Town Council regarding the upcoming budget
· Gorham High School prank involved three individuals that put water in the locks of all of the doors and barricaded all of the doors with snow during the night causing school to be closed for the day, all three culprits have been identified
Councilor Robinson asked about school fundraising procedures. Chairman Hager stated that he will look into Councilor Robinson’s concerns.
New Business
Public Hearing #1 Chairman Loveitt opened the public hearing on a proposal to amend Exhibit B (town portion of development program) of an approved designation of the Olde Canal Business Park Tax Increment Financing Development District. There were no public comments. Chairman Loveitt closed the public hearing.
Item #7516 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Csoros, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled, after a public hearing, vote to amend Exhibit B, town portion of development program, of an approved designation of the Olde Canal Business Park Tax Increment Financing Development District, as presented. 7 yeas.
Public Hearing #2 Chairman Loveitt opened the public hearing to consider renewal of Massage Therapist / Establishment Licenses. There were no comments from the public. Chairman Loveitt closed the public hearing.
Item #7517 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Willett, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve the renewal of Massage Therapist / Establishment Licenses, pending final approval from the Police Department, to expire December 31, 2008 for the following; Cynthia Sue Doyle, Bernadette W. Curtis, and Jennifer L. Valentine. 7 yeas.
Item #7518 Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Moulton and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled void the current policy for Disposal of Tax Acquired Property approved on January 3, 1984 and amended on April 7, 1992; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council adopt the new Policy for Disposal of Tax Acquired Property, effective January 9, 2008, as presented. 7 yeas.
Item #7519 regarding approval of an Interconnection Study Agreement with the Maine Turnpike Authority was moved by Councilor Phinney and seconded by Councilor Willett. Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Caldwell, and VOTED to postpone action on this item. 7 yeas.
Item #7520 Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Csoros, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve a Declaration of Official Intent to officially declare that the Town of Gorham intends to finance, on an interim basis out of funds of the Town, a portion of the costs of: a) improvement of roads in an amount of up to $3,000,000.00 as approved by referendum in the Town on November 6, 2007, and b) improvements to the Libby Avenue/Brackett Road construction project, in an amount of up to $1,340,000.00, as approved by referendum in the Town on November 8, 2005, which costs and capital expenditures are reasonably expected to be reimbursed with the proceeds of debt to be incurred by the Town of Gorham in the maximum principle amount of
$4,340,000. This declaration is a declaration of official intent pursuant to the requirements of Treasurer Regulation Section 1.150-2; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the Town Manager, acting in his capacity as Town Treasurer, is authorized to sign the Declaration of Official Intent and any other documents necessary to execute this order. 7 yeas.
Item #7521 Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Moulton and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve an application for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $50,000 to assist the Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry with establishing a facility to operate its program. 7 yeas.
Item #7522 was moved by Councilor Phinney and seconded by Councilor Willett. Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Willett, and VOTED to amend the proposed order to change the reference to the portable building used by the Fire Department and replace it with the portable building used by the Planning Department. 7 yeas. Moved by Councilor Moulton, seconded by Councilor Caldwell and VOTED to further amend the proposed order to strike the following language “BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council appropriate an amount not to exceed $20,000 from the contingency account to relocate the building.” 7 yeas. The amended order was then voted. ORDERED, that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled, pursuant to a
request from Paul Willis, President of the Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry, agree to convey ownership of the existing portable building, located near the Public Safety Building and previously used by the Planning Department and currently used as storage, by donating the building to the Gorham Ecumenical Food Pantry, provided that a suitable location can be found to relocate the building. 7 yeas.
Item #7523 Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Robinson, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled authorize an application for a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $120,000 to assist with the replacement of sidewalks at all four corners of the intersection of Main Street and Route 114 in Gorham Village. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Csoros).
Item #7524 Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Robinson, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled accept a drainage easement from Frederick Robie, Jr. 7 yeas.
Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Robinson and VOTED to adjourn the meeting at 8:15 pm.
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING Attest: Christina Silberman, Town Clerk
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