Public Hearing

4/15/08

Proposed construction of fire station

Fiscal year 2008-2009 budget

 

OPEN PUBLIC HEARING: Chairperson Strout opened the public hearing at 6:00 p.m.

Manager Doane introduced Alison Barker from Eastern Maine Development Corporation and explained her role with Bradley. Alison Barker passed out a questionnaire to the public to find out what residents would like to see for their town. Manager Doane shared her comments with the public. The process to propose the fire station started about 2 years ago. Bradley has a mitigation plan that was accepted by FEMA and part of that plan is to remove the fire station from the flood plain. Manager Doane started looking for grants. She found that the Town was eligible for a grant to tear down the existing fire station and make that area open space. The Town would have received about $40,000 to do it. Manager Doane and Council decided it wasn’t worth tearing down a historical building. Manager Doane also stated that there might be other uses for the building.

 

Chief Gifford presented plans for a new fire station. It was decided that a new fire station would be put on the same property as the Town office. This would put everything that the Town needs in one central location. The design of the structure would be such that in the future maybe a community center and the salt shed could be in the same vicinity. A Building Committee has been formed. Manager Doane expressed that residents are needed to join. The purpose of the Committee is to find out what the residents feels they need. Manager Doane pointed out the she and Chief Gifford have talked about having a facility for the regionalizing. This would mean they work with other towns and share the facility.

Chief Gifford then presented preliminary plans and a slide show. He went into detail about the lack of space in the existing fire station and went on to explain what a new fire station would mean for the Town.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

a)      Proposed construction of new Fire Station

 

Maria Desrosiere stated that she couldn’t see how anyone wasn’t convinced that the Town needs a new fire station.

Janis Hanington agreed and went on to thank the chief and firefighters for the work they do.

John O’Connor stated that it was obvious that this was needed. He further stated that the main questions in his mind were how much is it going to cost, how much is the Town going to have to spend and how much is it going to be for each tax payer. Manager Doane responded by stating that Council did not want to proceed until they had an idea of what the residents wanted. Manager Doane has looked at other towns that have recently built a fire station and estimates the cost to be $600,000 to $700,000, which would be a bond payment of around $35,000 to $40,000 per year. That payment is ½ a mill.

Nancy Fortier expressed concern for people that are on fixed incomes and asked if the Town would know what the taxes would be before hand? Manager Doane assured the residents that before anything was done to Town’s people would have an opportunity to vote and know the total cost.

Paul Guay echoed previous statements made that the Town needs a fire station and that putting it off will just make it cost more in the future. Manager Doane agreed and went on to state that because the current fire station is too small, the Town is missing out on grant money that could go towards equipment.

John O’Connor asked what it would mean as far as home owners insurance. Joel Shorette shared that he believed it would lower the classification.

Sharon Dill asked when the next Building Committee meeting would be. Manager Doane stated that a meeting would be scheduled after tonight’s meeting. The public is encouraged to attend.

Diane Walter asked what the old building would be used for. Manager Doane shared that that topic had not been discussed. The shed out back of the office is full and the Town also owns a small trailer. So using it for storage is a possibility. There are a lot of historical artifacts upstairs that the Town would most likely want to save.

Rose Brooks asked if it would be appropriate to take a straw poll of those present to get an overall census.

Councilor Wilcox shared that she had recently spoke to different residents who had certain questions. They wondered what the cost would be, if the driveway for the new fire station would go between the two buildings and why the building will be so far from the road. Manager Doane responded by saying the driveway would go up the left side of the Town Office and the reason for the building being put so far back is because of environmental issues. There is a pond located in that vicinity and buildings have to be a certain number of feet from wetlands.

Janis Hanington noted that Manager Doane was doing a very good job. She asked if there would be river access for the public down that road. Manager Doane said they hadn’t discussed that yet. She did share that there would be river access in Bradley when the dam is removed up by the ball field. Councilor Wilcox asked why the plans showed the building at an angle. Chief Gifford explained that it was for easier access. Nancy Fortier asked if plans are approved has Bradley given any thought to joining with Milford to get a truck. Manager Doane confirmed that the Town would definitely look into regionalizing.

Maria Desrosiere made an informal motion to move forward with the plans for a new fire station. Motion seconded by Janis Hanington. Votes were unanimous.

John O’Connor asked what the next step would be. Manager Doane stated it will be a Building Committee meeting and she will contact DEP and the Core of Engineers.

Wayne Oakes asked about the grant from FEMA. Manager Doane explained it was only to tear down the old building, and make in into open space.

 

b)      Fiscal year 2008-2009 Budget

 

Manager Doane presented the proposed budget for 2008-2009. She stated that the budget was $76,174 under the self imposed budget cap. The Council tried to be conservative this year do to the high cost of everything. Manager Doane anticipates the mil rate will go down about 1 mil.

Rose Brooks asked where the changes were. Manager Doane shared that the fire truck was paid off. There was no money put into capital improvements as there is a substantial carry forward. She added that the Town will be getting more revenue from excise tax and the State of Maine in lieu of taxes. The school budget is expected to be the same as the previous year.

 

CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING: 7:00 p.m.

 

 

Town Council Meeting

04/15/2008

 

COUNCIL PRESENT: Sally Strout, Audrey Wilcox, Lillian Coulter and Fred Gifford

 

STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager Melissa Doane, Virginia Oakes as note taker and Eric Gifford

 

OPEN MEETING: Council Chairperson Strout opened the Town Council meeting at 7:00 p.m.

 

REVIEW OF MINUTES:

Councilor Gifford motioned to accept the 4/1/08 minutes as presented. Chairperson Strout seconded the motion. Vote 3-0. Motion carried.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST:

Mark Gifford asked if there would be a spring clean up. Manager Doane informed him it would be May 9th and 10th.

Jeff Labree asked who owned the property at 117 Cram Street. Manager Doane explained that the bank took ownership and she had information about an auction if he was interested.

 

MANAGERS REPORT:

  1. On April 2, 2008 Manager Doane spoke to Senator Rosen. He informed her that he believes DEP will be setting an air monitoring system here in Bradley. Senator Rosen, Senator Martin and Senator Smith worked together to raise the surcharge fees for permitting for air monitoring and the additional money that the State is receiving from those surcharge permit fees is going to an air monitoring system. Senator Rosen also believes it will happen before the end of the year.
  2. The PRIDE committee has raised money to build a basketball court at the playground behind the school. Manager Doane contacted MMA and they told her there would not be any increase in their insurances. Manager Doane gave PRIDE permission to proceed and Council agreed. Manager Doane also discussed the possibility of working with PRIDE and building an ice skating rink sometime in the near future.
  3. Eva Spruce of Cram Street paid her 2005 taxes. The only property that the Town owns due to foreclosure is the trailer in Penney Lane. The deadline for the IRS to pay is May 15th.
  4. Old Town Little League has made a request for a donation. Councilor Wilcox motioned to donate $200 to the Old Town Little League. Councilor Coulter seconded the motion. Vote 4-0. Motion carried.
  5. On April 11th Manager Doane met with the Town of Milford regarding their transfer station. They are proposing that Bradley residents can use the transfer station for a $2,500 flat fee. Residents would have to have a sticker that they could purchase from the Town of Bradley. There would be additional fees for things like white goods, Freon, furniture, fluorescent lights and computer monitors. The Town of Bradley would also have to make a place for the residents to go and be responsible for tipping fees. Council would like to see a transfer station here in Bradley. Council said they were not interested in Milford’s offer.
  6. Manager Doane received a yearly survey of the post office from the United States Post Office. They did a sweep of the building and found two damaged tiles. Manager Doane has contacted a contractor who will be coming to fix them.
  7. On April 8th Manager Doane met with Sherri Roberts from Bangor Savings Bank about investments. Manager Doane noted that investment rate has gone down and service fees have gone up. Ms. Roberts suggested to Manager Doane the Town leaves a minimum balance in the checking account of $65,000. Currently there is a minimum balance of $25,000. The Town has approximately $1,000,000 available to do some investing. The investment policy states that there is a minimum balance of $500,000. The Town currently has $1.7 million in checking. Manager Doane would like to purchase CDRs. They can be done for 4 weeks with a higher rate. The current rate is 2.27% for a 4 week and the Town is currently getting 2%. There would be an increase of about $200 per month if the Town invested $1 million. The CDRs are available in $100,000 increments and they are federally insured. The Town would do 7 CDARs for a 4 to 13 week term or 13 week which would have an interest rate of 2.47%.

 

NEW BUSINESS: None

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Councilor Gifford motioned to accept the 2008-2009 Municipal Budget as presented in public hearing 4/15/08. Motion was seconded by Councilor Coulter. Vote 4-0. Motion carried

Councilor Gifford motioned to proceed with fire station. Motion seconded by Councilor Coulter. Vote 4-0. Motion carried.

 

MUNICIPAL WARRANTS:

Councilor Coulter motioned to accept the municipal warrant # 80 for $3,479.65 and warrant # 81 for $21,860.32. Motion was seconded by Chairperson Strout. Vote 4-0. Motion carried.

 

NEXT MEETING: April 29th

 

ADJOURN: Councilor Gifford motioned to adjourn. Motion was seconded by Councilor Wilcox. Vote 4-0. Motion carried.