Town Council Meeting

12/12/07

 

MEMBERS PRESENT: Sally Strout, Fred Gifford, and Lilian Coulter. Audrey Wilcox and Oscar Emerson were excused.

 

STAFF PRESENT: Town Manager, Melissa Doane and Note taker, Virginia Oakes 

 

CITIZENS PRESENT: None

 

OPEN MEETING: Council Chairperson Strout opened the Town Council meeting at 6:30 p.m.

 

REVIEW OF MINUTES: Table review until 12/27/07 meeting, as appropriate Council not available.

 

CITIZENS REQUEST: None

 

MANAGERS REPORT:

  1. Manager Doane received a call from Joseph Buchanan, owner of Joseph Buchanan Construction. He shared that he was upset about not getting the opportunity to bid on the Boynton Street Culvert Project. He stated that he has lived in Bradley his entire life and pays taxes. Manager Doane agreed with his argument. To prevent this over site from happening in the future Manager Doane would like to compile a list of contractors in town. This list could be used to contact area businesses on all projects. Also notify any consultants that we use this list.
  2. Harold Sargent, who lives on Elm Street, recently spoke to Manager Doane. He was upset because the plow truck, contracted by the Town, was plowing for his neighbor, Tammy Patterson. Manager Doane explained to Mr. Sargent that she had given the plow permission to plow the Patterson’s driveway because they were allowing the truck to turn around in their driveway. Later Tammy Patterson called Manager Doane because the plow left a mess in her driveway when they turned. The plowman stated that he could not turn in the driveway. Manager Doane went to investigate the matter and found that the plowman did leave a lot of snow in her driveway. Manager Doane asked that he come back and clean up which he did. Ms. Patterson accommodated the plow truck by moving her mailbox, dog run and parking her car in a different area. Later when clean up after the storm was done, Dan the owner of the D&H Construction returned to the Patterson’s with a smaller truck and finished cleaning her driveway. He plans to include her driveway in his after storm clean up. If this is not successful the truck will be forced to back out of Elm Street.
  3. On December 5th Manager Doane attended a Penobscot River Restoration scoping meeting. The purpose of the meeting was for public comments of those for or against the project after the dam is removed. There were maps available that showed projected water levels in Bradley.  Manager Doane is going to ask that the next time Penobscot River Restoration come to Bradley, they bring these maps as there are residents, who are being charged water frontage, and may change in the future. Other concerns being addressed are ice jamming and how this will be taken care of. Written comments regarding the project may be submitted until December 18, 2007.
  4. Manager Doane spoke with Maine Emergency Management recently. They informed her that FEMA would not buy the existing firehouse because the Town owns it. The most that Bradley would get from the grant is $50,000, which is on the high end and would only be to demolish the building and put in a park. Manager Doane would like for Council to consider not proceeding after the grant and pointed out that the firehouse is a historic building and could be used for other purposes in the future. She asked whether or not Council would like EMDC/PVCOG to pursue the grant. Chairperson Strout asked that the decision be tabled until there is a full council present. Manager Doane spoke to Mike Rollins of Maine Rural Development. They have infrastructure loans with a loan 4.5% interest rate for 29 years. This would make a payment of $62.42 per $1000.00. If the Town went with that program all the contracts would have to go out to bid. Manager Doane also spoke to Charles Norburg and according to letters from DEP, he believes the building can go behind the Municipal Building. Manager Doane spoke to Levant’s Town Manager and Mike Crooker of Glenburn who has just recently gotten new Firehouses. It was recommended that a building committee be formed as the first step.
  5. The office Christmas party is December 18th at 4 p.m.. Bring a $10.00 gift if you would like to participate in the Yankee Swap.
  6. Manager Doane is starting to work on the Budget and asks for Council’s Budget Books.
  7. The Boynton street culverts are done. Manager Doane has withheld $1000.00 until spring to see how the pavement does.
  8. Last Friday the Town was audited by the Department of Human Services regarding the General Assistance Program. Manager Doane reported that there were no problems and the Town was in complete compliance.
  9. The Post office has recently had problems with their furnace. Manager Doane contacted Wayne Jackson, who found and resolved the problems. There was a fuel pump that needed to be replaced and an air leak.
  10. On January 24, 2008 there is a meeting regarding Red Shield. Michael Crooker will be the moderator to ensure that only Bradley residents will be asking the questions. Senator Rosen, Benjamin Pratt, Red Shield and DEP have been invited.
  11. The next School Board meeting is December 18th at 6:30.
  12. On December 10th a Cemetery Committee meeting was held. The committee made a motion to make the plots 4x12 with room for one full burial or two cremations. The committee also motioned to increase the price of the plots to $250.00 for residents and $400.00 for non residents. Also as an administrative procedure the committee would like the office to issue Quick Claim Deeds. This would ensure that the purchaser knows what they are getting. They discussed Knapp Cemetery and the need for a road. There are plots available but no easy access to them. The next meeting is schedules for January 7th at 10 a.m. with focus on the bi laws.
  13. Manager Doane attended a PVCOG meeting yesterday. Manager Doane sits on the Executive Committee and the agenda focused on what they are doing next year and what the Towns expect from PVCOG.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Councilor Gifford motioned to give Christmas bonuses in the amount of $100 each for Terry, Virginia and Kelly and $250 for Manager Doane. Chairperson Strout seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.

 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Manager Doane received 2 emails regarding the streetlight request on Pine Street. One was from Councilor Emerson asking Council to table the discussion of the streetlight until he can attend. He would like to discuss the procedure of the decision and the procedure of reversing the decision. The second email was from Roger Desrosiers which was to be read to council. Manager Doane read the letter to Council. After reading the letter, Roberts Rules of Order was referred to. According to Roberts Rules of Order, the procedures were done correctly. It was agreed that the issue will be tabled until a full board is present.

 

Manager Doane attended the School Consolidation meeting last night.  It appears that Bradley will going with Orono, Old Town and Union 90. Manager Doane’s concern is that small towns like Bradley will get lost in the shuffle. The next meeting will be December 19th at Orono High School. All meetings will be posted from now on. Meeting places will rotate in the towns.  

 

WARRANT:

Councilor Coulter made a motion to accept municipal warrant #46 in the amount of $135.46, warrant #47 in the amount of $5,203.13 and warrant #48 for $70,776.00. Chairperson Strout seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.

 

NEXT MEETING: Next meeting will be December 27th at 6:30 p.m.

 

ADJOURN: Councilor Gifford motioned to adjourn. Councilor Coulter seconded the motion. Vote 3-0, motion carried.