HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-10-17 Finance Committee Minutes
FINANCE COMMITTEE
October 17, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.
Minutes
Councilors: Gratwick, Durgin, Sprague, and Weston
Staff: Cyr, Moore, Birch, Nicklas, and Hamilton
Others:
1. Consent Agenda
a. Resolve 12-329, Accepting & Appropriating $329,292 in U.S. Department of
HUD Grant Funds – Shelter Plus Care
b. Requesting Authority to Apply for an $8,000 Project Canopy Grant for Pruning
of Large Trees
Sprague made a motion to move Consent Agenda, it was seconded and approved.
2. Bids/Purchasing
a. Request to Amend and Extend ADS Environmental Services Contract – WWTP
- $56,128
Finance Director Cyr explained that the request is to extend the contract from
November 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013 and was approved as part of fiscal year 2013
budget.
Sprague made a motion to move to staff recommendation, it was seconded by
Weston and approved.
3. Council Order, Amending the Period of Utility of Projects to be Financed
with the City’s $2,800,000 Qualified School Construction Bonds
Cyr explained that these are referred to as QSCB bonds and the term is set by the
market. The term has always been 15 years or less, so that is how the Council Order
was drafted. Recent market terms have gone to 23 years, which is the allowable
term of the bond. Cyr said that we need to amend the Council Order to increase the
number of years to 25. This will be on the Council Agenda for Monday evening,
nd
October 22.
A motion was made to move to Staff Recommendation, it was seconded by Sprague
and approved.
4. Recommendation to Authorize Execution of Memorandum of
Understanding with State of Maine – Public Health Nursing
Assistant City Solicitor Nicklas said that currently the Maternal and Child Health
referral process calls come into numerous areas, which involves transferring
referrals and additional time to get to the correct destination. This authorization
would streamline the process, saving time and expense by everyone using the same
referral number where it will be immediately transferred to the correct area. Patty
Hamilton, Public Health Director concurred and said that this would make the
process more efficient.
Moved to staff recommendation by Sprague and seconded by Gratwick.
5. Assessor’s Update (information distributed separately with weekly
packet)
City Assessor Ben Birch distributed a packet outlining an updated assessment
process and property values for the City of Bangor which is the basis for tax
assessment. This is the beginning of the assessment process for the upcoming tax
year, April 1, 2013. He added that the information is collected from residential
homes, commercial and industrial properties and lands. A memo summarizing this
information was sent out last week so that Council can familiarize themselves with
what has transpired nationwide with changing values.
We’re beginning to see a positive change, with appreciation in values, as well as an
increase in real estate activity. Birch went on to explain these changes in detail as
they relate to New England, the State of Maine, Lewiston, Auburn, Portland and
Bangor.
To recap, Birch stated that the market is showing positive signs in moving from the
2012 to 2013 timeframe.
Committee adjourned at 5:35p.m.