Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-06-04 Finance Committee Minutes FINANCE COMMITTEE June 4, 2007 Minutes Councilor Attendance: Stone, D’Errico, Hawes, Farrington, Gratwick Staff Attendance: Cyr, Barrett, Heitmann, Dawes, Gastia, Higgins, McNeil, Little, Bolduc Others: Michael and Caroline Noblet 1. Consent Agenda A motion was made and seconded to approve the Consent agenda items. a. Quitclaim Deed – BH & CW – 1343 Ohio Street b. Workout Agreement – Sprague – 85 Downing Road c. Update on Purchase of Used Equipment 2. Bids/Purchasing a. Bus Shelter – BAT – Octagon Services, Inc - $19,570 As the owner/operator of the BAT/Community Connector, the City is responsible for all accessories including bus shelters. The community housing the shelter actually pays for it. The University of Maine requested a shelter for their Orono campus. Bids were issued with four responses received. The two lower bidders did not meet the specifications. The shelter will be paid for from MDOT grants. It does require a local match, which will be paid for by the University of Maine. Responding to D’Errico, McNeil said the shelter is unique but fits in well with the University’s facilities. The previous manufacturer is no longer in business. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff recommendation. b. Radios – Police/Fire – Whitten’s 2 Way Service - $119,266 Cyr explained that this is part of the City’s interoperability system used with public safety personnel. This specific item will replace mobile and portable radios in police and fire department vehicles. Five bids were received. The first low bid did not meet specifications. Staff had concerns with the second low bidder, which was from out of state. The equipment will be under warranty for two years. Cyr said the equipment would be funded by the Department of Justice COPS Grant, which the City was previously awarded. Gastia said the radios would update the current equipment that will be consistent with the Fire Department. The new equipment is P25 compliant, which complies with future FCC regulations. Higgins said the some of the Fire Department’s radios are six plus years old. The new radios will provide 128 channels, which conforms to the interoperability plan. The current equipment provides 16 channels. All units have a MDC (unit ID) which keeps track of firefighters. It is a great safety feature. Responding to Gratwick, Higgins said most area agencies use VHF. The new equipment is VHF radios and 16 banks of channels will be added. It will immensely increase the departments’ interoperability. Gastia said the current radio towers would not change. Responding to Gratwick, Higgins said that most VHF frequencies are line of sight. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation to the full Council. c. Sole Source – Utility Improvements – Economic Development Fund Cyr said this relates to Verizon and Bangor Hydro Electric and Venture Way. The Council previously awarded a contract of $607,572 for the reconstruction of Venture Way in March of 2007 for improvements to this area, which is in the Maine Business Enterprise Park. The Verizon piece is $16,366 and the Bangor Hydro’s is $36,133. Staff recommended that the City enter into contracts with Verizon and Bangor Hydro to complete the necessary work. Responding to Gratwick, Bolduc said the work was part of the original plan but not part of the bid as Verizon and Bangor Hydro limit themselves as to who could provide the work. Barrett said that recognized public utilities in Maine have access by right to the City’s right-of-way. Responding to Stone, Bolduc said all utilities are underground in the conduits the City installed. Bangor Hydro pulls the wires through the conduits. On Maine Avenue, it is overhead. Maine Avenue will be widened at Venture Way and it will remain overhead. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation. 3. Request to Purchase City Land Cyr said the Noblet’s own property at 35 Cresmont Street, which backs up against the Golf Course. Folks in that area extend their lawn beyond the actual boundary line. The Noblet’s asked the City about purchasing the property in question. The sale of this property would not have any impact on the Golf Course and the City has no objection to the sale. The area to be sold is 60’ by 45’. The Assessing Department determined its value to be $3,800. The Noblet’s offered $2,500 for the parcel. Heitmann agreed with the $2,500. Cyr agreed with selling it at the assessed value. Responding to Stone, Mrs. Noblet said they would like to purchase the property to extend their dog’s yard and might like to place an addition onto the home at some future point. Mr. Noblet said they were under the impression that the piece of land went with the property. At the time of closing, he realized that piece belonged to the City but still went ahead with the purchase. Barrett said that staff has looked at it from the Golf Course point of view. The property is not needed. The City Engineer looked at it in light of the City at some future point placing a trail along that area to connect to Webster Avenue. On this particular property, there is still enough room at the end of the property and the Course play area for a trail if ever needed. This may not be the case for other properties in this area. Responding to Stone, Barrett said the issue is that the sale immediately brings added value of $3,800 to the property owner. The question is does the City want to sell it for a lower amount or the assessed value. Heitmann pointed out that the owners have maintained and improved the lot over time. Barrett said that the City generally does try to get the assessor’s value. There is no hard and fast precedent. Hawes said she leaned toward the assessed value price, and she is concerned about setting a precedent. Rather than debate in public on television, Stone recommended that staff work with the Noblet’s to negotiate a price. Hawes agreed. She felt that the Committee members agreed to sell the property. Farrington said the property value will be increased and therefore taxes will be gained. He agreed with the $2,500 price. A motion was made and seconded for the Noblet’s with the Finance Director to work out an arrangement for the sale of the land. Cyr clarified that the Committee was giving her authority to negotiate with the Noblet’s and then to report the final outcome to the Committee by e-mail. Gratwick asked Cyr to find out how the Noblet’s arrived at the $2,500 and what type of fencing will be put in place. 4. Executive Session – 36 MRSA Section 841(2) – Hardship Abatement A motion was made and seconded to move into Executive Session. 5. Open Session – Hardship Abatement Decision A motion was made and seconded to approve staff recommendation.