HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-27 Infrastructure Committee Minutes
Infrastructure Committee
November 27, 2012
ATTENDEES
Councilors:
Patricia Blanchette Ben Sprague Susan Hawes
James Gallant Pauline Civiello Nelson Durgin
Staff:
Art Morgan, City Engineer Cathy Conlow, City Manager Keith Cyr, Instrument
Technician
Paul Nicklas, Asst. City Solicitor
Guests:
Peter Baldacci, County Bill Collins, County
Commissioner Administrator
Meeting convened approximately 5:00 p.m.
1. Abatement Request: 35 Eddyway Street, Account #6911301
Keith Cyr, in for Brad Moore, Superintendent of WWTP informed the Committee that this abatement
was approved by the Superintendent. A transcription error of three cents was made on page one. The
first page read in the amount of $6.82, and the correct amount of $6.85 could be found on page two.
Moved by Councilor Hawes and seconded by Councilor Sprague
Vote: Unanimous Approval
2. Presentation: Stormwater Video
Paul Nicklas noted his memo in the packet and stated the video was made possible by a grant from the
Maine Air National Guard. City Staff, including Meaghan Collins, and Wynne Gulielmo, in conjunction
with North East School of Communications compiled the video which was to be presented to the
Committee shortly. The video would also be shown on the government channel and the City’s website.
The video was presented. Pauline Civiello stated that if she were home when viewing she wouldn’t
have been sure the video pertained to residential, only businesses. Paul responded that typically 74% of
the stormwater utility would be comprised of residential. Those residences would see a flat rate increase
of $22.00 a year, which would equate to $5.50 added to each of the sewer bills. Councilor Civiello also
inquired about impervious surfaces, whether that included dirt driveways. Paul explained it was
anything that wasn’t vegetated, such as dirt, porous pavers, gravel road, surfaces significantly designed
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to not let water through. Councilor Gallant asked if there would be an exemption if a rain barrel was
used. Paul discussed there were provisions for owners with less than 500 square feet of impervious
surface. He spoke about a credit system when using rain barrels, subsurface wetlands, and, impervious
pavement. With a single family the administrative costs probably would outweigh the benefits received.
Continued review of how much to implement would be done.
Councilor Sprague moved and Councilor Hawes seconded for Staff to proceed with posting the video to
the website and the City’s government channel.
Vote: Unanimous Approval
3. MDOT Agreement Request: Authorize City Manager to Execute Agreement with MDOT to
Occupy Six Parking Spaces at Gallagher Place for the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge Project,
MDOT #18320.00
Art explained MDOT would be starting the repainting March 2013 and would go through October 2013.
Part of the work would be painting over Summer Street. Gallagher Place is City property leased to the
Bangor House. MDOT was concerned about the parked vehicles and to avoid damage was requesting
six spaces at a time while painting bridge segments. They would be offering a cash settlement. In the
interim they could relocated the Bangor House employee vehicles to the parking garage.
Councilor Sprague moved and Councilor Hawes seconded.
Vote: Unanimous Approval
4. Public Services Director’s Update: Old Police Station Status
Art stated in 2006 the Police Department moved from Court Street to Main Street and the previous
building had been vacant since. The last improvements to the building were made in 1992, but none
since. Recently there was a study on the structural stability of the building. From the request for
proposals that were submitted, Sargent Corporation conducted the study and provided three options for
the building.
1. Rehabilitation, which would cost approximately 20 to 30 million and could be on the higher
side of that figure due to the structure. Figures based on a recent renovation project on the
Margaret Chase Smith Building of $340 a square foot, costing approximately 50 million
totaled.
The following options would have some impact on utilities. The building acts as a retaining wall to
Court Street and the hope was to not lose it into the stream.
2. Install a slope and secured with rip-rap and armored treatment. Cost would be approximately
1.2 million.
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3. Install a steeper slope and construct a twenty foot retaining wall, allowing for thirty-six
additional parking spaces. Cost would be at approximately 1.46 million. Estimate of $8,000
per parking space.
No funding strategies had been laid yet.
Councilor Hawes commented that if there was a gain in parking spaces, to move forward. The longer
they wait, the more it would cost and expressed the desire for closure. The site is an eye sore,
dangerous, and unsafe and expressed concern for falling debris and safety of kids. Councilor Sprague
asked if the structure was beyond soundness and could a third party interest develop the building. Art
stated he was approached by one individual, Bangor for the Arts who asked if the City would give them
the building. He advised them that the amount of the renovations were not realized and the building
code was beyond reasonable to restore.
Peter Baldacci, County Commissioner and Bill Collins, County Administrator joined the discussion.
Mr. Baldacci stated they were neighbors of the property and had watched the decay and was concerned
about the dangers of coming down the road toward Harlow Street. They would like to be part of the
solution and stated the Red Cross and Post Office placed a demand on parking. They proposed acquiring
the property at some point. Plowing “the pit” area to the right side of the stream was slippery and they
could maintain, to remove some burden from Public Works in the winter. Bill Collins would work with
the City, if desired.
Councilor Durgin commented that it would be a reasonable approach, as rehabilitation made no fiscal
sense. He asked Art for suggestions on how to proceed.
Cathy stated there had been conversations with Bill in the past and once Staff received the okay they
would sit down and hammer out the arrangements and estimates.
Councilor Gallant stated it would be to the benefit of the City and County and requested a timeline with
regards to bringing this back to the Committee. Cathy responded after the first of the year they would
come back with figures.
Councilor Hawes was concerned for folks who travel over the hill and asked if Public Works could do
something in the interim and Art responded they would.
Vote: None Necessary, Informational Only
Meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:38 p.m.
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