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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-11-22 Infrastructure Committee Minutes Infrastructure Committee Tuesday, November 22, 2011 City Hall Council Chambers Councilors: Patricia Blanchette Charles Longo Nelson Durgin Geoffrey Gratwick Susan Hawes Joseph Baldacci Cary Weston Benjamin Sprague Staff: Brad Moore Art Morgan Guests: David Harlan The Committee convened at 5:00 p.m. 1. Sewer Abatement Request: 32 Woodview Drive, Account #3740102 The request was due to extra water usage, excessive usage from toilet that since was replaced. Request met the criteria. Councilor Gratwick moved to pass and it was seconded. No discussion. Yes: Unanimous No: 2. Sewer Abatement Request: 100 Center Street, Account #1201202 Councilor Hawes moved to grant abatement, which was seconded by Councilor Gratwick. Councilor Hawes then removed motion to pass based on the fact Staff would need to explain why Staff position was to deny. Brad Moore explained there was a previous abatement in 2008 for 684.26. There was a subsequent request, resulting in a property maintenance survey by the Code Department, which is required when more than one request is presented in a twelve month period. After doing so, the Committee on rd August 3 voted three to two to deny abatement. This would be the fourth request by this owner. Denial of this request was based on the “due care clause” in the City’s Code, Part A. Staff felt there was not due care regarding the leak, which was in a vacant section of the property, that was not detected the time. Councilor Hawes withdrew her previous motion and Councilor Gratwick seconded. She then moved on Staff recommendation to not grant abatement because it didn’t meet the criteria. The motion was seconded. 1 Councilor Gratwick asked of the condition of the premise at the time the property maintenance survey was conducted. Brad explained how the property had no flaws at that time, but would verify with the Code Department. Councilor Durgin asked about the portion of the memo from Brad that stated the account in the th amount of 1,332.62 needed to be brought current by November 18. Brad responded that this abatement was scheduled to come before the Committee at the last meeting, however Mr. Harlan was unable to attend at that time and the memo was not updated. The new date would be December th 9 to bring the account current. David Harlan joined the table and stated he resided at 6 Horseback Way in Bucksport. He explained that ten years ago he bought apartment buildings and the tenants hadn’t reported issues. The request was for a location on the first floor, in an undeveloped area, of a vacant commercial building. There was a bad valve on a sink that caused the leak, which when he discovered had removed all the plumbing. The rate of use was 1,529 gallons a day that went undetected until his quarterly bill and he received notification. He would typically check the building in winter, but since it was summer he didn’t as much. He stated he checked his apartment buildings every other month. Councilor Baldacci noted the due care clause, asked about monitoring, and asked if he had a superintendent. Mr. Harlan explained he and his son were the maintenance department and they have educated their tenants and provided them with every possible phone number to contact him. Councilor Gratwick would vote no and suggested the bill be split in half. The motion to deny abatement did not carry. Vote: Yes, Councilor Blanchette & Councilor Hawes No, Councilor Gratwick, Councilor Baldacci, Councilor Sprague Councilor Sprague asked if it could be split in half. Councilor Blanchette said they could make that decision if so wished but advised about going against Staff recommendation. Councilor Longo stated that they had often times split the amount on abatements. Councilor Blanchette didn’t remember doing so. Brad stated that they had made arrangements on abatements in the past. Councilor Gratwick made a motion to split the billing in half, it was seconded by Councilor Baldacci. Brad indicated the amount would be 443.37 and be contingent upon the account being brought current. The motion carried to grant half the abatement upon the contingency that the account be brought current. Vote: Yes, Councilor Gratwick, Councilor Baldacci, Councilor Sprague No, Councilor Blanchette & Councilor Hawes 2 3. Easement Request: Bangor Hydro Electric Request to Install Conduit at Bangor International Airport Art explained this was a primary service to two hangars at the Airport that was on City property. Councilor Gratwick asked if there was any reason it should not be granted, or if there were any red flags. Art stated he had reviewed and had no reservations about it being granted. Motioned by Councilor Gratwick and seconded by Councilor Baldacci to pass. Vote: Unanimous. 4. Authorize Director of Public Services, City Engineer to Start the Discontinuance of a Portion of Kittredge Road Art explained the road pavement removed and planted with grass and had not been used in approximately a year. The portion was made obsolete when Hogan Road was extended for Walmart. If it had been used it would have created a five legged intersection, and the owner was interested in developing his parcel that abuts it. This action was a matter of housekeeping. Councilor Gratwick was interested in what the owner was going to develop. He had reservations as mountain bikers used that section and to have this section as an off road trail would be a plus. Concern also was raised about the accessibility for the City Forest. He asked about the location of the new road. He also asked, would the private development of the parcel be greater than for public use? There was a little discussion regarding the placement of a potential new road. Councilor Baldacci was concerned about homeowners in the area being notified. Art stated that there were negotiations about the placement of the new Kittredge Road. Councilor Blanchette requested the abutters be notified regarding the first Council Reading, so they may provide input to the Council. Councilor Gratwick preferred this come back to the Infrastructure Committee for further discussion rather than go to the Council level. Motion was made to start the discontinuation of the portion of Kittredge Road. Vote: Yes, Councilor Blanchette, Councilor Baldacci, Councilor Hawes. No, Councilor Gratwick, Councilor Sprague Councilor Hawes stated for the Committee they didn’t decide everything and recommended starting the process. Councilor Longo requested pictures of the area and video for the benefit of the members. Councilor Blanchette asked to be mindful of the public accommodations. 3 There was no further discussion and the meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:36p.m. 4