HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-10-07 Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Minutes
Transportation & Infrastructure Committee
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Minutes
Councilors Attending: Geoffrey Gratwick, Frank Farrington, Hal Wheeler, Gerry
Palmer, Susan Hawes, Patricia Blanchette
Staff Attending: Ed Barrett, Jim Ring, Brad Moore
Others Attending: Mr. Wesley King
Committee convened at 5:00 p.m.
Consent Agenda
1. Bangor Gas Easement Request _ Kenduskeag Plaza to Serve New Courthouse
Jim Ring said the reason Bangor Gas was requesting an easement was because
Kenduskeag Avenue was a parking lot and not a right-of-way. Therefore an
easement would be required, not a utility location permit. Councilor Farrington
moved and Councilor Blanchette seconded. Councilor Palmer stated it was
terrific they chose natural gas to save money.
Regular Agenda
Item #2 was transcribed verbatim at the request of Mr. King.
2. Two Sewer Abatement Requests have been received for water usage associated
with lawn restoration due to grub infestation. The requested water volumes
were not separately measured with a sub-meter. Based on Ordinance provisions
and previous committee action on a similar request, staff recommends denial.
(Materials attached)
2a. 397 Grandview Avenue
2b. 93 Lasalle Drive
Councilor Gratwick: Item #2 are two sewer abatement requests that have been
received due to two sewer abatement requests that have been received for
water usage associated with lawn restoration due to grub infestation.
We have however, two items this is the place we hear these, listen to their
requests. I would turn first to Mr. Brad Moore, and then.. Sir, are you here for
one of these items? Thank you. So then when it comes to that we would very
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much like to have you come to the table with a mic there. Fact is, you can come
up here now, should you wish. And we have a protocol that when we get to that
you’ll just have to push the little green button that Mr. Ring will show you how
and announce your name. Brad, Sir.
Brad Moore: Thank you, Mr. Chair. I do want to make a, offer an apology to the
Committee both of these say, as you have read, that they’re due to grub
infestation. Actually 2a is 397 Grandview Avenue is actually that case. But Mr.
King is here who has the 93 Lasalle Drive property and I inadvertently included it
as being the same but Mr. King is built a lawn it wasn’t as a result of grub
infestation that he had to rebuild his lawn so there is that distinction. So, I
apologize for that.
Councilor Gratwick: So we’ll deal with the first on first.
Brad Moore: Ok, very good - so 397 Grandview Avenue. Mr. Hanson could not
make it because of his health. He just asked the Committee to consider it. I told
him that the Committee had already considered similar requests and had denied
it. But he wanted to have his day in court, but he couldn’t make it so I told him
I would. Again, obviously this was on the Agenda and that his thought was the
same as others that had been here before the Committee is that he used the
water and that water did not enter the sewer system. And thus, he feels he
shouldn’t pay for it so that’s essentially his position that I told him I would
advocate in front of the Committee. Although, I would recommend we would
deny the request.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much, questions?
Councilor Blanchette: Thank you Chair Gratwick. I just want to go on the record
as stating that I know Mr. Hanson very well. He’s a member of our congregation
at church and I also know of his health issues. But it has not, is not going to
change my vote on this. We have routinely denied this because people have the
option in the City of Bangor to put in an outside meter and the meter that the
water is, you can’t abatement on water. But we do abate the amount that went
through the outside meter from a sewer treatment fee. So I have, although I
have empathy for these people, I can’t break what we have as a standing
tradition because it’s just going to open it up to everybody that waters their rose
bushes or something will want to come in and we have a very costly treatment
plant. So when you’re ready I’m going to move not passage.
Councilor Gratwick: Ok, I would take that as a motion, a second then we’ll have
further discussion.
Councilor Farrington: Item 1?
Councilor Gratwick: Item 2a, is there a second for that? No second?
Councilor Blanchette: To deny?
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Councilor Gratwick: To deny.
Councilor Farrington: I’ll second.
Councilor Gratwick: Move to second, then further discussion. Councilor Palmer.
Councilor Palmer: Yes, I will be supporting the motion. Although I was hoping it
would be in a more positive vein other than deny, but deny it will work well
enough I think. But do we have how, how do we let the public know about
those meters? I fell over one that belonged to a friend of mine who had, for his
pool, outdoor pool. But do we have on the website? Do we have it in our
mailing? Do we need to do alittle bit more for people to better understand how
that all works? And that’s really quite simple, you deal with the folks and you
get that meter installed and then you’re off the hook. Maybe you could talk
about what is being done, Brad, about this. Which I think is a wonderful thing.
As a gardener, believe me, I need to get one. Thank you.
Brad Moore: Yes, the City is taking several initiatives to make sure the sewer
users are aware of it. First it is on the website so you can get information there
on the website. As to what you need to do in order to get an application, which
doesn’t cost anything. And then install a meter, then we’d have somebody from
the plant to go up and check the installation. Also, this Committee had a
concern this winter that we needed to convey that even better to the sewer
users and we did send with the sewer bills a stuffer, so to speak, that went out
with the bills that went from like the middle of February and that next quarter so
that the sewer users would have that understanding again that there was a
possibility to get an abatement on the sewer user fees for water used outside the
home that didn’t enter the system. And so that is what we have done lately. In
the past we have put it on the bill stub. If you have used water outside please
call the plant and we’d give the number on the sewer stub, too.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Any other questions?
Councilor Palmer: If I may, a follow-up question on how many people in the
system are using these secondary meters? How big an issue is it? And how
much Staff time does it entail for your folks?
Brad Moore: We have approximately 400 properties in town now that have sub-
meters. And it is, it does take, cause we’re doing it manually-it takes a good bit
of time for one of the clerks at the plant to handle that. The software that we
should be purchasing here within the next year will be able to do that
electronically. Although it will still be manual entry, they won’t be figuring out by
hand, so that should help the process to a degree. But, there is a certain
amount of Staff time in dealing with this process.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Councilor Wheeler.
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Councilor Wheeler: How long has this information been available on the
website? In other words, did it predate the situation with the grub infestation?
Brad Moore: Yes it did. When the website was first constructed by the, and I’m
not sure when that was, five years ago and it was available before that but it
was just on the sewer stub where we notified the public that they could have...
Councilor Wheeler: Was it published in any other medium other than the
website?
Brad Moore: No other than the sewer stub, then also the bill stuffer that went
into each sewer bill.
Councilor Wheeler: What was exactly the wording on the sewer bill?
Brad Moore: On the sewer bill, if my memory serves me correctly. It said,
because you only have so many characters you can use, it posed a question
“Using water outside? Call the sewage treatment and our phone number”. The
bill stuffer that went out this spring was much more explicit and saying what was
available and what you had to do in order to get an application and then the
process in order to get an abatement. So the bill stuffer that went out his spring
was much more informative.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you. Any other questions? Councilor Wheeler.
Councilor Wheeler: No, no I guess not.
Councilor Gratwick: Next, we’ll go to Councilor Farrington, then Councilor
Blanchette.
Councilor Farrington: I recall an earlier meeting. Two points I want to make. At
that meeting we had a similar discussion with someone that had this problem
and I disclosed that I purchased one of these and since that meeting we have
saved ourselves about $300 because, we too, had a grub infestation problem.
And it didn’t save us anything on the water bill because which the water is being
used, but the sewer went in the lawn and it looks as though the grub thing looks
a lot better. But it is a very good deal. I remember you were talking about the
program that you were setting up to try to get the word out to people that if you
do use the water it saved. I think it cost, I can’t remember what it was because
we got it 3-4 years ago, I think it cost about $150.00. Well over that time, I
think I’ve paid for that about four times. This year was really bad and it paid for
it a couple times this year. The other thing I want to disclose is I know Mr. King,
he was one of the upperclassman that I was very impressed with when I was at
Coney High School. And I think at Williams Grammar School. And I think we’ve
had this discussion before, but I can’t remember whether he was a good second
basemen for another grammar school or Williams where I went that I know he
played baseball at Coney High School among other thins. So I don’t think this
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qualifies as a conflict of interest, but you disclosed your, and I certainly want to
disclose my relationship with Mr. King.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you.
Councilor Blanchette: Thank you Chair. I guess just as a point of information I
understand, I think completely how Councilor Wheeler feels, maybe we haven’t
gone the extra step on advertising this submeter. But I was on the Council when
we passed this years ago and at that time we were fortunate enough in the City
of Bangor to have news coverage. I mean it’s something we don’t have
anymore, but I said we’d try to get the word out through the government access
channel and things. We have spend a long time advertising this and in fairness
to everyone, it is available and if you’re going to use a huge amount of water it’s
worth it. And I think it’s $150. This is done through the Bangor Water District,
correct?
Councilor Farrington: I went to Old Town.
Councilor Blanchette: You traitor.
Brad Moore: There’s some used meters that are available that have been
calibrated for use in the neighboring communities and that’s why we direct most
customers too, because they can get them a lot cheaper than buying brand new.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you, Councilor Blanchette.
Councilor Blanchette: Well, no I just want to say I never miss the opportunity
when someone will come to me and complain about their water usage and the
Water District will not abate. You pay per cubic foot of water that you actually
use. So we do encourage people with large lawns, planting new lawns, planting
a lot of shrubs. When you plant shrubs in this environment, you have to make
sure that you water them almost on a daily basis or you’re going to lose them.
The nurseries will stand by them if you give them enough care, but if you
haven’t..so Mr. King, I know how hard it is to pay these bills. I’ve been there,
done that. Because my water bill when we owned a boat and we used to tailor
it, was unbelievable. But I didn’t get an outside meter because I don’t normally
use that much outside water. But it has been our policy and I think I have held
fast to that for the number of years that I’ve been on the Council. So if you’re
ready for a motion.
Councilor Gratwick: No, we still have the, I think we’ll do one at a time, please.
So I’ll wait just a second. Any other discussion on 2a? Gerry?
Councilor Palmer: Yes, Thank you Chair Gratwick. I would also note that the
City held a very good workshop on how to deal with these European Chafers as I
think I always thought they were Japanese beetles, but 90% of the time they
were European Chafers. And there was an excellent program round this table
that was televised to talk about how to deal with that issue. So, I think, in that
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way the City was helpful in the process. But, again it seems like the word has
gone out for quite a number of years that these meters are available and it’s the
right thing to do. Thank you.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you. Any other comments?
Councilor Wheeler: I don’t have any disagreements with the Staff’s
recommendation or decision. I think it’s absolutely correct. However, under the
circumstances I will be voting to grant this abatement even though I know the
rest of the members will not agree with me.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Any other comments? It’s been
moved/seconded. All in favor of denying it, which is a negative motion. This is
Pat’s motion. A signal, Councilor Palmer, Councilor Farrington, Councilor
Blanchette.
Councilor Wheeler: I think, Mr. Chair, the motion be phrased “those in favor of
granting the abatement” would make it a positive motion.
Councilor Gratwick: The motion actually was made in a negative sense. So to,
but to clarify....
Councilor Blanchette: I hadn’t, the Chair told me we were going to take up both
issues at once, I believe we already took care of 1a.
Councilor Gratwick: No, we hadn’t voted on that, we’re still voting on 1a, we
haven’t gotten to 2 yet. So 1a is excepting Staff’s recommendation and it’s for,
I’m taking it’s 4-1. Thank you very much. The second is 2b which is 93 Lasalle
Drive and I’ll turn again to Mr. Moore.
Brad Moore: Thank you Mr. Chair. And again, I want to apologize to the
Committee because I mislead you on the situation that Mr. King had on his
property. This was to build a lawn on a new property. This didn’t have to do
with a grub infestation. Just so you understand that distinction. As far as the
Ordinance goes it would have been the same answer from me. In that, that was
water that was intentionally used outside that did not, was not metered. And
that’s the guideline I have to go by with the Ordinance. So I still would have
denied it to Mr. King. And Mr. King is here, obviously to advocate his position
but there again it goes back to what the Ordinance and my reply to Mr. King was
appropriate according to the Ordinance and he requested the opportunity to
speak to the Committee.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. So Mr. King, we turn to you for your
comments then I’d invite Councilor comments and questions to you.
Mr. King: Well, thank you for hearing me. I lived in Orland from 91 until last
November when I moved into this new house on Lasalle Drive. The builder
didn’t tell me that I should get a separate meter. I took my water out of Toddy
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Pond and I put some of it on my lawn and most of it in my septic system. So I
was kind of interested as to how the Bangor Water District billed for its water
use. I was interested to know how much it was going to cost me and so forth.
And, in November I went down to the Bangor Water District and talked with
them and I paid them $25.00 for something, I think to start things up. Next
thing I did was pay in March in 2008. And honestly, I never did receive, to my
knowledge, anything in my bill that said anything about a separate meter. Had
I received it, I certainly would have been interested in it because I knew that I
was going to be building a new lawn. They didn’t get my lawn in in the fall.
They put it in in the spring, the later part of May. They finally got around to me
the later part of May and they left me with a sheet written by Vaughn Holyoke
on how to do this. I watered from 5 a.m. until 9 a.m. for a week and 5 p.m.
until 9 p.m. for that same week. Twice a day and then the next two weeks I
water from 5 p.m. til 9 p.m. for two weeks. I have two hoses, front and back
5/8”, so we figured up that my normal usage would be about 1,800 cubic feet
and it appears I’ve put 3,100 cubic feet onto the lawn which never did make it
into the sewer system. So I asked around and they said you can go down and
talk to them and they’ll abate that. So I went down to his office and he very
nicely told me that he can’t because the Ordinance says he can’t but I could
come here, so here I am. And I was in the military most of my career and I
realize that ignorance of the rules is really no excuse, but in this case, I didn’t
know that I needed a separate meter. And had I known I think I would have got
one. Now I don’t know that I intend to water the lawn ever again, but if I get
the information about this meter, I certainly will consider it. But that’s why I’m
here. I used 3,100 cubic feet of your water and I paid for it. And I’m asking you
for, to relieve me from paying for the use of that sewer that never got used.
That water is up on my lot and it’s still there, yes.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Needless to say this is what your
fellow citizens, this is what makes our life interesting. On these Committees
where we have your very real and reasonable explanation which are set up
against the rules and regulations we all follow. Questions?
Mr. King: I honestly didn’t see anything that said anything about a separate
meter.
Councilor Gratwick: Understood. Questions from Councilors for Mr. King?
Gerry, Sir.
Councilor Palmer: Thank you Chair Gratwick. Mr. King thank you for choosing
Bangor. You could have chosen anywhere to live and we’re pleased that you
chose our community. And we certainly wish that it had been alittle smoother
transition. Did you use new seed or did you have sod put in or how did that
work?
Mr. King: They hydroseeded it, they blew it on.
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Councilor Palmer: Excellent, because part of this grub problem comes in sod,
sod from away. And it gets spread around the State which is not healthy for the
lawns and that’s been part of the problem. So I’m pleased you hydroseeded it.
Mr. King: Well they hydroseeded it last fall.
Councilor Palmer: Right.
Mr. King: But then we had torrential rains, like three days in a row. And half the
damn lawn went away.
Councilor Palmer: Yup.
Mr. King: But some of it was there this spring. But most of it wasn’t.
Councilor Palmer: Right.
Mr. King: They put new dirt in, they didn’t roll it. Maybe they should have but
they did the best they could and their opinion was that they weren’t getting paid
for doing it again so they really weren’t in to much of a hurry to do it. But they
finally did come and do it, the end of May. So I was doing this watering during
the month of June. And the lawns are coming along fairly good. I’m not a lawn
person. I told neighbors on either side “You win, you’re going to have a better
lawn than I’ll ever have” and that’s how it is.
Councilor Gratwick: Other questions from Council. Hawes? Blanchette?
Farrington? Wheeler? Councilor Farrington.
Councilor Farrington: I think the dilemma we’ve been in is that the way the
system works is that you have to pay a water and a sewer bill unless you have
the meter. Because there’s no way we can find out other than people coming
and saying I did this....question is if we do it for one we have to do it for
everyone which makes it very difficult and we need to find some extenuating
circumstances that we can justify treating one person differently than the way
we treat everyone else. Otherwise, people just say I, oh no just this and the
meter is going through the sewer system, which is the reason I got the meter.
Because I began to realize that we use a lot of water and it was costing me a lot
of money. And it was 2-3 years before I got the word and when I did then it’s
been well worth it ever since, so I think that’s the problem.
Councilor Gratwick: Councilor Palmer.
Councilor Palmer: Yes, it’s just my concern is we have a new resident who’s
gotten here and really he’s had the luxury of Toddy Pond and drawn water from
nothing out of there, using his own pump and his own gasoline probably and
putting on his lawn not having to worry. We are a different community then that
but I do think we have a heart and I would give some consideration to some
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abatement, maybe something around $80, which would be more than half way.
And it would be a one time, new resident, move into town that didn’t know the
rules and didn’t. But I think it would be down home friendly for us to consider
something of that nature.
Councilor Gratwick: Councilor Blanchette.
Councilor Blanchette: Thank you, Chair. I just guess I need to just lay it on the
table. You have to be fair and fair. We have a lot of development coming into
this City. In fact, we try to get residential development in this City every day.
There are people coming in and we’re always looking at available lots, what’s
available. I know it’s hard to pay these bills, believe me, I live on a fixed
income. My husband and I are both retired. I would love to be able to devote,
to give half and abatement to this gentleman because I know he didn’t know.
But if I do it for Mr. King I’m setting a precedent for every home that is going to
be built in the area. And may I remind you, Mr. King set here and very plainly
told us that he hydroseeded his lawn last year. We had torrential rain that
washed that hydroseeding away. Where did that water that ran off, we have to
treat every cubic foot of run off water in this State. So we had to go down, that
water that washed off with your hydroseeding, in all due respect, went through
our treatment plant because if it ran into a sewer manhole, it was our
responsibility and we had to treat it. So, in all fairness, I know, believe me, I
know how hard these bills are but in fairness to everyone is fair treatment. If I
give this to you because it was a new home, you didn’t understand the rules, I’ve
got new homes going up all over the place. In fact, I have three subdivisions of
new homes that are going to be built right at the end of my street. So I just
want to say so you’ll understand I can’t vote to give you half an abatement
unless I want to do that for everyone that runs into the same problem. They’re
hydroseeding out there in my neighborhood every day when they get through
building a new house. If it is torrential rain and that rain hits Ohio Street Brad
Moore at the treatment plant has to treat it so, I mean, I just want you to
understand I’m not doing this to be belligerent, nasty, or anything. Believe me I
probably understand your pain more than anybody at this table because I am a
retired person and I’m old. So I’ve been there and done that. But I just can’t do
that in all good respect, Mr. King and I do have empathy for you but I will be
voting....
Councilor Gratwick: Any other Council comment then we’ll come back to Mr.
King. Councilor Palmer?
Councilor Palmer: Yes Chair Gratwick. I would move we abate $80.00 of the
$151.22 assessment for this sewer bill.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Is there a second? Lacking a
second, that fails. Any other Council discussion/questions? Mr. King, any other
comments? Otherwise I’d be asking for another motion.
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Mr. King: Well I forgot one thing that I wanted to mention. I mentioned it to
Mr. Moore earlier. It would seem to me that you might want to consider, he
might want to consider sending out a separate letter to a new landowner, to a
new homeowner telling them about this extra whatever rather than sending it in
the bill. Some people, I’m not one of them, but some people just throw
everything out and just pay the bill and they’re done with it. I read that stuff
and I don’t think it was in there. But, had I got a separate letter addressing
that, I certainly would have read it. So I just made that suggestion. That’s all.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you.
Mr. King: And I realize how you feel and I understand but I still like to be, have
my bill abated. That’s why I’m here.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Any other motion to be made?
Councilor Farrington?
Councilor Farrington: It is very difficult because we’ve known each other for 60+
years.
Mr. King: I went to Lincoln Grammar, not Wiliams.
Councilor Farrington: I still say you’re still a pretty good second baseman and it
was not helpful to Williams Grammar School when you played for Lincoln. But,
and I always take Councilor Palmers comments very seriously and the need to be
very friendly to people that are coming to Bangor. But we also have to be as
friendly to people who have been in Bangor a long time and I just think it’s very
difficult and I think Mr. King’s comments about getting the word out is right on
target. We discussed it at a prior meeting. The Committee members know this,
we did discuss it, the cost of getting it out, the effectiveness, and it is important
to do. So it is difficult to make the motion that we follow Staff recommendation
and not grant this abatement, which I will make that motion.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you, Sir.
Councilor Blanchette: And I’ll second it.
Councilor Gratwick: Seconded. Any other discussion? Councilor Wheeler?
Councilor Wheeler: I’m going to be voting in favor of this motion because I feel
the circumstances are considerably different that the first case, which was a
situation of which the applicant had absolutely no control and while no one can
control the rains, this is not a grub infestation situation. So I will support this
one. And I want to make it a matter of record that I’m older than Councilor
Blanchette and I’m also living on a fixed income.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you very much. Any other discussion? All...Councilor
Palmer?
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Councilor Palmer: Yes, I’ll be voting against this motion because I don’t think it’s
friendly enough to new residents and I know that I’m in the minority but I do
think the point has to be made. I would also hope we would develop a system
for not only this kind of piece. In other communities I lived in, there has been a
welcome wagon where they come and they give you things that are important
and they tell you about the community and they welcome you. It’s a very novel
thing but we in New England do is tend to be a little more reticent to do those
kind of things. But I think it would be very helpful in a welcoming way to help
people know about how to sort out their..and I know they get it in a general
sense but particularly to our new people. And I would suggest that Mr. King
probably pays more than a nickel for his property taxes, has a brand new home
in the City of Bangor. That if we could give him information not only about this
sub-meter method of discounting sewer, but also in terms of how to put your
recycling out, and what days and how to do that for new people. That might be
efforts well spent to help new members. And also, just putting our website in
the hands of new residents so that they would know how to. I know some of
that happens when you get into a community and it’s there but sometimes
getting it there when you need to have it, you’re late as in this situation. So I
would that we would consider doing that and we’ve got a great treatment plant
down there, we do a great job putting very good water back into the river. And
it cost money to do that. But I think this is exceptional case, for a new resident
to Bangor. Again, it looks to me like this, you’re appeal is going to be denied,
Mr. King. But I do appreciate you choosing Bangor and I’m glad you didn’t
choose some other community. I’m glad you chose us and I hope you give us a
chance as further down the road. Thank you.
Councilor Gratwick: Thank you. Any other further discussion? All in favor? 4-1.
Opposed Councilor Palmer. Thank you very much so the Staff recommendation
follows. Just one comment for Mr. Ring. Then, personally that this is one of
these very difficult situations we’ve been through this many times on this
Committee. And I appreciate very much your coming here and I guess this is
the nature of our democratic process here. And I apologize as a person, that I
voted against this. And on the other hand I hope you’ll participate in our
community because it’s basically a very good community. Each time we’ve gone
through this we have had several interesting ideas that have come up and I must
say, I think that the idea here that having a new person registering for the first
time, some handout would certainly be appropriate. And the larger question
Councilor Palmer has raised, I think there’s something we should deal with, I
think that would be very appropriate as we talk with the realtors, for
hydroseeders, and other people like that. It would certainly seem we could,
perhaps, talk informally after that and see how we could make this such a not
frequent occurrence. Other comments and then we’ll go on. Sir, do you have
any final comments?
Mr. King: Yes, I have another comment. I understand your situation and I’ll pay
the bill. Does anybody at this table know where I might get two trees.
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Councilor Gratwick: Two trees?
Mr. King: Two trees. Everybody else in the street seems to have two trees.
Councilor Gratwick: It turns out...
James Ring: I’ll have to check to see if you’re in a two tree zone. No, no, I’m
sorry. I assume that you’re referring to street trees out along near the edge of
the street and I will pass that information.
Mr. King: .......like this and somebody came along and put in a tree.
Ed Barrett: Those are normally done in the spring.
James Ring: Right.
Ed Barrett: It will probably be next spring.
James Ring: I will pass that information on to the City Forester and hopefully we
can accommodate you on that one.
Ed Barrett: If we don’t show up next spring, give us a call and we’ll send
somebody right out.
Mr. King: I was there last fall, you didn’t show up this spring.
James Ring: We’ll automatically do them, so...
Mr. King: I will be there next spring and if you don’t show up.....(inaudible)
Ed Barrett: Let us know. You call me or you could call Jim Ring who’s the City
Engineer. We’ll try to make sure you get ‘em.
Councilor Gratwick: Wheels that squeak and wheels that are part of our system
we’ll have to take care of.
Mr. King: What kind of tree will I get?
James Ring: Talk with the City Forester.
Councilor Wheeler: Laws are passed by people like we, but only Jim Ring can
plant a tree.
Councilor Gratwick: And with that, thank you very much. We’re on to the next
item of business which is #3.
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3. Sargent Corporation Lease Amendment – Building 457
Ed said Rebecca was not available and would go over the table, if necessary.
Sargent Corporation was requesting a five year lease extension for the upgrade
of the hangar for $195,000. The upgrades would involve the passenger entry
area, upgrade security, to fix an office window, bi-fold hangar door, door motor,
and insulation of the hangar. They would pay 50% of the cost of improvement if
they opt out early. Ed stated the rate would be for 20,520 for the first year and
25,000 thereafter. Councilor Blanchette asked if they were agreeable to the
schedule and stated it would be a good investment. “Bangor’s future today &
tomorrow” and stated upgrades of the building would be easier to lease. She
asked staff’s recommendation. Ed said the building needed to be refurbished.
This would have to go to Council and would have to table and refer to the next
TIC meeting if not happy with it. Councilor Wheeler requested the figures be
gone over and how would they recoup the investment. Ed said they pay all the
utilities and normally terms would be over a ten year period. He stated he would
get details and provide them. This would be brought back to the Council with a
vote of five.
4. Lease Agreement – Bangor Fusion
Bangor Fusion wished to lease Dock 11 for their annual awards dinner. The
short term rate would be $592.00 plus utilities and two employees for security.
Legal would draft an agreement. Both Bangor International Airport and Bangor
Fusion were happy with the arrangement. Motion was made and seconded for
approval.
5. Referral: Council Order 08-311, Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a
Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions for the Preservation of Property at
1331 Essex Street.
Jim said Dr. Gene Benson was trying to sell and subdivide the property at 1331
Essex Street, which had 66 acres of property across from Burleigh Road. He
must provide, according to the Marsh/Mall Overlay Zone preserve 30% open
space which would be 20 acres. The preserve area was close to the
marsh/wetland area within the buffer for protection. This would be consistent
with the Ordinance and it was the recommendation of the Penjajawoc Marsh/Mall
Commission. The purpose was to establish legal limitations and to assure
preservation for future use regardless of who holds it. Type of restriction limit
future use on the conservation area to things like light recreation/nature study
habitat preserve. The declaration would be approved in a form acceptable to the
City Solicitor. The restriction would be that it could not be harvested, gravel
pitted, or homes. Councilor Farrington stated a conflict of interest as this was his
client. Councilor Wheeler stated there was a lack of financial or personal
interest. Councilor Wheeler moved. Councilor Blanchette asked if the Bangor
Land Trust was aware, Jim responded they were and had reviewed and assisted
with the conveyance. It was also reviewed by the Penjajawoc Marsh/Mall
Commission. Councilor Gratwick asked who would pay the taxes and Jim
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responded the owner on record would. Councilor Gratwick asked if it were only
limited conservation use. Jim suggested rework on the phrase “limited”.
Councilor Palmer moved and Councilor Blanchette seconded.
Meeting moved and seconded to adjourn.
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