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Home My WebLink About2013-02-05 Business and Economic Development Committee Minutes BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE Tuesday, February 5, 2013 5:15 PM City Council Chambers MINUTES Chair Sprague called the meeting to order at 5:15 p.m. Councilors Present: Nealley, Durgin, Civiello, and Longo. Staff Present: Vanadestine, Pereira and Bird. 1. Cultural Commission Grant Recommendations a. Bangor Museum and History Center b. Penobscot Theatre Company Jason Bird explained that the Cultural Commission is recommending two grants. One for the Bangor Museum and History Center for its Brown Bag Lunch sessions and one for the Penobscot Theater Company for an upcoming play about cancer and its impact on families. Staff recommended approval. Councilor Longo moved Staff recommendation. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously. Councilor Longo asked if the brown bag lunch session was open to everyone. Bird indicated that it was and it is held the first Wednesday of each month. Councilor Civiello indicated that because the City is going to be seeing a budget crunch, while she felt that this is a very good cause she would have a hard time voting to spend money on these activities. Councilor Durgin indicated that the funding for these grants has already been approved under the City’s FY 13 Budget and the different agencies seeking grants come before the Council for approval. Councilor Nealley indicated that he would prefer not to vote on this because he is a Bangor Museum and History Center Board Member. He gave a brief history of the Cultural Commission noted that the Finance Committee received these requests for funds and it never seemed right to take property tax money and offer it out to various organizations. The Finance Committee Members felt that these organizations needed to go out and ask individuals, corporations and other businesses for the money. After doing so and having exhausted private sector support the Finance Committee would consider their request if they could prove 2 that 1) it was benefit to the greater good of the majority of Bangor or add some special benefit to the citizens of Bangor, and 2) if they could show that over time they would find a way to make it sustainable on their own so they wouldn’t need to come back year after year to ask the City for funding. In an effort to get these policies established and because the Finance Committee did not want to review these requests, the Cultural Commission was established. The Finance Committee allocates funds (with the vote of the full City Council) to the Cultural Commission and it was their responsibility to consider and determine which requests meet certain thresholds. Councilor Nealley suggested that the Council needs to look at the Cultural Commission’s role and either they should have some policy guidelines to base their review on. Chair Sprague noted that the issue of a conflict of interest was on the table. Councilor Longo suggested putting a time limit on when an organization could reapply for funding. He indicated that both organizations under consideration will keep money local and disburse it back into the community. Councilor Durgin said that this would be a good time for the Council to look at the Cultural Commissions guidelines as the Council establishes parameters on the FY 14 Budget. Councilor Civiello indicated that she wanted to clarify that this money has already been budgeted. Councilor Durgin moved that Councilor Nealley does not have a conflict on this issue. Councilor Longo seconded the motion. Councilor Durgin did not feel that he had a direct bearing on Councilor Nealley’s business or that he would derive some direct financial benefit. As a Board Member he is taking on a charitable responsibility in the community and he is not making the request, this is coming from the Cultural Commission as part of their total project for the year. Chair Sprague did not feel that Councilor Nealley has a conflict of interest. City Solicitor Norm Heitmann indicated that even if the Councilor would not financially benefit, a case could be made that the Councilor has a special interest. If you have a special interest then you have a conflict. Heitmann recommended that the motion be made in the affirmative and suggested that the motion on the table be withdrawn. The motion was withdrawn. Councilor Durgin moved that Councilor Nealley has a conflict of interest. The motion was seconded by Councilor Civiello. The committee voted in favor. 3 2. Cultural Commission Recommendation – Sister City Monument for Harbin, China Jason Bird brought forward a recommendation that was put forth by the Chinese Language and Cultural Center of Maine which is based in Bangor and Mr. Gerry Palmer a former Councilor and Mayor who is affiliated with the group. Mr. Palmer approached the Commission who voted to go forward with the monument essentially as designed with some final tweaks to the materials that will be used on the outside of it. Councilor Longo indicated that having a sculpture of no cost to the City will be a benefit. Councilor Civiello asked why in 2010 when this came up why it didn’t pass at that time. Councilor Nealley explained that they were looking for funding from the Cultural Commission and eventually set up their own nonprofit. They not only are providing all of the funding, they plan to inspect and maintain the sculpture. The only thing the City will have to consider is the location. Councilor Nealley indicated that he is in support of this. Councilor Durgin agreed. He asked what the timeframe was for placement of the Continuity of Community sculpture that was taken out of West Market Square. Vanadestine noted that it has been refurbished and plans are to place it on the waterfront in the spring as soon as the snow is gone and the ground thaws. Jason Bird indicated that Staff is seeking the Committee’s recommendation to the full Council. Councilor Longo moved Staff recommendation to recommend this to the full Council. Councilor Durgin seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. 3. Executive Session – Economic Development – Land Disposition – 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C) Councilor Longo moved to go into Executive Session under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C). Councilor Durgin seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. 4. Committee Action on Above Item Councilor Longo moved Staff recommendation to include an option to purchase to the lease. Councilor Nealley seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 4 5. Executive Session – Economic Development – Property disposition - 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C) Councilor Longo moved to go into Executive Session under 1 M.R.S.A. § 405(6)(C). Councilor Durgin seconded the motion. All in favor, motion carried. 6. Committee Action on Above Item. Councilor Nealley moved Staff recommendation to proceed with the process as outlined on the Freese’s building. Councilor Durgin seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous in favor. The meeting was adjourned.