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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-08-06 Finance Committee MinutesFinance Committee Meeting Minutes August 6, 2003 ® 5:00 PM Councilors Attending: Dan Tremble, Richard Greene, Gerry Palmer, Frank Farrington, Anne Allen, Dave Nealley Staff Attending: Deb Cyr, Dave Pellegrino, Dave Little, Charlie Mitchell, Jim Ring, Jonathan Daniels, Ben Birch, Penelope Olson Others Attending: Norinne Daly The meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. 1. Consent Agenda a. Quitclaim Deed —Moleon-88 Patten Street It. Quitclaim Deed — Perry — Lot 20 Pray's Mobile Home Park The Committee approved the Consent Agenda. 2. Bids/Purchasing a. 4 x 4 Pickup Trude — Motor Pool — Vamey's Pontiac - $19,729 It. Harlow St Sewer Separation — Engineering — Lou Silver - $317,814 c. Request to Walve Bid Process— Sign Boards — Workers Camp/Safety The Committee approved Items a and c. The Committee recommended item 6 to full Council. 3. Request for Support— UMaine Friends of Community Policing Cyr said that the University of Maine Friends of Community Policing (FCP) have requested a waiver of the rental charges associated with the Grandstand and Civic Center for the "Musical Ride of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to be held on September 21, 2003. She noted that normally the waiting period is seven years to get a spot on the FCP tour. The University is promoting their Campaign fora Safe UAWine and to highlight their new mounted unit on campus and the equestrian drill team associated with it. The University is planning two shows, and along with promoting their programs, they wish to raise monies to start an endowment fund to aid In supporting all of the department's community policing efforts, such as dorm and team mentors, student Safe Walkers, K-9, and crisis awareness programs. Cyr noted that Bangor has close ties with Canada, and is attempting to coordinate a sister city exchange with St. John, N.B. that weekend. Greene wanted to know what exactly their request is. Cyr said that they are asking for the daily rental of the grandstand and the Civic Center for a total of $2,000. Tremble wanted to know if there is a program book, and If so Is the City taking out an ad for it. A represemative from the University Said that they are starting to put together a program and need to sell advertising for it. Daniels said that the City would be taking out an ad. Nealley wanted to know what percentage of the funds already raised have been secured out of the private sector. Ms. Sproul, a representative for the "Muscal Ride Program" said that she did not think any funds had been raised yet. Nealley said that according to City policy, the City should be a place of last resort after funding efforts in the private sector have been exhausted. Nealley said that he did not think that this request qualified for Committee consideration due to the lack of private fund raising efforts. Tremble wanted to know if the St. John people were actually coming to Bangor. Daniels said that we have been unable to coordinate with St. John as yet. Sproul said that FCP has not had much success in raising funds, and anything that they on save on the event would help the endowment in the long run. Greene wanted to know how much the ads sell for. Sproul said that they have some ads for 1/8 of a page and that the Va page ads are $250. The program is a total of eight pages, however she was not sure how many ads are In the program. Greene wanted to know what sire ad the City would be purchasing in the program. Daniels mid that if the City could be on a full page on the inside or back cover, then we usually do purchase it Greene said that if we could find in favor of the donated funds, could the City get an ad placement free of charge. Sproul Said that she could take this back to the Committee for consideration. Palmer asked for an explanation of the program. Sproul briefly described the program which includes Mounties, Hanoverian black mounts and a synchronized show. Palmer wanted to know if CBC would be here to broadcast the event. Sproul noted that Bangor, Maine is listed on the website for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Musical Ride tour schedule. Allen said that this is an opportunity to bring a different culture Into the City. Palmer agreed and noted that this Coundl has been very good at trying to push partnerships with the University, and that this was a good opportunity to do so. A motion was made and seconded to approve the request. Nealley doubted the -- motion, and stated that there is a policy that states that the CM is a place of last resort for funding, and that has not happened in this case. He said that he is very supportive of this project, however the taxpayers should not be the sponsors of the program. Farrington noted that he does not have a vote on the Issue, however he expressed concern that this clearly does not meet the requlremems of our policy. He mid if the agreement with our sister city, SC John was to happen, then this might be an area to support. Palmer briefly described his reasons far supporting this request, and the various Potential benefits to the City. Tremble said that this is a benefit to the City and that we should support it with an ad in the program. The Committee recommended to the Council that the City waive the Grandstand and Civic Center rental fees for this event by a vote of 3-2. 4, Residents Request for Reimbursement Dave Little said that Mr. Syvereon, a Bangor resident, has requested a reimbursement of expenses incurred while in Scarborough, ME. Syverson was stopped, detained and had his vehicle impounded by the Scarborough Police Department for "illegal attachment of plates." Syverson feels that he had a misunderstanding with the Treasury Office that caused "the illegal attachment of plates." In December 2002, Mr. Syverson came into the Treasury office to register a new vehicle to him, however he wanted to use an old set of license plates. The City collected excise tax and Mr. Syverson needed to go to the Motor Vehicle Branch Office to finish the registration. Syverson said that he was under the assumption that his registration was completed, because the dark told him he was all set," therefore, he never went to Motor Vehicle. Mr. Syverson incurred expenses totaling $196 for bail; bus rickets and Impound fees. He feels that since this was a misunderstanding on both parties, he would like reimbursement for some or all of his expenses. Palmer wanted to know If Syverson was native to the area. Little said that he is currently a Bangor resident and has registered vehicles in the City before. Tremble wanted to know if we mid plates at City Hall If the transaction could have been completed. Little said that if we were a full registration town, then we could have completed the transaction. Tremble wanted to get this on the agenda. Palmer said that we should examine the signage in the Treasury Department regarding vehicle registration. The Committee denied this request 5. Asci uom Update Ben Birch, City Assessor, distributed a one page summary of the Assessor's Commitment Report. He briefly described the various forms that the Assessing office is required to file. Tremble wanted to know if the City had a breakdown In the increase in total taxable property from new buildings versus Increased assessment. Birch said that this is included in the valuation report. The commitment date was July IV, and the abatement window Is 185 days. Birch Said that the City is officially certifying 100%. He presented a summary page of the TIF Report He discussed the various ways the department is using to notify the public concerning assessing issues. The Homestead Exemption process was presented in a PowerPoint presentation on the Government Channel. He said Nat the City has obtained a copy of a video from the Maine Rent Tax and Refund Program concerning the Tax Relief Program that will be shown on the Government Channel during committee meetings. He said that the tax bills should be in the mail by the end of the week. 6. Review of Investment Policy — Airport Cyr said that this is a proposed Investment policy far the Airport funds. Cyr said that last year staff had come forward with an Investment policy for the City that had not been updated since 1985. R did not allow the City to invest out beyond one year. Cyr said that we specthoMyr exempted the BIA investment amount from the new policy. She said that investable funds from the City are different from the Investable funds at the Airport. The Airport policy Is to maintain a 2% minimum cash equivalent with up to 10% in stacks and 70-100% fixed-income. Tremble said that this policy only applies to the bust amount, to which Cyr confirmed. Tremble verified that the value of the account was $1415 million Nealley said that although this was not In a policy form, the Airport must have been investing in this manner, so really we are Just making a policy to cover prudent money management. Cyr said that this is to formalize what we have already been doing. Tremble wanted to know if we have had any investments In stock at the Airport, before we adopt the new policy. Olson said that we have received a few shares of NWA in bankruptcy, however no other stock investments. The Committee recommended the Airport investment policy to the full Council The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.