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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-09-20 Finance Committee Minutes � 1 Finance Committee Minutes � September 20, 2004 Councilors Attending: Frank Farrington, Gerry Palmer, Peter D'Errico, Geoff ' Gratwick, Anne Allen Staff Attending: Deb Cyr, Dave Pellegrino, Bob Dawes, Sally Bates, John Hamer, Jim Ring, Ed Barrett � Others Attending: � - i. Consent Agenda a. Council Resolve 04-278, Accepting &Appropriating HUD Grant Funds b. Council Ordinance 04-249, Amending Code of Ethics to Add the Tree Board ' ' and Make Minor Organizational Changes c. Quitclaim Deed- Thompson- 15 Wing Street I d. Update on Cues, Inc. Councilor Palmer requested to move items a, b, and c and pull out item d � because he was hoping to hear something from Mr. Little on this item. Gratwick requested to pull out item b. A motion was made and seconded to approve items a and c. � Councilor Gratwick had a question on item b. Gratwick addressed Hamer stating that he did not know what this means, specifically the wording seemed unclear. , Gratwick stated that even if the wording were explained to him that the lack of clarity wold be confusing to others. � Hamer stated that this amendment reorganizes the location of a couple of things. Personal Interest Definition is the same as it exists, but in a different location of , the ordinance. The Ethics Board felt that the location of this definition was not the proper location, so they wanted to move this definition. In terms of clariry, the personal interest is trying to separate the types of interest. In the Ethics � Ordinance there are financial interests, special interests and personal interests, if an employee had a personal interest that they want to represent themselves before a board, these definitions would show what a personal interest is, such � as, if they wanted to add a stop sign to the end of the street that they live on then they could come to the committee and this would not be a conflict of interest before the board. This separates a personal interest from a financial / interest or a special interest. Councilor Gratwick stated that he believes the grammar and content is so unclear that it should be re-worded. ' Councilor Gratwick stated that he votes against it because of the wording, not because of the actual purpose. He thought that it needed to be clearer since this is something that the general public will be reading. � r � Councilor Farrington was also concerned with the substance of the section, such � as the information, not the location. Councilor Palmer felt it might be best to do some committee work to find some � clarity for readability and content. He didn't see an urgency to get this approved this very moment, thinks it would be good to do research. Councilor D'Errico , agreed that it should go back to committee. Councilor Palmer moved to postponed this topic until the next regular Finance � Committee meeting and hopefully have some research done in the interim. Councilor Gratwick said that he would be happy to work with Hamer for the next meeting. Gratwick seconded the motion to postpone this. ' Councilor D'Errico asked if the Board of Ethics had reviewed the issue, and Hamer replied that they did not review this actual definition. The Board did not ' have any issues with the definition so therefore did not review it. Councilor D'Errico asked if the Board should be requested to meet and participate on this review process. John Hamer replied that, yes, they would be involved. , Councilor Farrington said that the way this definition reads seems to discriminate � � against the city employee who is a resident, landowner, or taxpayer. It doesn't seem to affect a city employee who is not a resident, landowner, or taxpayer. Councilor Farrington said the he does not think that the City should discriminate � in favor of the non-resident. Item d. is the update on Cues Inc. Cyr indicated that Cues, Inc. did make their � scheduled payment on Friday. A motion was made and seconded to approve item d. 2. Bids/Purchasing r a. Police Cruisers- Motor Pool- Kallis Ford-$87,988 ' A motion was made and seconded to approve staff's recommendation. The vote was 3-1. b. Water's Edge Improvements- Engineering- Cianbro Corporation-$2,243,977 � The City Engineer discussed the project in detail. A motion was made and � seconded to approve staff's recommendation to the full Counci�. c. Asbestos Removal- City Hall- American Abatement Inc.- $22,825 � A motion was made and seconded to approve staff's recommendation. 3. Request for Quitclaim Deed for Vacated Street ' At the taxpayer's request, this item was tabled. A motion was made and seconded to table the item. ' r ' � 4. Review of Municipal Cultural Pian , Bates said the Plan was reviewed for content by the Business and Economic Development and minor changes were made. The BED Committee also requested that the Plan be reviewed by the Finance Committee to consider a � maximum or minimum appropriation in any given year. Cyr said she likes the Plan as it provides a distinct funding cycle, it provides an established available amount, and it allows a Committee with background in the arts and cultural area � to review and recommend. Bates said the City would budget a maximum amount in any given year, organizations would make application that would be screened by the municipal cultural commission who would in turn make a � recommendation to the Council regarding the request for funding. Any unused portion of the budgeted amount be placed into a reserve for any future significant project. If the money is used for projects that are truly meritorious, it ' is an incentive to the requestor. Staff will provide Council with a list of potential commission members and Council will make the appointments. A motion was , made and seconded to approve staff's recommendation as outlined. Gratwick commended Bates for her work with the Plan. � 5. Executive Session- 36 MRSA Sec. 841 (2)- Hardship Abatement A motion was made and seconded to go into Executive Session. ' 6. Open Session- Decision Hardship Abatement ' A motion was made and seconded to approve staff's recommendation. ' � The meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m. � ' , ' � r