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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-21 Finance Committee Minutes FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES December 21, 2020 Councilors in Attendance: Hawes, Nichols, Fournier, Sprague, Okafor Staff in Attendance: Laurie, Conlow, Cromwell, Labree, Saucier, Theriault 1. Consent Agenda a. Workout Agreement – 60 Kossuth Street - Vardamis b. Workout Agreement – 71 Harvard Street – Heirs of Barbara Cleveland c. Workout Agreement – 104 Mt. Hope Ave – Cassidy Motion made and seconded to accept consent agenda items, motion passed unanimously. 2. Bids/Purchasing a. Kenduskeag Stream Retaining Wall Repair – Engineering – Lou Silver Construction Company - $275,000 A Councilor asked whether the price included any contingency for the work, staff shared that additional funding had been identified for that potential, but the contractor and City had developed a complete plan for the repair and the proposed price reflected that. Motion made and seconded to recommend contract award to City Council, motion passed unanimously. b. Sale of Tax Acquired Property – 42 Winter Street – Apollo Properties - $35,001 A Councilor inquired as to whether the City had direct experience with the bidder, staff replied we had not, but had verified had completed a similar project in Eddington, bidder also provided information that supports financial capacity to undertake the rehabilitation. Motion made and seconded to recommend sale to City Council, motion passed unanimously. c. Sale of Tax Acquired Property – 149 Elm Street – Apollo Properties - $50,001 Motion made and seconded to recommend sale to City Council, motion passed unanimously. d. Sale of Tax Acquired Property – 222 Davis Road – Keith Martin - $15,500 Staff reviewed the recommendation to sell the property to the third highest bidder based on the proposal being the best use of the property (the high bidder withdrew as they had preferred the prior two properties, the second highest bidder proposed to rehab the home and rent it). The recommended bidder’s proposal included rehabilitating the property with a proposed intent to sell to a first time homeowner. The rehab plan and budget submitted were appropriate. Motion made and seconded to recommend sale to City Council, motion passed unanimously. e. Sale of Tax Acquired Property – 21 Eaton Place – David & Jacquelyn Gillen - $1,000 Staff reviewed the recommendation to sell the property to the third highest bidder again based on the proposed best use of the property. The use being to rehabilitation the property with the intent of targeting workforce tenants, specifically professional healthcare workers. In addition, other bidders proposed demolishing the property to expand abutting properties or a new home. The recommendation also took into account the desire to rehab properties whenever possible to preserve the character of the neighborhood and to maintain housing stock. Motion made and seconded to recommend sale to City Council, motion passed unanimously. f. Transit Agency Structural Analysis – RLS & Associates - $27,976 The transit agency structural analysis of the Community Connector has been discussed in prior Committee and workshop settings. A Councilor inquired as to whether the study was being undertaken with a particular direction in mind, staff shared that the study was to seek an outside opinion as to the best method to run a public transit system with multiple municipal partners. Motion made and seconded to approve contract, motion passed unanimously. g. Bus Stop Policy and Placement Contract – BACTS - $43,712 The bus stop policy and placement contract for the Community Connector system has been discussed in prior Committee and workshop settings. A Council inquired as to why the proposed contract length was 18 months. Staff shared that the proposed time line included a significant amount of time for public input to ensure that once stop placement is finalized there would be minimal need to change. Motion made and seconded to approve contract, motion passed unanimously. 3. Resolve, Accepting & Appropriating $25,000 in Maine DOT Funding for a Transit Structural Analysis This resolve would appropriate Maine DOT funding to provide the majority of the funding for the transit structural analysis discussed on the agenda earlier tonight. Motion made and seconded to recommend Resolve to City Council, motion passed unanimously. 4. Resolve, Ratifying Application and Acceptance of $36,000 in Tourism, Hospitality & Retail Recovery Grant Funds from the State of Maine This item was brought forward for Committee consideration during the meeting. The City was recently notified that the Cross Insurance Center (CIC) was awarded the $36,000 in grant funding. This opportunity came about through the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Department via the allocation of State of Maine Coronavirus Relief Funds. There was a very short window in which to apply. The opportunity was available for organizations on which the COVID 19 restrictions had significantly impacted. Clearly the CIC has felt that impact. The Resolve would ratify staff’s action in applying for the funds as well as accept the funding. A Councilor has what the funds would be used for, staff shared it would be used for regular operating expenses (i.e. utilities). Motion made and seconded to recommend adoption of the Resolve to the City Council, motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 5:55 pm