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Home My WebLink About1992-08-17 Finance Committee Minutes • Finance Cc�rmittee August 17, 1992 at 5:00 gn • M��'F:S Councilors in Attendance: John ffiagg, Jane Saxl, Gerry Baldacci, Bill Cohen Staff Present: Ed Barrett, Erik Stw�rpfel, David Pellegrino, Ben Birch, Lillian Smith, Judy Roscetti, Art,hur Stockus, Dale Theriault 1. Update on Assessing Departm�nt City Assessor Ben Birch addressed th,e Ccarmittee and referred the m�mbers to a m�norandum dated August 13, 1992 which was in�cluded in the Council packet and was titled Assessing Depatitmerit Status Report. Mr. Birch also discussed with the Ccarmittee the in�creasing n�r of tax abate�nent requests which are being received frcan c�rocial property awners. Mr. Birch provided the Ccarmittee with a listing of seven recent abate�nt requests (see attached) . Mr. Birch indicated that many of the abat�nt requests were n�;Ged on the inccane approach to value. The City has traditionally used the cost approach, and the use of the inco�rie approach has be�n gra�ring in the private sector due to the state of the current econcany. City Solicitor Stumpfel reported. to the Council t1�at a recent State Supr�rie Court case ;nrl;cates that assessors are requircd to take the incoane approach into account in their assessment in certain instances. Mr. Birch requested that the Ccarmittee consider authorizing him to mak,e use of scsrie consulting assistance on ttwse assessment requests which are ir�ccBrie • based. He indicated that the appraisal provided for the Merchants Plaza was a doc�nt of over 150 pages in length and that it was necessary and w�uld be helpful for scane outside assistance in evaluating this request. Mr. Pellegrino indicated t1�at the City has standing contracts with a nw�nber of appraisers here in tawn to pPxfornn this function. �he Carmittee requested that Mr. Birch contact the appropriate appraisers and detezmine the approxi.mate amount which would be requi:Ced. Mr. Birch is to return to the Finance Cammittee with further inforn�ation on this at its next meeting. In gen�ral, the Ccarmittee supported Mr. Birch's suggestion that outside assistance be sought in certain highly technical assessment reviews. 2. City Insurance City Manac,�x Ed. Barr�tt indicated to the Ccgrmittee that infonnation had been provided to the City by the Dunlap Agency rega,�,r�;n� �loyn�nt related practices liability insurance. This 3nformation was provided due to the discussion which was held at the time our �n��T'atlice bid was awarded. regarding various gaps in our insurance caverage. Th�e policy in question would cover wrongful t�rnunation, C�].SCr�m�natl0ri� and sexual harassn�nt. It wr�uld also be extended. to ccanplaints under the Am�xicans With Disabilities Act relating to the �snplayment pravisions of that Act. After praviding this information, Durilap has revieta�d certain of our public officials policies which are carried by NIl� and has concluded that � our current policies pravide cavexage for the majority of these issues. � • As a result, it i.s not necessary to proceed at this time to investigate an e�nplayment related practices liability policy. Staff was authorized by the Cc�rmittee to continue to review the possibi.lity of praviding • caverage for any Civil Rights actions which might be brought against the City. 3. Request for Patient Lifts-City Nursing Facility Recently, Judy Roscetti, Nursing Facility Ar�m�n�Gtrator, has beccHne aw�are of soane newer patient lifts which have beccerYe available. Overall, many of the Workers' Co�npe�n.sation claims arising against the Nursing Facility have been as a result of back or muscle strai.ns which eqnplo�yees have experienced due to the necessity for lifting patients. With the n,�uer lifts which are naw available, marxy of these lifting tasks can be discontinued. through the use of these patient lifts. Judy Roscetti requested the Co�nmittee to approve the purchase of tw� lifts in the amount of approx5mately $9,000. The Coarmittee authorized staff to begin the purchasing process and to prepare the necessary papezwork for the City Council. 4. Bids: The follawing bids were apprav+ed: a. Ferti.lizer and F�ngicid,e in the ampunt of $12,454.34 to O.M. Scott & Sons Ccanpany, the sole source providex for th+ese products. UnarLurr�usly appraved. b. Cubicle Curtains and Drapes for the Nursing Faci.lity addition to TI Associates, Inc., at $4,075.90, the law bidder. Unani.�rausly approved. � c. Ghain Link Fence for Williams Park in the amount of $4,760.00 to Security Fence Co�r�pany, the law bidder. Purchasing Agent Dave Pellegrino reported. to the Ccarm.ittee that he had p�rsonally inspected th�e fence inStallation pexfonr�d by Secu.rity Fence Ccanpany at Bass Park. Aftex r�view, he detennined that the fencing provided met or exceeded the City's specifications and that the installation was perfonned in accordance with th,e City's specifications. Councilor Saxl aslced why chain link fencing was necessary at Williams Park. Director of Op�xations and Maintenan�ce, Arthur Stockus, indicated that the fencing would be installed at the foot of the hill along Hancock Street. This would insure that children in particular would not be placed in a situation of going dawn the hill and into the street should they be chasing a ball or other tay. In addition, fencing w:ill also be placed alang adjacent residential pmperties to delineate the boundary between the park and private property. Councilor Saxl requested that the height of the fencing be kept to 4 ft. and not 6 ft. such as was installed at Bass Park. Dave Pellegrino indicated that the bid called for a 4 ft. fence. The bid avrard as reccam�nded was unanimpusly appraved. d. Poly-fiber Crack Sealant to Maine Sealer Products and Supply, Inc., the law bidder, in the amount of $3,510.00. The Co�rmittee requested an update on the status of the crack sealing machi.ne which was recently punchased. Arthur Stockus indicated that the machine has been und,ergoing repairs and being brought back to first class condition by the party frcan � � _ _ • which it was rn„rhased. The Ccerm.itt:ee questioned whether any money had beP.n paid for the machin� yet. Mr. Stockus indicated that the City has not paid for the machine and that it was the clear und�rstanding betw�en • the City and the v+endor that paym�.nt would not be made until the machin+e had been fully renovated. Mr. Stockus indicated that he was pleased with the efforts being made and that th�ere was no resi.stan�ce on the part of the vendor to making the necessary improv�r�.nts. Councilor Baldacci aslced. what would happen to the piece of equigrient which the machine would be replacing. Mr. Stockus ind.icated that the older machine would be sold. Councilor Baldacci asked what was better about the current or new machine. Stockus indicated that the new machine was able to use a sealant material which included fiberglass fib�rs. This material is mpre flexible and was better able to withstand ground �nt then the material which the old machi.ne used. In addition, the newer mach�nP pravides for more unifonn heating of the ma.texial. T�e older machin,e directly h,eated the material often resulting in lwt and cold spots and/or b��;ng of the ma.terial which further reduced its usefulness. Councilor Baldacci as]sed whether similar machines and materials w�x� being used elsewhere. Mr. Stockus indicated that similar material and machines had been used to seal cracks in the Inte.rstate and Tu.rnpike f�n south of Augusta to the State line. He also indicated that he had used this material and machine in the City of Br�wpx. Z'he bid award was appraved., Councilor Baldacci, dissenting. e. Award of bid for BurnPx Replac�rient at the Nursing Facility to Mechanical Services, the law responsive bidder. MecharLical S�rvices, Inc. was the thizd law bidder. Baudreaus Plumbing and Heating sulxnitted a bid which included a $3,000 error and which specified a Beckett Burn�r which is not equal to the Carlin Burner which was specified. Industrial • Heating and Piping Ccanpany also bid lawer than Nlechanical Services, Inc., but again. s�ecified the Beckett i3i�rnPr, pu��q Aq�nt Pellegrino indicated that the Carlin Burner has three nozzles and does not require a pressure �,�ator. The Beckett Burner has twr� nozzles and does require a regulator. In addition, the Beck+ett was recently pulled off of the market because of engineering pmblc�ns with its design. Bob Burns, the City's Heating Z+echnician, has re�view�d the specifications for the Beckett and Carlin and feels that the Carlin Burner is a mouch superior product which will requi.re significantly less maintenance aver its lifetime. He strongly rec�,ed the Carlin �,irner. Bid award was i�nanimn�Gly appro�v�d.. f. Manhole and Catchbasin Ccariponents. Bid was to Gagn,e Precast, the law bidder, at $4,473.00. Purchasing Ac�ent indicated that the prices bid by American Concrete Industries and Gagne Precast vuere very similar. Hawever, Gagne Precast offered a 20� discount if materia].s were picked up by City personnel and not delivered.. American Concrete offered. a 10� discount. This was a rev+Pxsal of last year's bid where Am�rican had bid 20� discount and Gagne 10�. Coun�cilor Baldacci aslced why there are so many manholes throughout the City which are not at grade with the surrounding strcet surface or which shaw large cracks betw�exi the manhole and the strc-�et. Stockus indicated that the major probleqn was that many of our manholes extend as far as 20 ft. belaw the surface of the stre�t. Anchored at these lawer l�vels, these structures do not move with frost � action in the wintex. In many areas, Bangor has soils with significant �rmunts of clay which retain water. During the winter, these areas may • • •� rise as much as 6-12 1T1CY1�S Wrl�� '1@ ICIaT1Y101E� Y�'��T�5 firmly anchored. This results in stress cracking to the su•rrounding asphalt. Baldacci asked whether the crack sealant, which was previously purchased, wr�uld be � effective in these areas. Stoclais indicated that such sealant would h+elp reduce t,he �unt of potholing which could occur but that it wr�uld not address problems created by frost heav+es. EAB/jdr • � • � �` ' TAX A�A7EME�T 1 o F'r•oper•ty Ta:; S�1 ut i nns � I`'!er•cn�nts F'la�a Associ.�tes ASSESSMEhlT OWNERS OF'T N T OfV D I�FE�iEIVCE A�t�TEh7E1�IT FY9..��'_ �y..c.it�'3�q1i_�i.y �,??�,cii_�c�� -- r93, 1��C� = 16,B9�, t�� FY9� �,664,4{3{7 �4 ii5,tai_y�� — 889,4t�s� = 19,i_a��. 16 ^. Cncapet�• °� Lybr•and . F`or•teous I}epar•tment Star•e ASSESSMEI�IT CIW�lERB OF'I�I I OI� D I F�EREIVGE ABATEh'lEhIT 4 4�b�,8i_ac_y �,4 r i,c��t_at.a — f ,i 86,8c".�ix — �g,�:�r �n Tnter•national Appr�•aisal Comp�ny C�r•r•�l s Corpor•ati on—L��►r•ger k::i ng ' .�f. ASSESSI"IEI4l' OWI�IERS OF'I I�i T OI�I D I��EFiEl�ICE AL-�ATEMEf�lT 58�,i_xc_�i_r 4fa8,i_ri_ac_� — 1 i 4,C��=�i_r = ^,4�8.^t� 4e F'r•oper•ty Ta.t Solutian� M.Le Coffin Esldg, 1^9� Hammand Str•eet . ASSESSMEI�lT OWh1ERS OF'I�I I ClN D I F�EREI�iCE AL�ATEMEf�lT " g:�B, 1c:�ia b9�,t:rc:�t_a �.'A�Jy iiyi_� �,t�9i_,.f�� • 54 RQber-�t Duer�r 4�3 Har•low Str�•eet ASSESSMEI�IT OWh1EFi5 OF'I I�I I Ofr! D I FFE�iEhICE AE�ATEI�IEI�IT a9�F,Si ai_� �3�,i_�i_�s� �59,8i_yi� i 9 6b�. i 4 6. Rober•t I}�ier ?� C�ntr�•�1 Street ASSESSMEi�IT OWI�IEFS OF'T N T OI�I D T FFEFEhICE AE�ATEl�EIrIT 59�,2i�� 'i�,c".r[a[_� 3�r,2C�i_� r,6t78 0 36 r. Bangor• Savings E�an�:: E�angor• Oper•a Hoc.�se ASSESSI"IENT CIIrJh•fERS OF'I1�!I QN D I FFEFiENCE AE�ATE!'1EI�iT 2�g,8i_ri_7 18i_a,i_r��i_r 49 9 Si_ai� 1 y I_1�jJ. r 2 • �