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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-05 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes Municipal Operations Committee Meeting Minutes i October 5, 1999 Councilors Attending: Nichi Farnham, John Rohman, )oe Baldacci, Gerry Palmer Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Jim Ring, John Hamer, Norm Heitmann Others Attending: Residents of Birch Hill Estates, Bangor Postmaster Steven Hathaway Meeting called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Chair Rohman 1. Home Postal Deliver�r to Birch Hill Estates Mobile Home Park Ed Barrett explained a letter was received from a resident of Birch Hill Estates expressing concerns about the proposal from the Post Office to go from individual residence delivery to group mailboxes. The Post Office has been pursuing more of these types of mailboxes as more new development takes place in the City. Postmaster Steven Hathaway addressed the Committee explaining the position of the Post Office. Individuals living in Birch Hill Estates � addressed the Committee voicing opposition to this change. Mr. Hathaway pointed out that Mr. Grant, as the owner, has the right to decide what type of mail delivery there will be in the park and that he approached the Post Office about this issue. After listening to those in opposition, the Postmaster indicated that they would revisit the issue and meet with the owner of the park, Mr. Grant, to work out something that would benefit everyone. Councilor Rohman commented that even though the City Council has no jurisdiction over the Post Office, he suggests that the Council put together a letter to Mr. Grant summarizing this meeting indicating that 65-70 people attended and spoke against the project. Ed Barrett also suggested that the residents take the opportunity to communicate with Mr. Grant and his assistant Mr. Longo as well. To some extent, as the property owner, he needs to hear from the residents as to what their opinions are. 2. Discontinuance of Emerson Street Jim Ring explained that Emerson Street is a public street accepted in 1869 and extends southeasterly 670 feet from Main Street running between the two Holiday Inns. All the properties abutting are owned by Webber Energy Interests. Ray Cota, representing these interests made the request to discontinue the street. The City Assessor indicated if Emerson Street were discontinued, the increased properry values would generate $2,708.91 in additional tax revenue. � Annual maintenance costs for Emerson Street are approximately $1,100. In 1973, the City executed a 60-year lease with the Holiday Inn for overhead encroachments over the right-of-way which they have been paying $150 annually. Staff recommends that the appropriate steps be taken to discontinue the street. Upon discontinuance, a Public Easement would be retained for S maintaining necessary public utilities. Approved recommendation to Council. 3. Discussion/Uqdate - City Sidewalks At the conclusion of the last Council Meeting, Council Chair Baldacci asked that staff review and discuss the sidewalk program. There have been 3-4 letters to the editor regarding the sidewalk condition. The current annual appropriation for sidewalk improvements is $50,000. In addition to this amount, approximately $10,000 per year is spent to perform sidewalk patching, mostly in response to specific complaints. Priorities for selecting sidewalks to be resurfaced take into account usage, proximity to schools, and condition. For the sidewalk sections to be done this year, the total estimated cost exceeds the program appropriation by $9,000. A lot of the sidewalk infrastructure will be impacted by new utility construction during the next year primarily due to a new gas line installation. The total distance of sidewalk to be resurfaced in conjunction with gas line construction is 84,000 lineal feet or 16 miles, representing 14% of sidewalks. This will upgrade the condition of the sidewalks, but is a short-term benefit. In order to establish and maintain sidewalks to the recommended level, the annual funding level is $175,000 to $200,000. Councilor Palmer asked if there would be a benefit to � having a partnership program with homeowners? Ed commented that there are a number of approaches that can be taken but it is felt that this type of approach wouldn't work in Bangor. Other communities have the capability of adding a markup to the properly tax bill to pay for sidewalks, but it is not certain that there is that capability in Maine. Staff can check on it, but it would be an instance where some would be billed and some wouldn't be. Again, it is felt that citizens would not like this option. Some individuals do their own sidewalk maintenance. Staff could look at the possibility of an assessment by borrowing the money to do all the sidewalks in the City and amortize it out over 20 years and see what the efFect would be on an individual properly owner. Another possibility is that sidewalks be eliminated and the speed limits be changed to a lower speed. Councilor Rohman asked about the esplanade areas? Are residents required to maintain them or the City? Ed answered that the property owner is not responsible for them and the City does maintain them a couple of times a year in some areas. If an individual plants anything on the esplanade, they are responsible for making sure there are no visibility issues, etc. Staff will look at the assessment issue and research any other options and will come back to the Committee with suggestions. 4. Executive Session: Legal Issue - Pending Litigation � With no further business to discuss, the meeting adjourned. ,