HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-06-21 Community and Economic Development Committee Minutes � COMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
Wednesday, June 21, 1995 Q 5 : 00 PM
MINUTES
COUNCILORS
PRESENT: Councilor Chris Popper
Councilor Gerard Baldacci
Councilor Wm. Cohen
Councilor Timothy Woodcock
Councilor pon Soucy
Councilor Pat Blanchette.
STAFF
PRESENT: Edward A. Barrett, City Manager
Kenneth R. Gibb, Director of Community & Economic Dev.
John Lord, Planning Officer
Dan Wellington, Director of Code Enforcement
T.J. Martzial, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator
OTHERS
PRESENT: John Miller, Manager of Pickering Square Parking Garage
Don Winslow, Bangor Police Dept .
Ben Fairbrother, 51 7th Street
John Hoyt, 47 7th Street
• Sharon Barker, 47 7th Street
Thomas Curley, 57 7th Street
Gregg Jones, 68 Bowdoin Street
Becley Pappas-Jones, 68 Bowdoin Street
Shirley Haely, 47 Pier Street
Captain Frank Foss
The meeting was called to order at 5 : 00 PM by Councilor Chris
Popper.
AGENDA ITEM #1 - C.O. 95-269 Front Street Area Parking
This item , has been referred back to Committee by the City
Council . The issue pertains to adding marine and handicapped
parking areas on Front Street on either side of the "Sea Dog"
restaurant . It is proposed that the time limits will be for 2
hours .
This has also gone before the Bangor Harbor Committee; they
have no objection with this proposal .
With no objections from the C&ED Committee, a motion was made
and seconded to forward this item back to the full City Council .
So voted.
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AGENDA ITEM #2 - Parking Lease - 4 Union Plaza
Ken Gibb presented this item stating that a lease between the
City and Baltimore Water Front Associates has been drawn up which
is for the purpose of establishing a parking lot located adjacent
to Union Plaza.
There will be 9 parking spaces at the current surface parking
rate minus $4 per month which is a credit for maintenance which the
Lessees are responsible for. This is a 3. year lease with an option
to continue if all parties agree to continue on a year-by-year
basis after that time.
Councilor Gerard Baldacci asked the Committee if they thought
he had a conflict of interest on this item as his brother, Bob
Baldacci, Jr. , is involved with Baltimore Water Front Associates on
this lease. It was the consensus of the Committee that Councilor
Baldacci abstain from voting on this item.
A motion was made and seconded to forward this item as
presented to the City Council . So voted.
� AGENDA ITEM #3 - Request to make Spring Street One-Way
A request has been received by Staff from the Post Office
Consumer Advisory Council to make Spring Street one-way travel from
Harlow to Market Street . It is Staff' s understanding that the GSA
is asking the Post Office to remove the mail boxes in front of the
Post Office . for security reasons. They would like to relocate
these boxes as well as making it possible for people to drive up to
them on the left hand side of their vehicles . Also, this
particular intersection is very congested and Staff, after
evaluating this concern, feels that this change would be
beneficial . City Staff will conduct a survey of the neighborhood
residents who w,ould be affected by this change.
Discussion continued among Committee and Staff as to the
various options on this issue.
A motion was made to table this item for now until a definite
plan can be finalized. Seconded. So voted.
AGENDA ITEM #4 - Dangerous Building - 51 Seventh Street
The property located at 51 Seventh Street, Bangor was
placarded in October of 1994 as it is considered unfit for human
habitation. The structure had been without electrical service for
� a period of 4 months; the water supply has since been shut off .
The building was to be vacated but Staff has since learned that Ben
Fairbrother, who acquired title to the property after December
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1994 , has been living in the building as well as running a scrap
metal business from there. Tax liens matured on December 6, 1994 ;
the redemptian period for a $40, 000 mortgage to the G.G. Graham
Trust, who held title prior to issuing a quit claim deed to Mr.
Fairbrother, has expired. The Trust Company has opted not to
redeem the property because of its deteriorated condition.
Property taxes plus outstanding sewer and water bills are owed to
the City on this property.
The Community Development Staff has, at the request of Code
Enforcement on behalf of Mr. Fairbrother, viewed this property to
see if it could be rehabed with available loan funds . They have
found that it would cost at least $40, 000 to upgrade the structure.
It is, however, not a financially feasible project either with a
standard loan or a deferred loan, due to its deteriorated
condition. Also, Mr. Fairbrother' s income is not sufficient to
qualify for these loan funds .
Staff is requesting that ultimately the City Council authorize
the proceeding of taking possession of this property and to dispose
of it properly.
Mr. Fairbrother spoke on his b.ehalf with regard to this issue
� and the various repairs he has done to the property. He stated
that he has deposited $500 on account with the City for payment
towards his property taxes .
Staff stated that the above referenced $500 has been received
by the City Treasurer' s office and that it has not been deposited
but is being held pending the City Council' s decision on the
disposition of this property.
Several neighbors of Mr. Fairbrother' s also spoke on this
situation stating that Mr. Fairbrother is a gooc3 person, neighbor
and hard worker. However, they have concerns over the "junk" that
Mr. Fairbrother has in his yard; it' s an eyesore as well as a
possible danger to neighborhood children who may wander into the
yard. Also, the deteriorated condition of the house itself is
devaluating their property values; they are aware he has been
trying to do small repairs but realize he can' t handle it entirely.
Councilor Soucy asked Mr. Fairbrother if he had a way of
getting rid of the "trash" in his yard - if he had a vehicle . Mr.
Fairbrother replied that he would get rid of the trash.
Dan Wellington, Code Enforcement Director, further stated that
the scrap yard matter has been going on for a number of years . Ben
has been enjoined by Judge Russell of the District Court to cease
• and desist any and all scrap operations from 51 7th Street . The
City is well aware that this business is Ben' s only source of
income outside of his small disability pension. However, the house
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represents an unsafe condition; it endangers the surrounding
properties by allowing the situation to continue . Dan also stated
that he is aware of the fact that in the process of Ben recycling
his metal products that it is necessary for him to use cutting
torches . It is also determined that during the winter months, Ben
has had unsafe heating sources within the house and in the event of
a fire, it would be very difficult for the fire personnel to access
the structure . A situation such as this would also threaten the
abutting structures . At this point, there is also some liability
on the part of the City since they are holding mature tax liens on
the property. Dan stated that the City is at th.e point of
returning to District Court to request that Mr. Fairbrother be held
in contempt of court but, however, all this would do is to impose
additional penalties on Mr. Fairbrother.
A motion was made and seconded to forward this item to the
full City Council at their regular meeting scheduled for Monday,
June 26, 1995 . So voted.
Councilor Baldacci asked Dan Wellington if he personally has
ever seen the torch being used by Mr. Fairbrother. Dan replied
that he has . Mr. Fairbrother then spoke up stating that there is
• no torch being used on his premises .
Councilor Popper asked Mr. Fairbrother if he understood what
it means to have this item referred to the full City Council .
Councilor Popper proceeded to explain the procedure to Mr.
Fairbrother.
AGENDA ITEM #5 - Parking Garage Promotions
National Garages has proposed several promotion/marketing
programs at the Pickering Square Parking Garage. John Miller,
Manager at the parking garage, has proposed that 3 different
programs be tri�d. The programs are: 1) Early Bird Discount - for
assistance to part-time employees who enter the facility before
9 : 00 AM and leave before 6 : 00 PM. The rate would be priced at a
discount of less than the hourly rate which is . 35 hour vs . the
monthly rate of $38 . 2) Daily Parker Coupon Book which is designed
for part-time employees who may work only half a day or 3 days per
week. This would cost the same $38 month rate but would entitle
the employee to use it over a 2 month period of time. 3) New
Customer Incentives - give them a 50a discount off of their second
month of using the garage; and/or if they are a current customer
and bring in another customer they will receive a discount (i .e .
half price for the first month) .
• A motion was made and seconded to approve the suggestions as
presented. So voted.
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AGENDA ITEM #6 - Sign Ordinance Discussion
During the recent discussions of amendments to the current
Sign Ordinance, with respect to sandwich board signs, the issue of
� annual fees was brought up. Councilor Popper has requested that
this issue be further discussed today by the Committee and Staff in
hopes of coming up with possible options that can be forwarded to
the full City Council . A side .issue to this is the procedure to
follow for allowing Code Enforcement to pick up signs which do not
meet the ordinance requirements .
Discussion continued but with no definite suggestions made at
this time. The matter will be addressed at a future meeting.
AGENDA ITEM #7 - Planning/Code Enforcement Update
, John Lord, Planning Officer, updated the Committee on the
� issue of the proposed zoning change for a lot in the BanAir
Industrial Park on Hammond Street .
AGENDA ITEM #8 - Cruise Boat Proposal - Frank Foss
• Jim Ring, City Engineer, brought an additional cruise boat
proposal before the Committee. Captain Frank Foss has proposed to
operate his cruise boat, "Sea Spirit" , from the Bangor Harbor
beginning in July and through the balance of the summer.
Currently, there are two other cruise boats operating from the
Bangor Harbor -- "Balmy Days" operates Fridays and Saturdays
beginning June 23 , 1995 through October. Also, the "Pauline"
, cruise boat begins cruises for the week of June 19th with an
additional week in either late July or early August; then through
the month of October.
Captain Foss' s proposal has not gone before the Harbor
Committee due to time constraints . Jim stated that he had
contacted the Harbor Committee members and invited them to attend
this C&ED meeting in order to participate in this discussion.
Councilor Pat Blanchette is the current Council representative on
the Harbor Committee also.
Captain Foss outlined in detail his proposal . He would like
to run cruises from the Bangor Harbor full-time, all week during
the months of July, August and September as well as through October
until the Fall foliage is over. Each trip would be for sightseeing
purposes for approximately 1 and a half hours .
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Jim Ring stated that Captain Foss' s cruise service is somewhat
different from the other two cruise boats . The docking and
scheduling issues are a concern but he felt assured that Captain
Foss will be flexible with the other cruise boat operators .
Councilor Blanchette stated that her immediate concern is with
the ground space available at the Bangor Harbor for customers to
secure their boarding passes . The cruise boat "Pauline" ticket
area is a little table sitting in the corner of ramp 3 . She feels
that if all 3 cruise boat operators have their areas organized like
this that the citizens who use the waterfront as a" recreational
area will be hindered. She stated that a solution to this needs to
be addressed by City Staff . Jim Ring replied that he was also
concerned with this . He stated that both the "Balmy Days" and the
"Pauline" provide for selling tickets by setting up a table; they
are required by agreement with the City to remove or relocate if
and when asked to. Jim stated that he feels that there is proper
room for them to relocate onto the grassy areas and will indicate
this to each of the 3 cruise boat operators.
Councilor Blanchette stated that proper advertising is also a
must; the Bangor Harbor Master' s telephone number is not to be
• included as part of the information media process . It is up to the
cruise boat operators to conduct and provide their schedules to the
public, not the City' s responsibility.
A motion was made and seconded to approve Captain Foss' s
cruise boat proposal as presented respective to the ticket booth,
sales & payment issues, proper fees, insurance and the standard
agreement signed between tlie City and Captain Foss. So voted.
AGENDA IEM #9 - Community Development Residential Rehabilitation
Loan - 29 Nelson Street, Single �Family House
T.J. Martzial, C.D. Housing Resources Coordinator, presented
this loan request to the Committee.
A motion was made and seconded to approve this request as
presented. So voted.
With no other business at hand, the meeting was adjourned at
approximately 6 : 30 PM.
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