-- Approved --
BRUNSWICK TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES
April 5, 2004
7:30 p.m.
Municipal Meeting Facility
7:00 p.m. Executive Session: Acquisition of Property
Councilor Rice moved, Councilor Desmarais seconded, to go into executive session to discuss the acquisition of property. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
7:30 P.M. Chair Lowe called the meeting to order and asked for the Pledge to the Flag.
Councilors Present: Chair Forrest Lowe, W. David Watson, Jacqueline A. Sartoris, Robert A. Galloupe, Douglas A. Rice, Barbara A. Desmarais, Joanne T. King, and Stephen H. McCausland.
Councilors Absent: Councilor Charles R. Priest.
Others Present: Donald H. Gerrish, Town Manager; Fran Smith, Town Clerk; Patricia Harrington, Assistant Town Manager; Mathew Eddy, Director of Economic Development; John Foster, Public Works Director; John Eldridge, Finance Director; Jerry Hinton, Police Chief; Gary Howard, Fire Chief; Clark Labbe, Deputy Fire Chief; Michael Robitaille, Deputy Fire Chief; several citizens, members of the press, and TV video crew.
Minutes of Previous Meetings: March 15, 2004
Hearing no objection from the Council, Chair Lowe declared the minutes of March 15, 2004, accepted as written.
Public Comment
Emily Swan, Page Street and Village Review Board member, expressed the Board’s opinion on the public facilities issue. She discussed the Board’s preservation concerns and how the Fire Station and old high school are on their list of historic sites/buildings. The buildings are important for their architecture and their place in people’s hearts.
Claudia Knox, 36 Cumberland St., suggested the town could do more projects if they do the correct planning and provide reasonable costs for the projects. She provided the information on fire stations that cost less than the estimate for the Brunswick station.
Pem Schaeffer, Crestview Lane, spoke on the CIP process. The town charter says the CIP should contain operating costs for projects, and he suggested the CIP committee be asked to score what they feel the town residents would accept for tax increases.
Janet Brand, Bunganuc Rd., asked if Mr. Snyder had received answers to the questions he asked at a previous meeting, and she said the Council should provide answers to the public’s questions.
Councilor McCausland said there had been some correspondence with Mr. Snyder.
Correspondence Resignation from Bike/Pedestrian Committee
Manager Gerrish said Rob Knapp resigned. A letter of thanks will be sent to him and the position will be advertised.
Financial Update
This item will be done at the next meeting.
BRAC Committee Report: Rick Tetrev
Rick Tetrev, chair of the task force regarding the base closure list, discussed where they are in the process with base realignment and closure of bases. The task force was awarded fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) by the state to assist with the process. He provided the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Committee’s history. He talked about the current plan of events and requirements. Military value is the biggest criteria. If the base’s name gets on the list, BRAC may consider the input of surrounding towns before making the final decisions. He discussed what the Navy base has going for it including its location, capacity for growth, reserve center, air space and ability to train. He discussed potential problems, such as the future status of P3’s.
Report on Naval Base Entrance changes – J. Hinton
Chief Hinton gave this report. Commercial traffic will be using the Dyer’s Bay entrance as of April 30th. The front gate will be closed from May until September so the Navy can re-do that entrance. The main traffic will go through the third entrance Coombs Road entrance. Regular traffic will also be going through the Dyer’s Bay entrance. Emergency vehicles and school buses will use the Forrestal Drive entrance. There will be signage as far back as Church Road directing traffic to the correct entrances. He discussed additional things the public safety and public works will do to help with traffic concerns including signage.
Councilor Sartoris expressed concern about the Dyer Bay entrance being a permanent change for commercial vehicles since they will be going through residential areas. She would like to see a discussion with the Commander about this issue. She did not see the long-term benefit of moving the entrance, with the neighborhood issues on Middle Bay and Route 123. She wanted to go on record with her concerns about this being a permanent change.
John Foster, Public Works Director, responding to Councilor Galloupe’s question, discussed the posting of roads. Currently, Harpswell Road is not posted and Middle Bay is posted.
Police Chief Hinton, responding to Councilor Rice’s question, said they hope to get some warning signs for Harpswell Road.
Councilor Sartoris asked to get information on how many trucks go on base each day and the weight range of the vehicles. She is concerned about the timing of the change with additional summer traffic. She thinks it is very inappropriate.
Council Report on Regionalization Meeting
Chair Lowe said a couple of Councilors attended different meetings on regionalization.
Councilor Desmarais reported on the meeting on open space. They discussed how they would like to come up with a map to show the regions natural resources. What may come out of this in future is a possible regional comprehensive plan.
Fire Department Grant Application
Deputy Fire Chief Robitaille discussed the grant and introduced Paul Marshall, a new firefighter. Deputy Fire Chief Robitaille explained that they are applying for the grant to replace breathing apparatus. The grant request is for one hundred seventy five thousand, five hundred thirty dollars ($175,530), with a ten percent (10%) match from the town if they are successful. They should hear back this summer.
Household Hazardous Waste Day – J. Foster
John Foster, Public Works Director, announced that a regional Household Hazardous Waste Day will be held on April 17, 2004, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm in Bath. Pre-registration is required by calling the Bath public works. Brunswick plans to do a regional one in the fall.
Budget Review Schedule
Manager Gerrish and the Council discussed the plan for the budget process and the meeting schedule.
Other Manager’s Items
John Eldridge, Finance Director, announced that his department will be providing new boat registration. This is not a money maker for the town but it will provide a service to residents. The Council had no objection to this service being offered.
Manager Gerrish said answers were provided to Mr. Snyder’s questions on impact fees. The town has not returned any impact fees at this time and is working with those past the ten (10) year mark.
Manager Gerrish said Planning and Recreation Departments, Water District and Bowdoin College are looking at uses of fertilizer in certain areas, and there may be an ordinance change coming to the Town Council in the future.
Adjustments to Agenda: None
47. The Town Council will hear public comments on the following requests for Alcoholic Beverage Licenses and will take any appropriate action. (Manager)
Full-time Vinous, Malt and Spirituous
Parkwood Inn
71 Gurnet Road Lois Beal
Brunswick Golf Club
River Road Patrick Badcock
Full-time Malt and Vinous
Asian Grill
164 Pleasant Street Thisakorn Tatiyanunthaporn
Chair Lowe opened the public hearing; hearing no comments, he closed the public hearing.
Councilor Rice moved, Councilor King seconded, to approve the Alcoholic Beverage Licenses for the Parkwood Inn, Brunswick Golf Club, and Asian Grill. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
(A copy of the public hearing notice will be attached to the official minutes.)
48. The Town Council will hear public comments on the following request for a Victualer License and will take any appropriate action. (Manager)
Shorty’s
121 Bath Road Theresa Elwell
Chair Lowe opened the public hearing; hearing no comments, he closed the public hearing.
Councilor Sartoris moved, Councilor Galloupe seconded, to approve the Victualer License for Shorty’s. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
(A copy of the public hearing notice will be attached to the official minutes.)
49. The Town Council will consider a request from Central Maine Power for location of a pole.
Manager Gerrish said this pole will be located on Bath Road and the town is recommending approval.
Councilor Sartoris moved, Councilor Desmarais seconded, to approve a pole location permit for Central Maine Power. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
(A copy of the approved permit will be attached to the official minutes.)
50. The Town Council will receive a report on Tipping Fees and Ordinance changes at the Landfill and will take any appropriate action.
John Eldridge, Finance Director, recommended setting up an enterprise fund using tipping fees to cover the cost of the closure and post closure of the landfill. He explained the changes in the fee and the proposed ordinance changes. The town is trying to capture this cost over the next ten (10) years. They are proposing an increase to eighty ($80) per ton for commercial waste and charges for some residential waste over two hundred pounds (200 lbs). The current cost is forty four dollars ($44) per ton with no cost for residential waste.
John Foster presented some figures on the landfill cost and other town’s costs.
(A copy of the cost comparison will be attached to the official minutes.)
Councilor Desmarais said the town needs to charge more, but she is concerned that with the increased cost, people will dump illegally.
Mr. Eldridge said the Council could subsidize the cost with tax dollars to lower the fee if they choose to do so.
Manager Gerrish said he feels comfortable with what they are proposing and it is the fair way to go.
Councilor King said Bath is also discussing raising fees.
Councilor McCausland said it has been twelve (12) years since an increase and the fees should go up. He is concerned about residents taking their own household trash being charged. He suggested looking at a sliding scale for a resident occasionally dropping off waste.
Councilor Sartoris moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to set a public hearing for May 3, 2004, on the proposed changes to the Solid Waste Ordinance. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
51. The Town Council will discuss the ten premises for the Town’s major facilities and will take any appropriate action.
(A copy of the ten facilities premises will be attached to the official minutes to serve as the basis for the below discussion.)
Councilor Rice said under premise #3, it should state that the Central Fire Station’s size and site should be dependent on a substation. (Currently, premise #3 states it should not be dependent on a substation.) Under premise #5, the Times Record building should be a potentially appropriate option for both the police and municipal needs.
Councilor King said the central station site and size should be dependent on the substation. She suggested changing premise #4 to say in five (5) or less years. If the size of the central station is changed, the town may be able to do more, or do a substation sooner.
Councilor Desmarais suggested citizens may want to have a choice on the ballot for a central and substation. The referendum could have choices that include operating cost and an option for a larger central station or a central station with a substation.
Councilor McCausland said if the town gets a central station, it is unrealistic to think or promise that there is going to be a substation in five (5) years. This is not fair for the East Brunswick area. Based on November’s vote, the town needs to scale down the project.
Councilor Sartoris said she supports the central station, but does not want to put out another referendum with a cost for two (2) stations since it would not pass. The only way to bring cost down to something reasonable is to vote in a central station and to look at a substation in the context of all the other issues and projects out there. She does not want to have the central station dependent on a substation.
Councilor Rice said he was concerned about the possibility of not having a substation. If it is not in the five-year plan, the impact fees should be returned to those paying them. This is not fair to East Brunswick residents. The town could add onto a central station, if necessary.
Councilor Galloupe said the CIP is a plan and not cast in stone. The Council does not have to deal with it tonight. They need to be flexible and need to support the concepts.
Councilor Desmarais asked if staff could get information together on possible locations for the central station and costs related to them.
Councilor Watson said the response time information should be calculated from the time of the 911 Call - not when the station responds. At the district meetings, the sense was to build the substation first and to take time to do the central station correctly. The present station is in bad condition and needs to be addressed. The Council needs to make the decision and listen to residents.
Chair Lowe said the central station is needed, and the lack of capital expenditures on facilities is coming to the front. The details on these premises are important when working on the CIP. The central station is the most important since it is a current service. The town cannot afford a substation at this point. He suggested a workshop on the process for a central station.
Manager Gerrish said staff needs some direction so he can make recommendations for the CIP. He would like to see some decision on the premises.
Councilor King said the Council needs to make a decision since it could assist in reducing the costs, depending on what is decided.
Councilor Rice said the Council would be making a mistake if they did not consider a central and substation together when planning.
Councilor Sartoris said the cost will not be significantly different, relative to the size of footprint, with or without a substation. The response time from the central station is very good.
Manager Gerrish, responding to Councilor Desmarais’ question, said there are costs in the CIP for the stations based on studies that have been done.
Councilor Watson moved, Councilor King seconded, to table items 51 and 52 until the Special Town Council meeting to be held on April 12, 2004. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
52. The Town Council will discuss the process to be used regarding a new Central Fire Station.
This item was tabled in the same motion as Item 51.
53. The Town Council will consider a request from the Maine State Music Theater to hang a banner over Maine Street and will take any appropriate action.
Councilor Sartoris moved, Councilor Desmarais seconded, to approve the request from the Maine State Music Theater to hang a banner over Maine Street. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
54. The Town Council will consider appointments to the Town’s Boards and Committees and will take any appropriate action.
Chair Lowe, on behalf of Council Priest’s recommendation, said the Sewer District appointment should be tabled until the issue of their meetings being televised is resolved, based on the resolution the Council passed on this matter.
Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Sartoris seconded, to table the appointment to the Sewer District Board of Trustees until the May 3 meeting. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
Councilor Desmarais moved, Councilor Sartoris seconded, to nominate Mark Worthing as the Fence Viewer and Carolyn Welch as a member of the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee, to ask the Chair to cease nomination and cast one vote for both Mr. Worthing and Ms. Welch. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
Councilor Desmarais moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
The meeting adjourned at 10:23 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A VIDEO RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.
Frances M. Smith
Town Clerk
April 9, 2004
April 20, 2004
____________________________
Date of Approval
____________________________
Council Chair
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