--Approved--

BRUNSWICK TOWN COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES

April 28, 2004

7:30 p.m.

Municipal Meeting Facility

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, Charles R. Priest, Barbara A. Desmarais, Joanne T. King, and Stephen H. McCausland.

Councilors Absent: None.

Others Present: Donald H. Gerrish, Town Manager; Fran Smith, Town Clerk; Patricia Harrington, Assistant Town Manager; 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.

Public Comment:

Laura Brann said the Council needs to make a decision on the central station and the substation.

Sandra Carslick, Coombs Road, requested a temporary decrease in the speed limit to 25 miles per hour on Coombs Road while the Navy Base is using the entrance off of it and asked for a police presence on the road to ensure safety.

Pem Schaeffer, Crestview Lane, said what the Council does with the budget will have a large impact on the tax vote. There has not been a compelling argument made for building a new school.

Stephanie Slocum, Executive Director of the Brunswick Downtown Association, said the group believes the municipal offices should remain in the downtown and the central fire station should be located at the old Aubuchon site.

Jennifer Ouellette said the East Brunswick fire station must be built now.

Charlie Wallace, 501 Mere Point Road, displayed a diagram of a similar type facility which would cost about sixty five dollars ($65) per square foot.

Michaelanne Rosenzweig, Coombs Road, requested a temporary reduction in the speed limit and a police presence on the Coombs Road while the Base is using the entrance near it.

Michael Austin, 57 McKeen Street, said there can be a less expensive fire station and wants to see the Council take action in a way the voters will support.

Bruce Hardina, Dunning Street, supports the central station at the Aubuchon site and is opposed to building a new school.

Ted Crooker, 44 Storer Road, mentioned response times at Cooks Corner and how the substation should be built first. He is in favor of the Aubuchon site for a central station.

Millie Stewart, 281 Old Bath Road, supports the East Brunswick fire station.

Nancy Randolph said the substation should be done now. She said if there were to be a station on Stanwood Street, there would need to be blasting, which will hurt the downtown.

Sherry Barrett, 131 Coombs Road, spoke about the volume of vehicles there and requested an additional stop sign at the middle entrance, along with a reduced speed limit.

Correspondence:

Councilor Sartoris said those on Route 123 are also concerned about the traffic from the Base and she did not know it was going to be on tonight’s agenda so she could not inform them.

Adjustments to Agenda:

Report regarding the change in the Navy Base entrance

Report from MDOT regarding improvements to Pleasant Street

(ADDED) Report regarding the change of the Navy Base entrance.

John James, representing the Navy Base, spoke on the changes at the Navy Base entrances. There will be an aggressive sign campaign to direct traffic to the correct location. Their study revealed on a daily basis there were thirty eight (38) construction trucks, forty (40) vendors and two (2) to three (3) fuel trucks. Once construction is done, there will be an average of forty two (42) trucks per day for business hours. The front gate could be open in September if not earlier. The number of cars expected on Coombs Rd will be around four hundred (400) daily.

(A copy of a notice from the Navy will be attached to the official minutes.)

Councilor Sartoris asked if the speed limit on Route 123 could also be reduced. She asked why couldn’t the traffic be separated once in the front gate instead of having trucks go through town.

Mr. James said the answer is that public safety requires having the trucks separate from other traffic.

Manager Gerrish said only the state has the authority to reduce a speed limit. He would request they look at both streets. The town is planning to have a police presence on Coombs Road and Route 123. He will continue to look into the Route 123 entrance as not being the permanent entrance for commercial traffic.

Mr. James said, responding to Councilor Rice’s question, any person with a vehicle that does not have a decal will need to use the Route 123 entrance.

Councilor Sartoris expressed concerns about sending the truck traffic the extra five (5) miles since they will go through town and the Bowdoin College area, which has many pedestrians.

Councilor Watson suggested if it takes awhile for a reduction in speed on Coombs Road, there could be an additional stop sign.

(ADDED) Report from MDOT regarding improvements to Pleasant Street

Dale Doughty, Deputy Director of Planning for MDOT, said the town sent plans to the state about relocation of streets and use of the Aubuchon site so it could be added to the state’s list of projects. He discussed the planning process the state has for projects and how it is a multiple phase process before funding is provided. The Gateway One is a comprehensive traffic study of the Route One Corridor up to Ellsworth. It is a study with a local/state partnership. It is at the inventory stage now and the study portion will be happening soon. It is not a funding source for projects. The state is looking to fund approved projects in the 2008 – 2009. There is no way to say tonight where Brunswick’s request stands. There are over sixteen hundred (1,600) requests for the state to select from.

Mr. Doughty said, responding to Councilor Rice’s question on traffic improvements, doing a bypass study is very difficult and expensive, plus it is hard to get funding with existing resources. There are many hurdles to overcome. Responding to Councilor McCausland’s question about the Aubuchon site and possibility of the project being selected, it is a more complicated process when relocating a road than just readjusting an intersection.

Manager Gerrish said, responding to Councilor Rice’s question about having an emergency light, to have a separate light to stop traffic on Pleasant Street would not be looked upon favorably by MDOT. They would work to assist in the coordination of the lights.

Mr. Doughty said he would check on the question about an emergency light and get back to the Town Manager.

Presentation by Fire Department on response times

Deputy Fire Chief Labbe made a presentation on response times.

(A copy of the presentation will be attached to the official minutes.)

Councilor Priest asked about how much longer it took to go to Baybridge from Maplewood.

Deputy Chief Robitaille responded it takes one and half (1.5) to two (2) minutes more. Responding to Councilor King’s question about ambulance calls to the base, he said last year there were nine (9) calls behind the gates and forty one (41) total for all navy facilities.

Councilor Sartoris said NFPA Standards are ideal standards. Brunswick’s response times are better than other communities with volunteers.

Deputy Chief Labbe said the standards are voluntary and are the ideal standards. The average response time is skewed since the majority of calls are within two (2) minutes of the station. The town does have better response time than many towns.

Chief Wayne Almy, Fire Chief for Navy Base, said they have fifty six (56) staff who also cover a substation in Topsham. The Navy has to follow the NFPA standards. Mutual aid is automatic when it is available. Their main mission is to serve the Navy, but do have a mutual aid agreement to assist with fires.

Councilor Rice asked how Brunswick staff compares to other communities.

Deputy Chief Robitaille provided numbers for other similar communities and Brunswick had the lowest number of staff.

Councilor King said the TriData Corporation study confirmed Brunswick has the fewest firefighters compared to comparable towns.

51. The Town Council will discuss the ten premises for the Town’s major facilities and will take any appropriate action.

Councilor Priest moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to take Premise #4 separate from the other premises. The motion carried with six (6) yeas. Opposed were Councilors Sartoris, Lowe, and McCausland.

Councilor Priest moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to have the fire substation in the Capital Improvement Plan for year 2004-2005.

Councilor Priest provided a list of reasons the substation should be built first. The central station is still the number one (1) priority of the Council, but it is not going to be an easy process to build a central station. Nothing will be built until 2006. The fire department does not have enough room. The substation can be built within a year and provide some relief to the fire department. The two stations can be designed to coordinate with each other. The Navy does not do EMS work so it comes from the downtown station. There needs to be EMS service in the East Brunswick area. The town can use the experience from building the substation.

Councilor Watson supported Councilor Priest’s motion. The substation will serve the residents, businesses, their customers, and the hospital. This is about lives and the substation has been promised for forty (40) years. He felt if last November’s ballot had separate questions, the substation would have passed. From the meetings held, it is evident there is a clear need for the substation.

Councilor King said there is universal support for a substation to be built. This is something the town can do now and help take pressure off the central station while the town takes time to do the central station correct. The Brunswick fire department has the lowest number of firefighters per thousand residents of comparable communities.

Councilor Rice said he has been supportive of the substation and will not forget the need for a central station.

Councilor Sartoris said there is a vast amount of support for the substation. If it is built, she believes the central station will not be built in the near future. As time goes on, there will be fewer options as to where to put the central station. She will support the substation in the five year CIP and the Council needs to make the difficult decision now as to where to site the central station.

Councilor Galloupe said there is a need for a substation, but he is nervous if it is built first, there will be no new central station. The Council needs to focus on the central station. He will not support the substation in the next fiscal year’s budget.

Chair Lowe said that seventy one percent (71%) of EMS calls are in the central district. The central station is horrible. He cannot support building a substation when most calls are in the central area. The town needs to take care of what it has first before it builds more. This does not mean that those in East Brunswick are not worthy.

Councilor Desmarais said her concern is with EMS service in East Brunswick, and asked if there was some arrangement the town could make with the hospital to assist in this area.

Councilor McCausland said he understands the frustration. If the motion passes, the central station will not be the number one (1) priority, with the energy it will take to deal with building a substation. Citing the central station is not going to be any less difficult; no more land is being made. His priority is a central station, which serves most the calls. The substation must be in the five year CIP.

Councilor Rice said what is being proposed (the substation first) is part of the master plan. In the short term, the town should build a substation and look at other sites for the central station. There will be impact fees to pay for part of the substation.

Councilor Desmarais said the fire department will need additional staffing if there is a substation.

Manager Gerrish said they will need to have six (6) employees to provide staff coverage for the substation.

Chief Howard said the two (2) firefighters who are hired (in Budget for FY 04-05) would help staff the substation so they will need four (4) additional staff. The firefighters indicated to him they want to have the substation at this time (over the central station).

Chair Lowe said he is not convinced that the residents would not support a central station now. He thinks there is support for spending more, hurrying up and picking a site.

Councilor Sartoris said it would take less than three (3) years to build a central station. She felt the Council could make a decision on a central station site in a month.

Councilor King said the substation could save taxpayers dollars and there could be a station west of the current location.

Councilor Galloupe said he supports the central station first. He would support a separate question on the substation.

Councilor Desmarais said people want a choice, and if presented to them as two questions, she felt they would both pass.

Councilor Priest expressed concerns about the two questions on the ballot.

Chair Lowe said any referendum would have to be after November 2004.

Councilor Watson said if the substation passes, he will still push for a central station. The firefighters are supportive of a substation. He supports the Aubuchon site for the central station and CMP site for the substation. The Council has to make a decision.

Councilor Rice moved the question.

Councilor Priest moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to have the fire substation in the Capital Improvement Plan for year 2004-2005. The motion carried with five (5) yeas. Opposed were Councilors Sartoris, Galloupe, Lowe, and McCausland.

Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Priest seconded, to adopt Premise #1 as written. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Desmarais seconded, to adopt Premise #5 as written. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Priest seconded, to adopt Premise # 6 as written. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Galloupe seconded, to adopt Premise # 7 as written. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Galloupe seconded, to adopt Premise # 8 read “The Old High School roof will be patched as needed, not replaced, in the next fiscal year.” The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Councilor Priest said, regarding proposed Premise #9, the old high school should not be kept vacant and the town should allow the Fifty-Five Plus Center to raise funds to use part of it. The Council should indicate to the School Department that they will need to put an elementary school elsewhere.

Councilor Rice expressed concern about taking the old high school site off the list of locations for a future school. He would like to see A/B wing continue to be used.

Councilor Watson said the A/B wing should continued to be used, and currently, the C wing is being used as storage, saving the town money.

Manager Gerrish said the budget for old high school is based on keeping the same services that are currently provided there. If there is a change in that direction, it will have an impact on the budget.

Councilor Sartoris said she is not supportive of taking the old high school off the list of possible elementary school sites.

Councilor Priest moved, Councilor Rice seconded, to have Premise #9 read “The Old High School building and/or site use will be determined by the Town Council in the next fiscal year.” The motion carried with seven (7) yeas. Opposed were Councilors Sartoris and McCausland.

Chair Lowe moved, Councilor Desmarais seconded, to adopt Premise #10 as written. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Councilor Rice moved to amend Premise #2 to state that “the selection of a new central fire station site is the number one priority for the Town” The motion failed for lack of a second.

Councilor Priest moved, Councilor Rice seconded, to adopt Premise #2 as written.

Councilor McCausland said, referring to Premise #2, the central station is not the number one (1) priority based on the vote on Premise #3 on the substation. Therefore, the premise should be modified.

Councilor Sartoris agreed with Councilor McCausland.

Councilor King suggested stating the central station is a “major” priority of the town.

Councilor Priest moved, Councilor Rice seconded, to amend the motion to have Premise #2 state “a new Central Fire Station is a major priority for the town. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

52. The Town Council will discuss the process to be used regarding a new Central Fire Station.

Councilor King moved, Councilor Priest seconded, to table absent a date certain. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

Councilor Watson moved, Councilor Priest seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried with nine (9) yeas.

The meeting adjourned at 11:29 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: THESE MINUTES ARE NOT VERBATIM. A TAPE RECORDING OF THE MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN CLERK'S OFFICE DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.

Frances M. Smith

Town Clerk

May 7, 2004

May 17, 2004

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Date of Approval

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Council Chair