--APPROVED --
BRUNSWICK TOWN COUNCIL MINUTES
February 22, 2005
7:00 p.m.
Municipal Meeting Facility
7:00 P.M. Vice Chair Galloupe called the meeting to order and asked for the Pledge to the Flag.
Councilors Present: Vice Chair Robert Galloupe, W. David Watson, Jacqueline A. Sartoris, Douglas A. Rice, Louise V. Ansari, Barbara A. Desmarais, Ralph L. Tucker, and Joanne T. King.
Councilors Absent: Forrest Lowe.
Town Staff Present: Patricia Harrington, Assistant Town Manager; Elin M. Gould, Deputy Town Clerk; Jerry Hinton, Police Chief; Steve Walker, Natural Resources Planner; and the TV video crew.
Approval of Minutes: February 7, 2005
Hearing no objection from the Council, Vice Chair Galloupe declared the minutes of February 7, 2005, accepted as written.
Public Comment: None
Correspondence: None
Manager’s Report:
Update on Enhanced 911
Police Chief Hinton gave the Council an update on recent Public Utility Commission rulings concerning Enhanced 911 and Public Safety Answering Points (PSAP). He said there are forty-eight (48) existing PSAP’s in the State and this ruling will cut that number in half. Cumberland County will be allowed only four (4) PSAP’s and they will be at the Portland Police Department, the state police barracks in Gray, the Cumberland County dispatch center, and probably the City of Westbrook. Currently Brunswick is its own PSAP. This change would require emergency calls to be answered at one (1) of the four (4) PSAP’s, the nature of the emergency would be determined there and the call would be transferred to the appropriate local entity. This would require eliciting the same information from the caller a second time and cause a delay in response time. In addition, the workload would increase as Brunswick currently has a system whereby the call information appears on the screen and is automatically transferred into a report and this would not happen with the system being mandated by these rulings.
The state will save approximately forty thousand dollars ($40,000) a year, per PSAP eliminated. Brunswick is currently in discussions with Falmouth, Freeport, Yarmouth, and Cumberland about the possibility of Brunswick being a PSAP for the northern part of the county, with funding to be shared among the towns that participate. Chief Hinton said Brunswick has approximately seven thousand (7,000) calls per year, the others between two thousand (2,000) and three thousand (3,000). He went on to say that the state police are exploring if they have to accept Brunswick at no cost since the town already pays for state police; Cumberland County is not equipped for Brunswick’s volume and would require an expense of six million dollars, with an increase in County taxes to make the necessary upgrades; and Portland has already said no to accepting Brunswick in its PSAP. A declaration of intent must be made by July 1, 2005.
Councilor Rice talked about the time delays with cell phones, and said he did not want to have those kinds of delays with land lines.
Councilor Sartoris asked when a recommendation would be coming to the Council and wanted to know the amount of time delay that would be expected with each emergency call; Councilor Desmarais wanted clarification on how the system would work since other towns configure their emergency services differently.
Chief Hinton responded that he will look into the time delay and get back to the Council very soon if a merger with the other area towns does not go forward. He explained that Freeport, Yarmouth and Brunswick currently all have the same software and this is a plus.
Councilor Sartoris thanked Chief Hinton for being one (1) of a very few communities to respond to the questions put forth by the PUC.
Councilor Watson said it is important to pursue the merger with other area towns; he is a former police officer and wanted it known that the response time delay is a real issue.
Councilor Galloupe verified with Chief Hinton that Brunswick is currently a backup for Freeport.
(A copy of the rulings will be attached to the official minutes.)
Adjustments to Agenda: None
26. The Town Council will hear public comments on the following application for an Alcoholic Beverage License and will take any appropriate action.
Full-time Vinous & Malt
Gyawali, Inc. d/b/a Shere Punjab
46 Maine Street Gyawali, Inc.
Vice Chair Galloupe opened the public hearing; hearing no comments, he closed the
public hearing.
Councilor Desmarais moved, Councilor Ansari seconded, to approve the request
for an alcoholic beverage license for Shere Punjab. The motion carried with eight
(8) yeas.
(A copy of the public hearing notice will be attached to the official minutes.)
27. The Town Council will hear public comments on the following application for a Food Service License and will take any appropriate action.
Gyawali, Inc. d/b/a Shere Punjab
46 Maine Street Gyawali, Inc.
Vice Chair Galloupe opened the public hearing; hearing no comments, he closed the
public hearing.
Councilor Desmarais moved, Councilor Ansari seconded, to approve the request for
a food service license for Shere Punjab. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
(A copy of the public hearing notice will be attached to the official minutes.)
28. The Town Council will hear public comments on an amendment to the Marine Activities, Structures and Ways Ordinance, regarding a limitation on the number of licenses.
Steve Walker, Natural Resources Planner, explained that the Council action to approve
the amendment on an emergency basis at their last meeting was a temporary measure for
fifty (50) days and now the Council is being asked to make this a permanent amendment
to the ordinance. He said he hopes to work with the Department of Marine Resources
regarding the water testing process so that it will be unnecessary to use this authority in
the future, but said it needs to be in place nonetheless.
Vice Chair Galloupe opened the public hearing.
James MacLeod, shellfish harvester, asked the Council to go to Augusta and get the
Department of Marine Resources to change the process for testing and notification so that
flats do not get closed unnecessarily.
Vice Chair Galloupe closed the public hearing.
Councilor Sartoris volunteered to serve with the natural resources planner and Councilor
Galloupe, to approach and work with DMR toward a better process.
Councilor Ansari said the committee should know test results as soon as possible and she
also volunteered to help the other Councilors and staff work with DMR to make this
happen.
Councilor Watson suggested that acting collectively with other towns affected, would be
advantageous for all. He supported approaching the State.
Councilor Rice moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to approve the amendment to
the Marine Activities, Structures and Ways Ordinance, regarding a limitation on
the number of licenses issued, and to request the Councilors who volunteered, to try
to change the testing and notification process with DMR. The motion carried with
eight (8) yeas.
Councilor King said she was concerned the public would perceive there to be a water
quality problem.
Mr. Walker said the spike last summer was a very isolated incident; he and the marine
Warden took twenty (20) to thirty (30) samples and found no problem.
Councilor Sartoris suggested drafting a letter from the Council Chair as an initial contact
with DMR.
(A copy of the public hearing notice and approved amendment will be attached to the
official minutes.)
29. The Town Council will consider approving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maine Department of Transportation concerning the Gateway 1 Project and will take any appropriate action.
Evan Reichert, representing the Gateway 1 project, gave a report on the project thus far,
explaining that the initial phase was a planning process and the Memorandum of
Understanding being presented for approval this evening represents the solution finding
phase. MDOT’s goal is to enable Route 1 to serve as an economic lifeline to the
region, while not compromising quality of life. The Memorandum is an agreement to do
the very best to work collaboratively, to establish a public process and to agree on critical
regional and local issues. There will be a town response panel of seven (7) to fifteen
(15) people with two (2) of them also on the project steering committee. The
Memorandum does not require financial support from the town or require commitment to
a specific plan.
Councilor Desmarais said she attended a workshop from which this draft Memorandum
comes. She said we don’t always realize the effects our decisions have on neighboring
towns and she appreciates the state’s efforts to address this now. She was, however,
concerned about communications within MDOT. Councilor Desmarais also said that, in
addition to the stated concern that there is no southbound traffic allowed from the
southbound exit of Route 1 in Brunswick at Maine Street, there is also a concern that
there is no northbound traffic allowed from the northbound exit at the Maine Street and
Route 1 intersection, as well. This should be addressed in the Memorandum of
Understanding.
Councilor King agreed, saying that it would be a good idea to go into this more
thoroughly before signing the document.
Councilor Sartoris asked if alternative modes of travel identified in the document
includes car pool lots.
Mr. Reichert responded that car pool lots are encompassed under that but could be
specified, if desired.
Councilor Sartoris said she supports the document, with modifications, and Brunswick’s
full participation.
Councilor Rice said he hopes the Council supports this as it is a good beginning to
address things that have been issues in the past.
Councilor Watson moved, Councilor Sartoris seconded, to authorize the Council
Chair to sign the Memorandum of Understanding with the Maine Department of
Transportation for the preparation of a strategic transportation/land use corridor
preservation plan for the U.S. Route One corridor from Brunwick to Stockton
Springs, conditioned upon amendments to issues of high priority listed in paragraph
10B to be brought to the attention of the Town Manager’s office within the next ten
(10) days. The motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
Assistant Manager Harrington said any substantive changes will be brought to the
attention of the Council at the next meeting.
Councilor Sartoris asked to have Town Engineer John Foster receive a copy of the
Memorandum for review.
30. The Town Council will consider Goals for 2005 and will take any appropriate action.
Councilor Sartoris said she would like to adopt the goals as presented, since
there were no substantial disagreements.
Councilor Ansari asked that the idea of regionalization in future projects be incorporated
into the goals so that there is continual awareness of the issue.
Councilor Sartoris said she liked Councilor Ansari’s idea very much and would like to
have new capital and other expenditures be assessed for the possibility of cost
effectiveness through regionalization. She would also like current projects reviewed in
the same way.
Councilor Galloupe reminded the Council that Goal #2 states having decisions made by
June.
Councilor King said that the investigation of regionalization regarding the substation has
already been made and she would not like to have that revisited. If regionalization is to
get considered in everything, the schools would have to be looked at, as well. She
would like to maintain focus, stick to the two (2) goals presented, and not go backward.
Councilor Galloupe suggested waiting until Chair Lowe is in attendance to adopt the
goals.
Councilor Sartoris agreed with Councilor Galloupe. She does not want the substation
revisited but wanted to make it clear the subject hadn’t been exhausted.
Councilor Rice said Councilor Ansari’s idea of considering regionalization is very
important but he agreed with Councilor King regarding the substation issue; it has
already been visited and decided upon and he would not like to see things already
decided on brought into this. He would like to investigate regionalization on new ideas.
Councilor Rice moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to adopt the Council Goals for
2005 as presented, with the caveat that regionalization be investigated in new ideas,
and to always keep regionalization in mind in all of the Council’s goals.
Councilor Ansari said considering regionalization gets us out of the mentality that
everything always has to be done in Brunswick.
Councilor King said regionalization is a great concept but it must be a blending of equal
entities blending so all get a fair deal.
Councilor Watson said regionalization is important and he supports it on all future
projects; Brunswick is a regional community service community. Regionalization may
be good on some things and not on others, such as losing a PSAP in Brunswick.
Councilor Sartoris wanted to be sure that existing projects, such as recycling
regionalization, are covered in this goal.
Councilor King said anything that is not part of the two (2) goals listed, is included.
Councilor Rice agreed with Councilor Sartoris, however, he thought no formal action has
been taken on regionalization of recycling. He said the two goals presented are separate
and his intention in the motion is for anything the Council takes up in the future.
Councilor Watson and Councilor Galloupe reinforced that these are merely goals.
Councilor Watson recommended making the motion to reflect future planning not related
to the proposed goals.
Assistant Manager Harrington pointed out that several of the items on the night’s agenda
involved regionalization.
Final wording of motion: Councilor Rice moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to
adopt the Council Goals for 2005 as presented, with the addition of a third goal to
investigate regionalization, where possible, for future projects, programs or
expenditures not listed in goal #2. The motion carried with seven (7) yeas.
Councilor Sartoris was opposed.
(A copy of the adopted goals will be attached to the official minutes.)
31. The Town Council will consider a request from Verizon for a utility location permit and will take any appropriate action.
Assistant Manager Harrington said she spoke with John Foster, who explained that this
pole is connecting two (2) above ground poles, and approval as stated, is recommended
for this request.
Councilor Rice moved, Councilor Desmarais seconded, to approve the request from
Verizon for a utility location permit on Hacker Road. The motion carried with
eight (8) yeas.
(A copy of the pole permit will be attached to the official minutes.)
32. The Town Council will consider appointments to the Town’s Boards and Committees and will take any appropriate action.
Councilor Sartoris nominated Sande Updegraph and Constance Lundquist as
citizen members of the Capital Improvement Committee, asked that nominations
cease and the chair cast one vote for the nominees. The Council voted eight (8) yeas
to appoint Ms. Updegraph and Ms. Lundquist.
Councilor Sartoris nominated Mark Worthing for re-appointment as Fence View
for a one year term to expire on 4/1/2006, asked that nominations cease and the
chair cast one vote for the nominee. The Council voted eight (8) yeas to re-appoint
Mark Worthing.
Councilor Sartoris nominated Robert Graffam, Jr. to the Marine Resources
Committee for the balance of a three year term to expire 5/1/2007; Peter Holman,
Sr. for the balance of a three year term to expire 5/1/2006; and James Nottingham
as an alternate member for the balance of a three year term to expire 5/1/2007,
asked that nominations cease and the chair cast one vote for the nominees. The
Council voted eight (8) yeas to appoint Mr. Graffam, Mr. Holman, and Mr.
Nottingham.
Councilor Sartoris nominated Meg Haskell for appointment to the
Recycling Committee for a three year term to expire 1/1/2008, Jack Stiles for a term
to expire 1/1/2006, and Ward Wickwire for re-appointment to a three year term
expiring 1/1/2008, asked that nominations cease and the chair cast one vote for the
nominees. The Council voted seven (7) yeas to appoint Ms. Haskell and Mr. Stiles,
and to re-appoint Mr. Wickwire. Councilor Rice was opposed.
Councilor Sartoris nominated Stuart Savage for re-appointment as a Sewer District
Trustee for a three year term to expire 4/1/2008, asked that nominations
cease and the chair cast one vote for the nominee. The Council voted eight (8) yeas
to re-appoint Mr. Savage.
Councilor Sartoris thanked Mr. Savage for his six (6) years of service so far, saying he
Has done a remarkable job.
Councilor Tucker moved, Councilor Watson seconded, to adjourn the meeting. The
motion carried with eight (8) yeas.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 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.
Elin M. Gould
Deputy Town Clerk
February 23, 2005
March 7, 2005
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Date of Approval
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Council Chair