DRAFT--MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL--DRAFT
MINUTES
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
STANDISH, MAINE
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2007
STANDISH MUNICIPAL CENTER 7:00 PM
CALL TO ORDER
Pledge of Allegiance was recited.
ROLL CALL
Vice Chair Stack called the meeting to order. The roll was called by the secretary. Chair Christy was excused, Councilor Pomerleau will arrive late, and all other Councilors were present.
Vice Chair Stack announced that he was presiding over the meeting due to the fact the Councilor Christy is at home convalescing from surgery. Also, he noted that former Councilor Lymburner is in the hospital.
MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (S)
Councilor Beigel noted that the vote on order 166-06 should read 4 Yeas – 1 Nay, Beigel. Moved by Edwards Seconded by Simpson and Voted to approve the minutes from January 9th and 30th meetings as amended. (Unanimous)
PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
There were no petitions or communications at this meeting.
REPORT OF THE TOWN MANAGER
The secretary introduced Martin Jordan the Public Safety Director who gave the department report for this month. Chief Jordan highlighted the events of the year and took questions from the council. Councilor Biegel asked that he explain the subscription plan. The Chief explained the cost and benefit of being enrolled in the EMS plan. Councilor Edwards questioned how the call in service was working. The Chief said that there are approximately twenty senior’s that call in or are called on a daily basis to check to see that all is okay with them. A copy of the Chief’s notes are on file at the Town Clerk’s Office.
Councilor Pomerleau arrived at 7:12 pm.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
184-06 Amendment to Standish Town Code Chapter 181, Land Use, Part, 1 Zoning, Article III, Zoning [Christy]
Moved by Simpson Seconded by Pomerleau and Voted to dispense with the Clerk’s reading of the ordinance. (Unanimous)
Tony Vigue of Cape Road asked if this was the final time that Council would be discussing this item or would it go to another meeting.
The secretary explained that these ordinances were introduced in December, First Reading in January and now the Public Hearing tonight with immediate adoption if ratified by the Council.
Claudia White a property owner at 209 Dow Road questioned Article 3, Section D, and Number 3 which talked about the expansion of mobile home parks. She asked how many parks there were.
Vice Chair Stack said that it would apply to all parks and there are three parks in Standish.
After a Public Hearing without additional Council or public discussion the ordinance was voted on and the hearing was closed.
VOTE: 6 Yeas – 0 Nays
185-06 Amendment to Standish Town Code Chapter 181, Land Use, Part, 1 Zoning, Article IX, Board of Appeals [Christy]
Moved by Simpson Seconded by Pomerleau and Voted to dispense with the Clerk’s reading or the ordinance. (Unanimous)
After a Public Hearing without additional Council or public discussion the ordinance was voted on and the hearing was closed.
VOTE: 6 Yeas – 0 Nays
186-06 Amendment to Standish Town Code Chapter 181, Land Use, Part, 6 Article XL, Growth Management, Article XL, Administration) [Christy]
Vice Chair Stack explained that this came out of our Comprehensive Plan that was recently adopted by the State.
Tony Vigue questioned the definition of dwelling unit. He asked if individual mobile homes were considered dwelling units in a mobile home park or in a subdivision.
Vice Chair Stack said that this talks to subdivisions only. He went on to say that a manufactured unit would qualify as a dwelling unit and it does not need to be in a subdivision.
Tony Vigue urged them to vote in favor of this ordinance.
Councilor Simpson said that he would vote in favor of this in tongue and cheek. He said that this comes from the Comprehensive Plan which wanted growth to be in the Village Center but there is little land to be put into subdivisions in the Village Center. He said that it is his opinion that this will come back to haunt us, especially for the Appeals Board as time goes on. He said that when you start to narrow this down a lot of emphasis is put in Residential or Village Center areas. He said that there are very little land or growth patterns in those areas. He that this may cause future zoning changes to be brought forward.
After a Public Hearing without additional Council or public discussion the ordinance was voted on and the hearing was closed.
VOTE: 6 Yeas – 0 Nays
10-07 Application Submitted by Natasha R. Jordan for Massage Therapist License for Employment at New Hope Hairstyling Located at 140 A Ossipee Trail East [Stack]
Vice Chair Stack explained that this application had been approved on a provisional basis at the meeting in January.
After a Public Hearing without additional Council or public discussion the ordinance was voted on and the hearing was closed.
VOTE: 6 Yeas – 0 Nays
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Councilor Simpson said that the Finance Committee met and the finances of the town are in good shape. He said that they took a look at three areas. Excise tax is down slightly below estimates. Departments have done a good job relative to fuel and lubricants and utilities except for electrical. The electric bill is higher than estimated. This is due to CMP rising costs. He noted that they looked at the EMS billing revenues which are down due to Medicaid payments not being received in a timely manner.
Councilor Simpson said that he and Roger Mosley attended a meeting at ECOMaine which was formally RWS. He said that Roger served on a panel and did a fine job. ECOMaine is going to a single sort for recycling. What single sort means is residents will not have to sort items into separate bins, the items now go into one bin. It is thought that an additional compactor may be purchased to reduce the number of hauling trips which will save the town money. He announced that the recycling calendars are in and will be available once the winners of the contest are notified.
Councilor Spencer said that the Community Center Study Committee met with the architect who gave them a review of a tour that he and Linda Brooks had done inventorying the town’s assets. She said that they are trying to come up with a draft of the needs. The architect will also present a report that will highlight fees that would create revenues for the town.
Councilor Pomerleau said that Capital Improvements met and discussed the 10-year Plan. They looked at up-grading gravel roads and the new Public Works trucks that will be delivered within a few weeks.
Councilor Stack reported that the Historic Resource Committee meets each 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month. He said that they have split into three groups that will look at separate segments to develop the ordinance. Tomorrow’s meeting has been cancelled and the next meeting will be held on February 28th.
Councilor Stack said that the attended a MMA seminar on tree growth. He said that at the very least the reimbursement formula is very complicated. The Maine Revenue Service would like to disperse money in November rather than May as they do now. According to the Revenue Service this will provide better numbers.
Councilor Stack said that the Route 113 Corridor Committee met in Fryeburg on January 25th. Josh Mack of Southern Maine Planning and Caroline Paris of GPCOG are finalizing the report on the activities of this committee over the last nine months. Restoration of rail service is high on the list of priorities. He also noted that there is a legislative document to fund a study related to rail service. He noted that within the next month Route 113 should be designated as a scenic by-way. After that national designation will be sought. The MMA legislative policy committee meets this Thursday and will decide which tax legislation they will support.
Councilor Stack said that the Roadway Planning Committee meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month. He said that they are concentrating on a solution to the Oak Hill and Route 25 intersection. The next meeting will be on February 21. The Town Planner will attend this meeting to answer questions.
Moved by Simpson Seconded by Spencer and Voted to add order 18-07 to the agenda. (Unanimous)
18-07 Application Submitted by Theresa McInnis for a Massage Therapist License for Employment at New Hope Hairstyling Located at 140 A Ossipee Trail East [Stack]
VOTE: 6 Yeas - 0 Nays
CONSENT CALENDAR
11-07 Waive No-Parking Restriction on Saco Road for Bonny Eagle Car Show [Stack]
12-07 Acceptance of Street Names [Pomerleau]
The above two orders were voted on collectively.
VOTE: 6 Yeas - 0 Nays
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There were no items at this meeting.
NEW BUSINESS
13-07 Annual Recommendation to Adopt 10-year Capital Plan [Pomerleau]
Councilor Biegel said that a lot of work has gone into the plan but she had a question regarding the monies in the General Administration Department regarding the parking lot and building expansion. She said that will lead to other money being spent. She noted that this building is very cramped and she has heard people mention using the old tavern on Route 25 as some sort of municipal building. She said that there may be grant monies available to municipalities for restoration of historic buildings. She said that she would like to have discussions about this idea.
Councilor Pomerleau said that he had not heard from the public on that; but, the expansion of the parking lot is something that has been talked about for a couple of years. It is thought that a second tier will be built behind the existing lot. He said that the $25,000 is for a design study for the expansion of this building. He said that does not prevent them from looking at other ideas. He said that the 10-year plan allows the taxpayers to know what the future expenditures are. He said that each year they look at the items on the list and shift them or add items. He said that he had not heard the idea of using one of the old buildings as a municipal office.
Councilor Stack said that there are a number of structures in this plan there may be a need for a
Structure’s Committee.
VOTE: 6 Yeas - 0 Nays
14-07 Call for Public Hearing on Fiscal Year 2008 Municipal Budget [Simpson]
Councilor Simpson said that this is a requirement of the Charter that this hearing is held.
VOTE: 6 Yeas - 0 Nays
15-07 Call for Special Town Meeting for Additional Hours to Bring a Part-time Clerical Position in the Town Clerk’s Officer to a Full-time Position [Simpson]
Councilor Simpson said that two committees took a look at this issue. He said that they looked at this and something needs to be done now. He said that they could have waited until June to have this Special Meeting, but decide that it was better to bring it to the voters now.
VOTE: 6 Yeas - 0 Nays
16-07 Authorize the Public Works’ Department to Erect a Sign to Identify the Location of the Future Proposed Community Center [Simpson]
Councilor Simpson said that he was not at the workshop when this was discussed but in short there was the feeling that the sign should not have read ‘future location of the Community Center Building” and it should be changed to “proposed future Community Center Building” and that’s all this does is change the wording.
Councilor Edwards said that this sign already exists other the need for the change of the wording.
Councilor Pomerleau questioned if that size sign was allowed. He asked if the town was above the sign ordinance requirements.
Councilor Simpson said that is this understanding that the CEO has said that it complies and meets our sign requirement. He went on to ask if he opposed the temporary sign at the location of the Norway Savings Bank temporary sign.
Councilor Pomerleau said that people can’t just put signs where they want to. He said the thought that a plan would have to be approved by the Planning Board before a sign could be installed. He went on to say that a lot of people had called regarding this sign.
Councilor Edwards said that she had questioned the size of the sign. She was told that it was allowable. She said that is not a sign for a business.
Moved by Spencer Seconded by Biegel and Voted to Table. (Motion Failed)
Councilor Beigel said that she wondered about the sign at Norway Savings Bank and other signs. She went on to say that she would like the discussion of enforcement of the sign ordinance taken up at a workshop. She said that other questions that came up that night were the size, cost and how that was approved, site location of the sign. She said that she was disappointed that the order didn’t address these issues.
VOTE: 2 Yeas – 4 Nays, Biegel, Pomerleau, Spencer and Stack
17-07 Authorize Contract for Planning Services for Standish Village Design [Christy]
Vice Chair Stack said that the need for this came out the recommendations of the Comprehensive Plan Committee. He noted that a RFP was put out, returned and review by the Committee.
Councilor Biegel said that she didn’t think that they were the lowest bidder but everyone at the interview was wowed by their presentation. She said that the references were excellent. Mitch Rasor who presented the plan was very familiar with the town and its comprehensive plan.
VOTE: 6 Yeas – 0 Nays
PUBLIC ITEMS
ANNOUNCEMENTS
The secretary announces upcoming meetings; and reviewed the nomination paper availability, timeline and positions available.
EXECUTIVE SESSION (S)
An executive session was not needed at this meeting.
ADJOURN
Moved by Spencer Seconded by Pomerleau and Voted to adjourn. The meeting adjourned at 8:10 pm by unanimous consent.
Submitted by: __________________________
Clerk/Secretary
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