Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – City Council has begun the unenviable task of putting together the city’s budget for 2009. Between now and December, details will be ironed out and a figure agreed upon, with the hope being to keep spending to a minimum. Council discussed a couple issues at its Nov. 3 session involving financial issues for the Public Works Department and Solid Waste Department. Present for the session were Councilors Calvin Hall, Ed Nickerson, Walt Elish, Don Gardner and G. Melvin Hovey. Council first considered a request for a contract adjustment for paving. City Manager Tom Stevens advised councilors that Public Works Director Gerry James recommended not adjusting the price for paving. Due to the cost of materials going up, a contract adjustment was being considered.
“I sat down with those concerned. I can’t advocate for the individual. It’s up to him to represent himself,” James told the Council. “I recommend not opening a can of worms and pay for service already performed.”
“This will change our ways of bidding in the future, for what may be a volatile market,” said Stevens.
Council voted unanimously to deny the request for adjusting the contract for paving.
No action was taken on a second request for a contract adjustment for snow hauling. James said he’d made a proposal to the hauler but had not heard back as of Monday evening.
The biggest budget issue raised at the session involved a loss of revenue to the Solid Waste Department for recyclables.
“Another item in the budget that’ unfortunately going to go the other way has to do with commodities for recyclables,” said Stevens.
Dana Fowler, Solid Waste director, explained how prices have dropped with the recent market problems nationwide.
“Last week we had a workshop on budgets. Due to dramatic changes in the economy, we’re concerned about fees for line items/tipping fees. I spoke with the party we’ve dealt with for 17-18 years. He said he’d never seen such dramatic drops. What this means for the budget, he thinks prices will stay where they’re at for two to three months,” said Fowler. “If current prices hold through next year, revenue line item for sale of recyclables would decrease by $100,000.”
Fowler said the contractor indicated he’d honor the contract for the remainder of the year but next year would be a different matter.
“I don’t know what that means, but it’s probably not positive,” Fowler said.
The city’s 2009 budget projected approximately $216,000 for recycling revenue gross, based on 2008 figures.
“That’s for metal, papers, cans and plastics. If prices hold, the budget would have to go down $100,000. Based on current prices, based on papers and plastics, we could go down to about $83,000,” said Fowler.
Nickerson asked whether any of the cost could be passed along to users.
Fowler said a fee is already charged.
“We already are charging a fee. If we bail for individuals, currently half goes to the generator and half to the city. As costs increase, more stays with the city and less goes to individuals,” said Fowler.
All councilors were present, except Elish, at the Oct. 6 meeting.
Council also took the following actions recently:
• Accepted the amendments to the 2007 Comprehensive Plan to achieve full consistency with the Growth Management Act;
• Amended language in the Land Use and Development Code, Chapter 16, Chapter 1, Section XXII Rural Residential Zone (RRZ), Subsection D, Standards and to approve location of zone on zoning map;
• Failed to reach an agreement on a resolve to adopt a garage sale sign ordinance. Councilor Hall expressed concern over enforcement issues and Councilor Trombley did not see the need for such an ordinance at this time. The vote was 3-3, with Hall, Trombley and Nickerson opposed.
• Approved the renewal of the nude entertainment license for KBS Enterprises, d/b/a Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center, 116 Main St.;
• Reconsidered the personnel resolve of Sept. 3, pertaining to the creation of a nepotism policy at the Forum. At issue was the fact several members of the director’s family worked at the facility. After much debate, the resolve failed by a vote of 2-4, with Councilors Hall, Nickerson, Trombley and Hovey opposed. The new policy prevents family members from working together as before;
• Authorized the city treasurer to waive the foreclosure on those properties deemed by the city treasurer and the code enforcement officer to be unsuitable for acquisition if payment on the 2006 tax lien is not received by the city prior to close of business on Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. Vote was 5-1, with Hall opposed;
• Resolved that the city shelter all new tax revenues from the BLD Hospitality, LLC project and the city’s sheltered funds to be used for economic development projects as determined by the city and approved by the Department of Economic and Community Development;
• Approved a Snowmobile Program Municipal Grant-In-Aid Program Application, Snowmobile Program Municipal Grant-In-Aid Program Agreement and Snowmobile Trail Grooming agreement for snowmobile trail-related expenses for the 2008-2009 season with the Presque Isle Snowmobile Club. The City Council also approved a land use permit over city-owned lands for the period Oct. 6, 2008 through April 6, 2009. Stevens was authorized to execute the necessary document for this application, agreements and permit;
• Resolved that Harmony Way be accepted by the city as a public way as laid out in the deed from Carroll E. Walton and Marilyn T. Walton to the city of Presque Isle and recorded at the Southern Aroostook Registry of Deeds, Houlton, ME, in plan book 40, page 59B. Vote was 5-0-1, with Councilor Trombley abstaining;
• Approved warrant for municipal/SAD 1 election and warrant of notice of election calling school administrative district referendum;
• Approved consent agenda items through Sept. 15. Items including Council minutes of Aug. 18 and Sept. 3, and 2008 warrants 35-39, totalling $3,469,723.25;
• Appointed election workers for the Nov. 4 election;
• Discussed disposition of tax-acquired properties;
• Considered a request for abatement of property taxes;
• Approved the closure of Main St. from Academy St. to State St. from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 21, for Main Street Mania;
• Discussed updates to Chapter 25 – International Building Code. Moved to schedule public hearings in December and January and adopt Chapter 31 of the National Electrical Code;
• Approved consent agenda items, including: City Council minutes of Oct. 6 and 2008 warrants 40-43, totalling $4,867,323.89.
The next Council meeting has tentatively been scheduled for Monday, Nov. 17. Sessions are open to the public and individuals are encouraged to attend and participate. For more information, call 764-4485.
