Council bids farewell to Gardner, Hovey
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council brought the year to a close, bidding farewell to two councilors and concluding a few business items during its Dec. 21 meeting, with all councilors present.
Councilors 
Don Gardner and G. Melvin Hovey were thanked for their years of service to the city, with each being presented with a wooden chair — Gardner with a straight-backed and Hovey with a rocking chair — in recognition of their dedication to the citizens of Presque Isle. Each also received a plaque to mark the occasion.
Also discussed was the labor contract with Teamsters Local 340: Professional Unit.
City Manger Jim Bennett stated this was a three-year contract. Wording was included completing the transfer of code enforcement to the fire department. The “bumping rights” were changed to allow those with seniority to “bump” someone with the same or equal classification or a lower position, provided that the senior person has the skills to perform the job. Holidays and 401(a) contributions were also discussed. Re-opener language was also included, stating in the event that city revenues or expenses change a million dollars or more, either party can give notice to re-open negotiations. Councilors voted 6-0 in favor of the contract.
Bennett advised councilors that eight companies have submitted a “request for qualifications,” noting “it would seem appropriate to have a broad-based committee to help in the review of the RFQ (for a draft of the proposed community center building) and determine who should receive the project.”
The committee would be comprised of seven individuals: two from the City Council, two from the Recreation Committee, one from the Planning Board, one from the Downtown Revitalization Committee and one from the Community Center Task Force.
Gardner asked why someone from the general public was not included in the selection process. Bennett indicated the committee should be “comprised of several individuals who have been involved with the process.” When the building committee is selected, he said a citizen from the general public could be appointed at that time.
Photo courtesy of Sonja Plummer-Morgan
COUNCILOR MEL HOVEY sits in his new rocking chair – a gift he was presented with during the Dec. 21 Council meeting.
Councilors voted 5-1 — Gardner opposed — to authorize the selection committee to be established according to Bennett’s specifications, with Councilors Peter Hallowell and Richard Engels (newly elected) volunteering to serve on this committee.
Councilors voted 6-0 to authorize the closing of Main Street between State and Academy streets for New Year’s Eve First Night festivities.
Bennett explained why an amendment to the 2011 budget was necessary. He stated that $250,000 was placed on hold in Capital Reserves Appropriations, with the expectation that if state revenue sharing was received, the funds would be released.
“Because the governor changed the laws, the city did not receive as much revenue sharing as expected. I asked Council to decrease expenses by $200,000 to $10,622,636 and revenues by $200,000 to $4,287,935, and to also increase benefits by $50,000 to $1,581,237 and decrease Capital Reserves Appropriations by $250,000 (airport $32,500 and other capital reserves $217,500),” said Bennett.
The amendment passed unanimously.
Councilors also approved a utility pole permit application for the area around Alder Brook Lake in Mapleton. Bennett stated the dam at Alder Brook Lake is under the control of the city and utility poles are needed to provide electricity to the dam.
