Council OKs licenses, permits
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — In addition to multiple budget workshops the past couple months, City Council has also attended to regular business, including the issuing of various licenses and permits, as well as addressing other business matters.
During October and November, councilors:
• Approved amendments to Chapter 48 — General Assistance Ordinance;
• Approved malt and vinous liquor license for David and Sharon DeMerchant, d/b/a Rosella’s, 18 North St.;
• Approved malt, spirituous and vinous liquor licenses for The Northeastland Hotel, 436 Main St.; and the My Tai, Inc., 449 Main St.;
• Approved a special permit for music, dancing and entertainment for Presque Isle Hotel Company, d/b/a The Northeastland Hotel, 438 Main St.;
• Approved a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment for My Tai, Inc., 449Main St.;
• Tabled approval of a bottle club license for Joseph E. Coughlin d/b/a Indoor Golf Center, 7Martin St., until councilors could be provided more information on the establishment and its request;
• Approved several consent agenda items;
• Re-appointed Cynthia Flanagan to the Presque Isle Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners, term to expire Oct. 1, 2018;
• Approved the amendments to the city’s Tax Increment Financing District policy as presented. City Manager Jim Bennett said the change “allows us to be more competitive and more aggressive” in attracting new businesses;
• Heard several presentations pertaining to the proposed 2014 municipal budget;
• Authorized the city manager to sign a contract with Richard and Joan Good, owners of 10 Dyer Street property, the essence of which states they’ll sign deed to property and the city will waive liens. The property had previously been deemed unsuitable for habitation and will be demolished;
• Authorized the city manager to sign the fire contract between the city of Presque Isle and the town of Chapman, to expire on Dec. 31, 2014;
• Authorized city manager to enter contract with tri-communities Mapleton, Castle Hill and Chapman for dispatch service at proposed rate of $5,500, following a letter from tri-community Town Manager Jon Frederick noting he’d received another offer from a different source for $4,700 but agreeing to stay with Presque Isle if officials were willing to cut the fee from $11,648 to $5,500 for the year;
• Voted 5-2, with Councilors Dick Engels and Randy Smith opposed, to maintain the 3 percent rate for the cable TV agreement. Bennett had sought to raise the rate to 5 percent;
• Agreed a subcommittee should be established to look into ways to recognize William V. Haskell once the new Community Center is built;
• Approved the Pay-As-You-Throw collection contracts with Gil’s Sanitation and Star City Sanitation for 2014-16 for $17,514 per month; and
• Accepted the bid of Chester Kearney to perform the city audit for the years 2013, 2014and 2015 in the amounts of $25,000 for 2013, $26,000 for 2014 and $27,000 for2015 for a total of $78,000.
