City Council makes annual appointments
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Council kicked off the new year Jan. 5, starting with the swearing in of two councilors, Emily Smith and Leigh Smith — both elected in November. Emily, the incumbent, was also re-elected by councilors as council chair. Leigh took over the seat formerly held by Bruce Sargent. Mike Chasse was selected as vice chair.
In other business, councilors:
• Appointed Hugo Olore, Jr. as the city attorney, per Article 4.10 of the City Charter;
• Appointed Councilors Emily Smith and Pete Hallowell to the Audit Committee, with their terms expiring Dec. 31, 2015;
• Appointed Councilors Randy Smith and Pete Hallowell to the Finance Committee, with their terms expiring Dec. 31, 2015;
• Appointed Councilors Dick Engels and Craig Green to the Presque Isle Development Fund board of trustees, with their terms expiring Dec. 31, 2015;
• Set City Council regular meetings for the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers. In instances when the first Monday is a recognized holiday, or in cases of severe weather when offices are closed, the regular meeting shall be held on the following Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. At a regular meeting the City Council shall decide if it wants to call a special meeting at a date and time determined by the City Council;
• Approved the policy on treasurer’s disbursement warrants for employee wages and benefits;
• Approved the municipal officer’s policy on disbursement of municipal education costs;
• Heard a presentation by Larry Clark, executive director of the Presque Isle Industrial Council;
• Re-passed Chapter 53 — Disbursement Warrant; Chapter 54 — All Terrain Vehicle; Chapter 59 — Regulating the Establishment and Operation of Medical Marijuana Facilities; and Chapter 60 — Property Assessed Clean Energy. All were up for renewal due to the sunset provision;
• Approved amendments to Chapter 16A — Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, as presented;
• Approved consent agenda items 15-11 through 15-14, as presented;
• Appointed Curt Paterson to the Audit Committee, term expiring Dec. 31, 2015;
• Appointed Frank Bemis and Michael MacPherson to the Board of Assessment Review, terms expiring Dec. 31, 2017;
• Appointed John Cancelarich and Allison Ladner to the Library Committee, terms expiring Dec. 31, 2017;
• Appointed Bruce Roope to the Planning Board, term expiring Dec. 31, 2017;
• Appointed Robert Cawley and Michael MacPherson to the Presque Isle Development Fund board of trustees, terms expiring Dec. 31, 2017;
• Appointed Ken Arndt to the Presque Isle Development Fund board of trustees, term expiring Dec. 31, 2015;
• Appointed Peter Charette to the Zoning Board of Appeals, term expiring Dec. 31, 2017;
• Approved the dispatching contract with the towns of Mapleton, Chapman and Castle Hill;
• Authorized City Manager Jim Bennett to sign the fire contract between the city of Presque Isle and the town of Chapman, by a vote of 6-1, with Councilor Hallowell in opposition;
• Authorized the city manager to advertise the tax-acquired property at 30 Ward St. is for sale, with no fixed minimum; and
• Approved the removal of the temporary closure on Dragon Drive.
During Bennett’s manager’s report, he noted that the Public Works Department had “adopted a needy family during the holidays, with all employees donating money” toward the project, “making a substantial donation to make the family’s holiday much more enjoyable than it would have been.” He acknowledged that the Presque Isle Fire Department annually does the Toys for Tots toy drive but this was a first for Public Works.
Bennett noted that training would be held in the near future for all those recently appointed to any boards or committees.
Councilors closed out the evening with a proclamation for Boy Scout Troop 171, for their consistent support of citizen skills. Many of the Scouts, by being present for the Jan. 5 meeting, earned their civics merit badge.
On Jan. 12, councilors — during a special meeting held to discuss the sale and subsequent relocation of City Hall, which was reported on in the Jan. 14 issue of The Star-Herald — voted to sell a generator at the former MBNA building on Green Hill Drive to The Aroostook Medical Center for $12,500.
Council continued discussion on the sale of the Second Street property and the move to the Parson Street site that will soon be home to City Hall during another special meeting held last night, Jan. 20. More on that meeting will be in next week’s issue.
Council meetings are open to the public and participation is encouraged. For more information, call 760-2785.
