Council Workshop Minutes
November 21, 2005
6:00 PM
Stimson Hall
Present: Gary Foster, Andy Upham, Skip Crane, Denise Duda, John Welch
Media: Monument Newspaper
Chair Gary Foster called the workshop to order at 6:00 PM. The Council engaged in a discussion about the Council Rules, specifically the Finance Committee and the changes that have been developed thus far. Chair Foster indicated that his latest version would be modified to reflect the discussion this evening including the deletion of the current language related to the Council as a whole serving as the Finance Committee for no longer than three months.
There was also discussion of re-numbering the sections but the Council decided to focus on the Finance committee changes and the inclusion of the Website Committee at this time.
A discussion started regarding Order #99 and that the ORC was preparing the white paper that had been requested by Vice Chair Upham. Receipt is expected at the December 6, 2005 Council Meeting. The Council will also ask the Gray Water District to finalize the southerly delineation of the aquifer protection area as specified by their engineer Seavey and Mahre. The Council wants to know the “confidence value” that is built into the delineation work and the added buffer zone. There was also support to have the District’s Engineers make a formal presentation at the Council’s December 20 meeting. Further discussion of the new boundary and how far it goes towards Rt. 100 North ended in the Vice Chair indicating he would make contact with the District and seek all of the information.
The discussion went to Agritourism and the letter the Chair received from Mr. Owen Wells. The Council remains concerned about the lack of additional set backs which they would prefer to be included in the final draft of this ordinance.
The Capital Investment Plan was the next topic of discussion. The first element was related to the current phone system and what features and enhancements the Town might look towards. The Manager will contact Pine Tree Telephone Networks and seek cost elements and report back. The second aspect of the CIP discussion was the use or disposition of the Old Post Office. The focus was to take the town space as a whole and how to best align the space and service needs and the cost factors for each of the scenarios that involves the possibilities of the sales of real estate as well as renovations or building new facilities. The Space Study would be expanded but the Manager would not be able to get to this until after the budget development and its use would help guide the development of the FY 2008
budget. The Council concurred.
In the meantime the Manager will have public works install temporary supports along the walls of the Library basement where the sills have deflected. We will also provide a map of the lot, set backs and leach field for the Vice Chair to review and work with the Director to improve parking and renovations of the basement for added library space.
The Council appeared favorable to this approach for meeting the short term library space needs. The discussion of the funding led to a belief that the Trustees should be invited to the next Council meeting to discuss the renovation option and have the Trustees meet with the GPLA members to layout a strategy for fund raising. Chair Foster will contact the Chair of the Library Trustees to share these thoughts and extend the invitation.
Vice Chair Upham requested an Executive Session with the Gray Community Endowment for 6:30 PM on December 6 to discuss the Libby Hill property negotiations.
The Council came back to the CIP and indicated that future vehicle funding through the CIP would require a business case for each unit. The Council also agreed that there would be a hold on future funding for the Stimson Hall until a broader study of space needs was completed.
The Chair also raised the point of the annual employee Christmas party at Spring Meadows and the Gray Fire and Rescue recognition dinner in late January or early February also at Spring Meadows. There was discussion of the fund allocations for those in addition to the Volunteer Recognition Dinner with the Council indicating they would continue all of these for this fiscal year with $750 for the Employee Christmas party and $500 for the Gray Fire Rescue recognition dinner. The source of these funds is the line item called Volunteer Recognition under the Council budget.
The topic of the Warner Cable Franchise Negotiations was not taken up at this time due to the lateness of the hour.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:05 PM
Mitchell A. Berkowitz
Town Manager
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