6:00 PM – Councilors visit Dry Mills School House Museum
Roll Call:
Councilors Matt Sturgis, Peter Gellerson, Matt Doughty, Margaret Hutchins
Town Manager Deborah Cabana
Excused: Mark Grover
Others present and speaking: Brad Pollard, Will Haskell
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag:
Minutes from Previous Meetings:
Approval of September 21, 2010, Town Council Minutes
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded.
Ordered the Gray Town Council approves September 21, 2010 Town Council Minutes, as corrected.
Councilor Gellerson stated that on page 2- VFW should be the American Legion and on page 5 it should read GNGDC
4 Yes
First Order of Business:
Public Comments of Non-Agenda Items – (limit 3 minutes per person) NONE
Second Order of Business:
Reports from the Council Chair:
Councilor Gellerson stated that the Council visited the Dry Mills School House and hopes to find funds to keep the building open.
He also commented on the efforts of the Christian Fellowship for their efforts on the exterior of Stimson Hall.
Reports from the Town Manager:
Town manager Cabana stated that the taxes are coming in. Voting will be on the 2nd floor of Pennell.
Ronna Budd has decided to retire and her last day will be Oct 29th
Maine Center for Disease control stated that a skunk in the area was tested positive for rabies
Rabies clinic/dog registration will be held on Nov 15th
Meals on Wheels needs some drivers for the GNG route.
A public hearing will be held on MDOT on the Sweetser Bridge replacement on Oct 28th
The week of Thanksgiving, the Library will be closed for their renovation project.
She read a letter from Superintendent thanking the Town for fire safety training session.
Committee Reports:
Gary Foster, Town’s representative to ecomaine, stated that the budget looks very good at this time. $750,000 loan has been paid off. Total cost to borrow amount is $5000. Assessments were reduced or in some cases remained the same.
There was an amendment to bylaws of the Executive Committee and the weighting of the votes has been made and is based on tonnage for the areas they represent. Electric revenues were very good and helped to generate surpluses in the budget. The upcoming year, the rates will be considerably lower and discussion on the best method for the best rate and spot market may yield better rates.
The audit showed no issues. The new computer software has helped significantly. The finance director has left for another opportunity.
Councilor Gellerson asked why electric rates are decreasing. Gary stated that the commercial natural gas rates are going down which affect the rates.
Councilor Hutchins stated that Public Safety has met and are working on the finishing touches on mass gathering ordinance. She also stated that the Solid Waste and Public Safety Committees need members. She reminded everyone that the spaghetti supper is on October 9th at the fire station
Councilor Sturgis stated that the Recreation and Conservation committee met and they are discussing master planning for the land behind Pennell. They would like to work on a long term plan for this area and may work with Al Palmer to get some ideas. There was a discussion on multi-use courts and ball fields and the like. Discussion on the recreation survey will be reviewed. Drafts on usage and fees policies are being looked at to help establish such policies in Gray.
Councilor Sturgis reminded people about getting their chimney’s cleaned and inspected.
Council Correspondence: NONE
Town Manager Cabana stated that there is a new Public Safety Director- Galen Morrison
Third Order of Business:
Interviews: NONE
Public Hearing: NONE
Presentation: NONE
Fourth Order of Business: ORDERS
Item #035-11 Consideration to Suspend the Rules to add to the agenda Item #035-11 for the purposes of consideration to award the construction bid for the North Shore Road Improvements project.
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded
Motion to suspend the rules to add to the agenda Item #035-11 for the purposes of consideration to award the construction bid for the North Shore Road Improvements project.
4 Yes
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded
Ordered the Gray Town Council suspends the rules to add to the agenda Item #035-11 and further awards the construction bid for the North Shore Road Improvements project to J. Maxwell Trucking & Excavation, Inc. located at 201 Weymouth Road, Gray, Maine for a total bid price, not to exceed the available construction budget of $53,625.
Councilor Doughty asked for a summation of the details of the project.
Will Haskell of Gorrill Palmer stated that design plans were established at $53,625. 15 bids were received. J Maxwell Trucking & Excavation came under bid at $34,000. He gave a description of some of the work and in addressing particular drainage problems. Since they came under bid, and the funds have been budgeted, they will look to extend the distance of the work and provide better surface materials. It should be done this Fall.
Councilor Sturgis reminded the group about the decree to address this road as part of a subdivision issue.
Councilor Gellerson stated that the funds are not coming from the Town, but from those who subdivided and sold the land.
A resident living on the road and present at the meeting stated that ditching appears to be involved and asked if water retention is an issue. He asked about running over 2 pieces of property. Will stated that the water would go over flat surface and would continue to run through a culvert under North Shore Road.
4 Yes
Item #030-11 To review and act upon authorizing a site license for renewal of septage land application for Cole Farms.
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded
Ordered, the Gray Town Councils authorizes the Town Manager to sign the renewal site license for septage land application for Cole Farms, as requested.
Brad Pollard stated that the renewal is for septage land about that is ¼ mile behind the restaurant which they own. Work is done with the DEP for this and is the license is renewed every 5 years.
The site he has is different in that it contains more organic waste and not human waste.
4 Yes
Item #031-11 To review and act upon making appointments to the various boards and committees.
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded
Ordered the Gray Town Council appoints Geoff Gilpatric as a regular member to the Recreation and Conservation committee for a term to expire August, 2013.
4 Yes
Item #032-11 To review and act upon approving a proposed resolution regarding the special referendum election to consider a possible revision to the Town Charter or establishment of a new Town Charter.
Resolved the Gray Town recommends that voters [SUPPORT/OPPOSE] creation of a Charter Commission for the Town of Gray.
Councilor Sturgis stated that Mark Grover believes that there should be a resolution that the council supports the creation of the charter commission. Councilor Sturgis does not believe that any position should be taken on this issue by the Council.
The Council did not take any action on this item.
Item #033-11 To review and act upon appointing the local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director for the Town of Gray.
Councilor Hutchins moved; Councilor Doughty seconded
Resolved the Gray Town appoints Chief Galen Morrison as the local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director for the Town of Gray.
4 Yes
Fifth Order of Business: ORDINANCES:
Item #034-11 (First Reading) To review and act upon the proposed Efficiency Maine Trust, Model Ordinance Version 2 (Administration by the Trust): Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Ordinance.
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded
Ordered the Gray Town Council sets a public hearing and second reading for enactment of the proposed Efficiency Maine Trust, Model Ordinance Version 2 (Administration by the Trust): Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Ordinance.
4 Yes
Sixth Order of Business:
Council Business: - Discussion regarding the Honor Roll/Hall of Fame
Council guidelines to the Town Manager regarding the FY 2011/2012 budget
It was suggested to postpone these items until the next meeting when Councilor Grover returns.
Seventh Order of Business:
Additions to the Agenda:
Councilor Sturgis will have his recommendations for a Facilities Use Policy.
Eighth Order of Business:
Council Action Items, Assignments and Issues Status:
Request that Maine DOT review signage in Gray center and nearby state roads.- Consider and discuss a proposed Mass Gathering Ordinance, eventually moving it to a Public Hearing.
- Complete all revisions to the Street Construction Ordinance (§ 400).
- Amend or replace the Sign Ordinance (§ 406).
- Review the town TIF Policy. (CEDC to amend and not rewrite)
- Establish a Gray Hall of Fame award and a process to identify initial, historical recipients.
Begin organizing a Comprehensive Planning Committee.
Ninth Order of Business: Adjournment
Councilor Sturgis moved; Councilor Hutchins seconded
Motion to adjourn
4 Yes
The meeting ended at 7:45pm
Minutes approved and accepted October 19, 2010 by its Town Council:
_____________________________ ___________________________
Peter Gellerson, Council Chair Margaret Hutchins, Vice Chair
______________________________ ___________________________
Mark D. Grover Matthew Sturgis
_____________________________
Matthew Doughty
* The Town of Gray is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable equal access to public accommodations law. If you are planning to attend a Town Council or Town committee or board meeting and need assistance with a physical disability, please contact the Town Manager’s office at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to have the Town assist you. 657-3339. TTY 657-3931.
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