05-13-1991 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING HELD MAY 13, 1991 ($16)CITY FACILITIES CONTINUED Goetten agreed with Jabbour that prior to the elections, the City facilities process was not as it should have been, and that since that time, Council has taken this issue back to the people for their input. She indicated that she would like to have the City provide some form of written communication to the residents regarding whatever decision is made this evening, and what will happen next. Goetten reiterated MrLyor ,Peterson's earlier statements about the fact that this meeting is not the last opportunity for residents to be heard on the issue of a new City facility. She assured the public that Council has given this issue a great deal of consideration, and would make an informed decision. Norm Paurus. 2500 Casco Point Road, stated that he would like 'Council to select the existing site for the new facilities in lieu of the Highway 12 location. He indicated that the majority oL Orono residents live south of Highway 12, and the existing location is more centrally located and convenient to the voting public: He said, "I would like to see the Council vote their conscience for the voting public and the citizens you will be serving for the next 50 years, rather than considering a site based on its 'convenience for the professionals to develop." Goetten asked Bernhardson if there have been any complaints from the residents regarding response time of the Orono Police from their location near Highway 12. Bernhardson replied, "There have been no such complaints of which I am aware. The squad ca --.s are deployed within, the Community at all times. The issue of response time may be more important if we were dealing with a Fire Department where all vehicles are dispatched from one location." Jabbour stated that prior to his election to the City Council, he had served on the Facilities Committee. He said, "One of the reasons I thought the Highway i2 site was more suitable was the fact that we could have all of the facilities on one site. The other issue was cost, and I had thought we may save money if we c1-1ose Highway 12 over the existing site. I would like to know tonight if that is in fact true. At our last meeting, Jack Boarman indicated that, if given a preference, he would select the existing site. .That made me wonder if the existing site is in fact less eX pensive than the Highway 12 site." Boarman explained that he had based that statement on a situation where Council considered the most important criteria to be that of centrality. Jabbour stated that as a member of the Facilities Committee he had reached his decision in a business -like manner, - 7 -