04-13-2020 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, April 13, 2020 6:03 o'clock p.m. to let it slide. She referenced the Crystal Bay dock and said they don't have a permit and the dock is in; they don't even know if they will get a permit and the dock is in. If there is a rule or a code, they need to be enforced. If the code is bad, it can be changed. It does not take that long to send them a letter and let them know. It is unfair to the property owner because the City has not let them know. Johnson said the City put the screws to the neighbor down the street for the same thing. Right now, it is not even-handed, it is being noticed, and it has to be even-handed. Barnhart stated he has not gotten a complaint on that dock on the City property. Last winter when it was noticed, the direction from the Council was to not do anything and they would change the code. As the property owner is requesting his license, Barnhart has charged an after -the -fact fee, which is what he can do, and the property owner has indicated he will wish to appeal. Seals said that Barnhart was correct in that case. Just because the Council talks about something does not make it a sealed deal. It makes everyone question whether or not the dock should go in, as the property owner doesn't know how to read the rules. Legally, the City's best bet is to be consistent on everything. Printup referenced the City -owned dock application that the Council just approved and said the Council was warned that people would abuse that and that applicant chose to abuse it. He hopes that person sends something to the City saying he is sorry and that he will do better next time, because the message was very clear that they could lose their application. Seals commented that the property owner is appealing his after -the -fact fee. Johnson said the house is now up for sale so there probably was a push to get the dock in. In fairness to that owner, the family has been putting the dock out for years without permission and so they just did it again. He is willing to hear what the applicant has to say. Johnson asked if he needed to make a motion regarding the property that is in violation or whether the City Council could give Staff direction to continue with code enforcement until there is compliance. Council members were in agreement to give Staff direction at this point. Crosby noted Mattick made some good points and said there is also the way you deliver code enforcement, and sometimes you have to think through the process because if you punish just for the sake of punishment, he did not know if many lessons would be taught. He also said he wants to get everybody back to work as soon as possible. He asked Orono citizens to remember small business owners and encouraged everyone to continue to support restaurants; they are the life -blood of the community. He encouraged everyone to be kind to their neighbors and do what they can to send positive messages. Walsh agreed with Crosby and thanked the policemen and firemen for their great work at the fire in Mound. His heart goes out to everyone taking pay cuts. He thanked everyone for their hard work. A tro.1117u 16011.E Y_17r ICI] 11Z9tH ZI].11 Rief said they have had a number of donations that have come in to the City. He thanked Walsh for the pizzas delivered to the Police Department a couple weekends ago and thanked those that donated cupcakes, stating everyone appreciated them. He thanked everyone for helping out with donations. Page 24 of 25