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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,December 7,2020 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT <br /> Rief said Mayor Walsh stole his Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. He said there will be an internal <br /> workday on December 16,2020,which he sent out in a Friday memo as they have done in the last 3 <br /> years. It gives an opportunity to catch up on filing and shredding and all of the things that get put off and <br /> prioritized to when they have time. He noted they do not have meetings for 5 weeks and this gives an <br /> opportunity. <br /> Johnson said regarding the Friday updates,he does not need to see the same things every week. At least <br /> for him, it is good to see what is different. The idea behind it was not for Staff to tell the Council what <br /> they do all week, as there are things they do every week. Rather, include some of the things that are <br /> atypical. <br /> Rief explained what he was trying to do is show what was swallowing the majority of Staffs time. If <br /> they did not get to something else;elections, for example, swallows three Staff members for 30+hours a <br /> week each and that is where he was coming from on that side of things. <br /> Johnson said they have a sense of what the everyday is and asked to help Council understand what is new, <br /> or spending more time than a typical week. <br /> Crosby feels for these people because it is tough when neighbors do not have the same pride in <br /> ownership. <br /> Mayor Walsh noted it is bank owned with renters. <br /> Crosby said it is still good to have pride in yourself and your home even if you are renting. <br /> Seals said especially when one is causing damage to the neighbor's house-that is a whole other level. <br /> The Council continued on and Johnson noted Mound is on board with the trail,and Spring Park. <br /> Rief said he has heard some cursory commitments but not a full commitment and they have not asked <br /> Orono to plow it. <br /> Crosby noted a text he received saying that"Minnetrista is looking at raising Council and Mayor's pay; <br /> they show Orono's pay has not changed since 1997 and he is not sure if that is historically correct, but he <br /> is wondering if Orono is considering raising official's salaries or not. He is of the opinion that serving is <br /> a public service and something to supplement income but is curious about what if anything Orono is <br /> planning to do in that regard." Crosby responded they will not vote for a raise in pay as people struggle <br /> under tyrant lockdowns and it will not happen. <br /> Mayor Walsh said when he was on the Council and it came up, everybody thought it was a good idea <br /> until they looked at him and he said he was vastly overpaid. Then they said they would move on. <br /> Seals said there is the way to their heart: a philly cheesesteak every once in a while from Jersey Mikes. <br /> Crosby said when they serve the people,they serve the people. When folks are struggling and there are a <br /> lot of people struggling right now,whether their businesses are closed, or they are not able to work to full <br /> Page 14 of 15 <br />