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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> Monday,July 11,2022 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Mayor Walsh thinks Ms.Peterson should be more respectful and the people that come up to the podium <br /> should be more respectful.He asked Ms.Peterson if she knows the people that come up to the podium <br /> have sued for defamation because they made things up about him and they yell at the City Council? <br /> Ms.Peterson replied this is her time for public comments,Mr.Mayor, and she is only referring to him as <br /> Mr.Mayor because she respects the office,not him. She continued saying the fire department has become <br /> an issue and when the department was moved Ms.Peterson was involved in that and she would like to <br /> volunteer to help with those negotiations.When it happened years ago both sides had to give and take,she <br /> thinks it may be worthwhile for another side to be put into the mix to come to a resolution. She has <br /> received comments and phone calls about the issue and thinks Orono can do better than this,which is why <br /> she would like to volunteer her time to help with it. She said this was her time to speak and she asked the <br /> Mayor respectfully that in the future he will not interrupt the residents when they come to speak before <br /> him. <br /> FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT <br /> Finance Director Olson gave a presentation on the building permit revenue,noting June was a very good <br /> month with$95,500 in building permit revenue.They are now ahead of the budget at 56%. He has been <br /> trying to figure out what interest rates will do and he is hearing they will continue to rise but not quite as <br /> far as it had been predicted. <br /> CITY ATTORNEY REPORT <br /> Attorney Mattick provided the Council with a written update on some litigation they are handling and if <br /> there are questions they can continue in a closed session at the next meeting. In addition,he and Mr. <br /> Edwards are working on renegotiating the collective bargaining agreements and will present counter- <br /> offers the following day to the four groups. <br /> CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT <br /> Edwards had nothing to report. <br /> MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT <br /> Crosby noted there has been a lot of turbulence at the last couple of meetings.He thinks the important <br /> thing to recognize is that the citizens address the City Council in a respectful manner,not to interrupt, <br /> respect the people in the gallery, and he noted they can agree to disagree but attacking members of the <br /> Council or the Mayor is not warranted. If people can do it in a constructive manner and have a <br /> disagreement or issue they would like to discuss,that is what the time is for.However to attack someone <br /> in a personal manner is really beneath people and embarrassing to themselves.For past Mayors to come <br /> up and explain how disruptive it is that the Mayor has chatted back...Crosby does not think anyone has <br /> had to sit in that spot and take that on a constant basis.He stated they are all better than that,they are <br /> adults, and they know how to talk to each other in a respectful manner. The City Council Chambers is still <br /> a sacred area to the City of Orono so they all need to respect it. Crosby stated people do not have to vote <br /> for the Mayor again,but they should respect the office,the Chambers, and the other citizens of Orono that <br /> are here. <br /> ADJOURNMENT <br /> Page 5 of 6 <br />