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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 />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 4 of 6 <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh noted it is not a practical difficulty so the City cannot give a variance for that. However, the <br />good news is that this is a good thing to bring to the Code Review Committee which Mayor Walsh and <br />Johnson are on. The goal of the committee is to look at things such as this; when someone has bigger <br />acreage, if the Code Committee made a change Mr. Peterson would not even have to come back to the <br />City as long as the proposed design meets the setbacks. He noted right now they would deny the variance <br />but would recommend Mr. Peterson bring the issue to the Code Review Committee to be looked at. <br />Seals moved, Johnson seconded, to deny LA22-000029, 2880 Fox Street, Variance. VOTE: Ayes 4, <br />Nays 0. <br />The City Council gave guidance to recommend the Code Review Committee review this item. <br />PUBLIC COMMENTS <br /> <br />Crosby asked to add one thing to the public comment time: he asked that public comments be made in a <br />respectful manner. He clarified they should be respectful to oneself, respectful to the Council, and <br />respectful to the citizens of Orono. He thanked the public and noted the City Council welcomes <br />comments. <br /> <br />Brad Erickson, 2485 Independence Road, Independence, has had a business in Orono for quite a few <br />years. He was present 2 weeks ago and personally delivered a thumb drive to City Administrator Edwards <br />with a couple of videos from this Mayor. He is not sure if everyone has had a chance to view these <br />videos. Suffice it to say, he is present tonight to ask the City Council for help. They need to move forward <br />with a resolution of censure for this Mayor. In 45 years, Mr. Erickson has never, ever, been more serious <br />about anything. He noted he has been sick to his stomach for three months because of this, because he <br />thought they were done. Mr. Erickson was hoping Mr. Printup would be present tonight as he has been <br />helpful, and Mr. Edwards has been helpful, as well. Mr. Erickson does not do politics, the City Council <br />knows what he does, and he asked to quit acting like they do not know each other because he expects they <br />will get to know each other a whole lot better in the next couple of weeks. Mr. Erickson’s attorney is on <br />vacation this week and Mr. Erickson is asking the City to have a vote on this, stating the material coming <br />out of this office in this City is unacceptable and cannot be permitted to continue. However they need to <br />do this, whether through attorneys or making a motion to put this on the next agenda. <br /> <br />Eric Vogstrom, 2710 Pence Lane, commented on the wake board surfing issue, noting he has a wake boat <br />and his kids really enjoy it and he hopes the Council can support the residents. <br /> <br />Barbara Peterson, 1261 Arbor Street, is a former Orono Park Commission member and former City <br />Council member, as well as a four term Mayor and sat in the seat where Mr. Walsh sits. Having sat in that <br />chair for years she was thoroughly embarrassed to witness and watch the video of the last City Council <br />meeting. She noted Mayor Walsh has a motto in the newsletter every quarter which states “my motto is <br />citizens first and that will never change.” Ms. Peterson thinks Mr. Walsh probably wants to remove that <br />from his newsletter. The fact that Mayor Walsh referred to two former mayors (one from Orono and one <br />from Long Lake) as clowns and then very disrespectfully put a newspaper in front of his face while one of <br />them was speaking is totally unacceptable. Mayor Walsh should care more about the job he is doing for <br />the residents in this City than his own ego.