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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />NOVEMBER 14, 2022 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 5 of 7 <br /> <br />through October. Regarding expenditures they are in good shape, and he noted on paper the finance <br />department is over budget and public works is under budget due to the utility person being budgeted in <br />public works which will now budget out of finance. The fire department will be over budget this year due <br />to an overage from 2021 that was paid in 2022 and was not budgeted. Olson showed a slide on water and <br />sewer and stated through September the enterprise funds are looking good. <br /> <br />The Commissioners discussed the water rates, infrastructure, drought, and fixing underground pipes that <br />have leaks when homes go up for sale within the City. <br /> <br />Mayor Walsh noted there have been sewer failures in neighborhoods and the City has it in the budget <br />when these things happen to go in and fix it right away. <br /> <br />Olson continued his presentation noting at the end of the year sewer will probably have about $150,000 in <br />profit which will go into the Capital Improvement Plan to pay for infrastructure improvements. He noted <br />Met Council charges are a major driver in the City’s sewer rates and clarified when the sewer leaves <br />Orono it goes into Met Council’s pipes and is processed. He spoke about stormwater, employee health <br />insurance, road projects, and engineering expenditures. <br /> <br />CITY ATTORNEY REPORT <br /> <br />Attorney Mattick had nothing to report. <br /> <br />CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT <br /> <br />17. APPOINTMENT OF FIRE CHIEF <br /> <br />Edwards noted in October the City Council established the Fire Chief position and established a selection <br />committee who advertised for the position, reviewed applications, and conducted interviews. The <br />committee recommends that James Van Eyll be hired as the Fire Chief in Orono. One key noted is an <br />employment agreement attached to the City Council action. Because Mr. Van Eyll has been the Fire Chief <br />for the City of Long Lake Fire Department, which has been Orono’s Fire Department, the employment <br />agreement treats him as if he has been an Orono employee for 15 years regarding things like benefits. <br /> <br />Seals shared that Staff pulled together some amazing candidates of well-qualified Applicants. Regarding <br />rhetoric out there about the City of Orono “stealing” a Chief, this was Chief Van Eyll’s decision to apply, <br />and when the fire fighters found out he was applying they were ecstatic. Chief Van Eyll has the right skill <br />set, the right qualifications, and he knows the City of Orono. <br /> <br />Crosby worked under Chief Van Eyll for 8-9 years, and stated the interview process was terrific with <br />great candidates. In talking about continuity, keeping everyone together, and keeping the fire fighters <br />together, that is what the City has done by hiring Chief Van Eyll because he is the leader. Crosby is proud <br />and happy that he will be the City’s first Fire Chief. <br /> <br />Crosby moved, Seals seconded, appoint James Van Eyll as Fire Chief with a start date of December <br />30, 2022 and approval of the employee agreement at Exhibit A. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br /> <br /> <br />