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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />Monday, March 28,2005 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />(17. PUMCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE ACQUISITION OF THE BIG ISLAND <br />VETERANS CAMP PROPERTY, CouHnued) <br />Marphy moved, Mayor PcterMO lecoaded, to approve the purchase agreement for the <br />acquisition of the Big Islaad Veterans Camp property, and to authorise the Mayor and City <br />Administrator to sign the agreement. <br />John Gehring, 1687 Concordia Street, stated that his major concern was what the financial <br />implications of this purchase would be to the City, and what further cost impacts there would be to <br />get the camp up to standards. He pointed out that he had voiced many of the same concerns to the <br />Council in previous Council meetings, and since has contacted each of them to obtain their <br />positions regarding the land use. Gehring stated that, as a citizen, it concerned him that there was <br />no clear vision for the purchase of this parcel, in fact, each Council person expressed differing <br />views on how it should be used. <br />McMillan stated that, ti^le each Council member has their own ideas regarding uses, the City has <br />not determined a qiecific use. <br />Gehring maintained that the City has not taken additional expenses into consideration, including <br />attorney fees, caretaker fees, maintenance issues, insurance, garbage, police protection, <br />improvements, trails, and public use - nor where the funds for these added expenses would come <br />from. Gehring stated that, udiile he would be willing to volunteer to work on a group to investigate <br />the costs, he would first urge the Council to estimate costs before they proceed with the purchase <br />agree ment. Gdiring reiterated that he would, at least, like to see a consensus among the Council of <br />how the land should be used, or several proposed scenarios. He offered up his services in the <br />process, <m die condition that die purchase agreement is held off until the costs could be further <br />defined, so that taxpayers were better informed. <br />Aldwugh White agreed widi the draught process that a group of volunteer citizens should be <br />formed to evaluate die land uses, he questioned Gehring ’s motive. <br />Gehring stated duit he was a business person and citizen widi no vested interest. <br />White pointed out that the City could not put together a cost benefit analysis for this project at this <br />point; however, he stated that he had no trepidations moving forward and would not stop the <br />momentum at this time. <br />Gerhing again requested a cost estimate, noting that he objected to paying taxes for something with <br />no objective. <br />White urged Gehring to participate in the process, when the time comes; however, pointed out that <br />they were still in the beginning phases of the acquisition, which may or may not happen yet He <br />reiterated that the camp property is a jewel wordi preserving for perpetuity, and that the Council <br />was confident that diis was a fi^ly prudent move. <br />Sansevere acknowledged that the Council was trying to purchase the property and diat each <br />member had various views of its use at this time. While he indicated that he would like to see a <br />portion put aside for the vets, he didn’t know how much or what portion yet. Sansevere believed <br />PAGE 11 of 14 <br />ir <br />i .