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MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />June 12, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 4 of 9 <br /> <br />Crosby said he also interviewed Veach on the phone and appreciates everybody who did apply, noting <br />they had some really good candidates and it wasn't an easy decision. He stated Veach stepped up and she <br />really appealed because of her business acumen, so he would second her appointment. <br /> <br />Crosby seconded the motion. <br /> <br />Benson said the Council had 10 individuals, one of whom couldn't be present that night, who came <br />prepared to speak and answer questions. However, she said there has been zero deliberation and she <br />would like to discuss the merits of several of the candidates. <br /> <br />Walsh called for a motion to end discussion. <br /> <br />Crosby said he would like to hear what Councilmember Benson had to say and her ranking for her top <br />candidates. <br /> <br />Benson said she wanted to start by saying it's very important not only to understand how the Council <br />makes decisions, but to understand members’ own limitations as it makes decisions. This is a position that <br />an individual will fill for Council, after Councilmember Seals resigned, for the next year and a half in the <br />midst of very big decisions. She said it's confounding to her that the Council is not willing to take time to <br />hear each other's thoughts with the understanding that all are asking valid questions. She said she would <br />like to deliberate and discuss each of the candidates. <br /> <br />Johnson said there was a motion and a second on the floor and asked if she was opposed to the <br />recommended candidate. <br /> <br />Benson said opposition is not the word she would use but rather that the Council should look at each <br />candidate in terms of assets and what people are bringing to the table as well as potential concerns. She <br />said Veach was not able to be present through no fault of her own and that she did have an opportunity to <br />speak to Veach on the phone. Benson noted a potential concern is that she is married to an active <br />firefighter. She said Attorney Mattick had addressed the potential for conflict not being present in the case <br />of Councilmember Seals, but that didn't stop some conflict points being brought up. If it is possible to <br />entertain candidates and to look thoroughly through these other candidates that don't potentially come in <br />with those optics from the outset. She would like to do that, adding everybody here has lots of good <br />points including Maria Veach. <br /> <br />Crosby said it would be unfortunate to penalize somebody because the husband is serving the community. <br /> <br />Benson said the Council has not had an opportunity to discuss the merits of these candidates. <br /> <br />Walsh said we have a motion and a second so the discussion is on the motion. <br /> <br />Johnson said this was his first choice based on the hearing open, listening, engaging, and talking to <br />people, that is his candidate and to go through the other ones, at this point, he didn’t think was necessary <br />and that it’s his job to state his first choice.