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MINUTES OF THE <br /> ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br /> June 26,2023 <br /> 6:00 o'clock p.m. <br /> Benson said the first document relates to fire services and is a simple timeline that covers the last five <br /> years of events related to the formation of an Orono Fire Department. The timeline highlights the lack of <br /> effort to inform and collaborate with citizens from the beginning of the process including the publication <br /> date of every City newsletter and utility bill insert from the last few years.One brief mention of the Orono <br /> Fire Department was a few words in the January February newsletter from this year that came after many <br /> consequential decisions,including ending the contract with Long Lake,purchasing equipment, and hiring <br /> a fire chief had been made. She asked how elected officials can expect the community to trust their <br /> decisions when they are not invited to the table at the outset.Engagement came at the very end of the <br /> process and involved one public hearing and the invitation to write comments to the City,she said, but the <br /> Council has not discussed the comment cards. They were not tabulated and the public was given no <br /> opportunity to see results in an accessible format. The second document she created is a spreadsheet that <br /> organizes data from the comment cards. The data collected through the City's own process does not <br /> support the direction that the City is taking. She noted that the Council's action has resulted in new legal <br /> action being taken against the City of Orono during the past week. She said the City is heading in a new <br /> direction that is unfavorable with residents,will cost more,goes against nationwide trends,and may result <br /> in costly litigation.Her final document details the progression of committee work on the Council over the <br /> course of time. She pointed out that committees are a place where staff and members of Council meet to <br /> discuss City business. They are not subject to the Open Meeting Law because a quorum of Council is not <br /> present. She said this is the second year that budget discussions have been taken into committee which <br /> means two members of Council are able to influence and shape budget direction outside of public <br /> meetings and without the input of other Council Members. In addition, committee assignments have been <br /> moved from the month of January to December which means that newly-elected members of Council are <br /> not part of the process.Assignments are discussed and set before newly-seated members have an <br /> opportunity to weigh in. Committee assignments are also moved to the consent agenda and can be passed <br /> in one vote. She said the number of committees has increased over time and now includes the newly- <br /> formed legal committee with the stated purpose for two members of Council to meet with the City <br /> Attorney privately apart from Council to discuss legal strategy.Her final point was that the Mayor sits on <br /> every committee related to fire services, code review,budget, communications,parks,and legal. She said <br /> residents have the right to hold elected officials to the same high standard expected of others whom they <br /> entrust with their most valued assets. She said each candidate who interviewed for the open Council seat <br /> put significant time and effort put into the process and she enjoyed meeting each of the candidates and <br /> learning about how they would contribute to the City. <br /> Johnson said the information presented was inconsistent with the facts as he knows them. Committees <br /> don't make decisions, committees make recommendations,he said. Those recommendations come to the <br /> Council to get voted on and whatever transparency someone's afraid is missing from those can be brought <br /> up in the item itself He said he would not want people to be misled to think that things on the Consent <br /> Agenda aren't reviewed.It's the responsibility of every City Council member prior to the meeting to <br /> review consent agenda items.He said Council does read them,research,talk with staff,perhaps review <br /> the Planning Commission meeting and if they can't get their questions answered prior to the meeting, <br /> they can pull items off the consent agenda. He said he would be in in favor of removing the Mayor from <br /> some of the committees because he does have a full plate. <br /> Page 7 of 11 <br />