07-10-2023 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING June 26, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 8 of 11 Johnson moved that Councilmember Veach be assigned to the Fire Negotiations Committee and the Fire Advisory Committee, reasoning that some want to see more communication with Long Lake and additional conversation. Johnson said he would like to continue to work forward because no matter if they become separate departments or find a way to maintain the relationship, the two cities have a lot to discuss. Crosby seconded the motion. Benson asked for discussion, saying that the item wasn’t on the agenda and motions should not be made during Mayor and Council reports as that is not an ideal way to do City business. She also noted that she is on none of the fire committees, and she feels in the interest of balance she should be, and that she is not in favor of assigning Councilmember Veach to the Fire Negotiations and the Fire Advisory Committees due to the potential or the optics of conflict with being a fire wife during the negotiations. She said it would be very much appreciated to have a balance there with these two Committees and allow another member of Council who currently serves on none of these to serve on one related to fire. Veach said with her history she feels she could bring a unique perspective to the fire issues but added if she is appointed to new committees she would like to be removed from others. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to add Maria Veach to the Fire Advisory and Fire Negotiations Committees. VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 1 (Benson) The Council agreed that action on removing Veach from any other Committee could take place at the next Council meeting. Crosby thanked the woman who thanked the Fire Department for its service. He said he believes there is a misunderstanding of what a brush pumper rescue vehicle does. It's a rescue truck that can also take care of brush fires, but its primary purpose is medicals. He said he thinks it's important to have somebody on the Committee with more intimate fire knowledge. He said it is important for residents to have decorum in the audience and have respect for each other. It's not an easy job doing this and being attacked personally. He said lawsuits are nothing new and the Council can’t base its response on a lawsuit. The fire issue has been going on for years, he said, and the non-responsive side has been the City of Long Lake, not Orono. The City gave them very good alternatives, very good options, and they declined, he said. He agreed that communications from the City to the residents needs to improve. He said the Council has always engaged people, if they have questions or comments, if they handle themselves in a polite manner, without cursing. The City hired a great fire chief to run this department, he said, but still wants to have open negotiations with the City of Long Lake. He noted he worked for the Fire Department for 10 years and does not want to erase its history. He pointed out Orono did not attack Long Lake when it left the Police contract. Walsh said facts are a funny thing and can be twisted to propaganda and that’s what has been done here. He said there were 100 comment cards which is a fraction of the residents, yet the claim is made that 60 percent of Orono doesn’t want the City to create its own Fire Department. He said some residents have told him they were afraid to put in a comment card because others might target them. He said that there