Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />September 11, 2023 <br />6:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 5 of 8 <br /> <br /> <br />CITY ADMINISTRATOR/ENGINEER REPORT <br /> <br />17. APPROVAL OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEY EXTENSION <br /> <br />Edwards updated the City Council, noting the approval of the prosecuting attorney’s contract extension <br />was on the agenda. His existing extension expired in September and this extension would be through <br />2024. The police chief has been working with the contracted communities to put together a Joint Powers <br />Agreement in order to have all the cities covered by the Orono PD served by the same prosecuting <br />attorney. He said Farniok saw the end of 2024 to be the next opportunity to do that. <br /> <br />Johnson moved, Crosby seconded, to approve the Prosecuting Attorney Contract Extension. <br />VOTE: Ayes 4, Nays 0 <br /> <br />On the Engineering side, Edwards said, the Fox street project is nearing completion. Glendale Drive was <br />milled that day. Light poles for the Navarre parking lot are on order. The public works facility under <br />construction is a little ahead of the overall schedule. The roof is all done as well as the majority of the <br />plumbing. Early April completion is still projected. <br /> <br />COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORT <br /> <br />18. FIRE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE <br /> <br />19. FUTURE FIRE SERVICE MEETING <br /> <br />Johnson reported on the fire negotiating committee and the Future Fire Services Meeting. He said some <br />questioned why Orono was at the table, but he said it was pointed out Orono is still part of the community <br />and may serve other communities with fire. Legislators were asked about funding for the services fire <br />departments are providing. On the negotiations side, the team got together and is still collaborating, trying <br />to anticipate negotiations that are ahead and find common ground. He anticipates negotiations will <br />continue after mediation. He said it is important to come up with an exit plan that both cities understand. <br /> <br />Benson asked if the assumption is that everything is on the table for the mediation session on Sept. 26. <br /> <br />Walsh said they can’t talk about it but everything is on the table and they will be going in with an open <br />mind. The City has not ruled out anything, he said. <br /> <br />Edwards explained that the City is only allowed to have two Council members at Future Fire Services <br />because of bylaws, and if three or more attend there is a quorum of the Orono Council. <br /> <br />Walsh said Veach felt strongly that the two Council members on the negotiation committee. Veach and <br />Johnson, should be the ones to attend the Future Fire Services Meeting as well. <br /> <br />Benson said the Fire Services Meeting group formed in 2021 and that that time Orono was not interested <br />in participating, per Mayor Walsh. Johnson attended two times in the past several years and former <br />Councilmember Seals attended. Her concern is that when she was sworn in, Johnson said he did not find