11-27-2023 CC Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING November 27, 2023 6:00 o'clock p.m. 14. PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING CHANGE ORDER #2 City Engineer Edwards said the change order encompasses some revisions in the construction which is going well. The change increased some costs but actually reduces total costs, he said, because it does not include installing a generator as planned. Changes are still within the contingency amounts. An earlier change order added $50,000. Benson pointed out the City had bonded $13 million for this project but is now over budget at $16 million. Crosby moved, Johnson seconded, to approve change order #2 for the new public works building. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. REQUEST TO SCHEDULE SPECIAL MEETING Edwards said the attorney representing the City in the lawsuit with the City of Long Lake is proposing a special Council meeting on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. in closed session to update the Council on the litigation. He was out of the country for the regular Council meeting that evening. Walsh moved, Johnson seconded, to schedule a special Council meeting at 5 4 to I- nto closed session to discuss litigation. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Edwards said the City has received five applications for the position of finance director and will begin interviewing next week. COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS 15. LLFD FUTURE FIRE ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE Veach said they started by reviewing the previous meeting since notes had not been recorded so minutes were made from memory and at the meeting some changes were agreed upon and will be posted. The second part of the meeting was rumor control, which was new and not particularly effective, she said, adding that's not really the purpose of the meeting. The real purpose was to discuss the budget. At this point, the main discussion is duty crews. Guidance is fluid and is changing, she said. Crosby said the main concern regarding duty crews is shortening response time at Station 2. He said he reiterated the invitation to have the Long Lake Fire Chief attend the Orono City Council meeting. In response to questions, Veach said the additional meeting was held for the purpose of looking at staff time expense around the duty crew model since the Advisory Board had not had a chance to do that. Crosby said there was some progress made but the information. on the duty crews fell short in his opinion. Benson said she was asking because the Council has only one more meeting this year to approve the 2024 budget for Long Lake Fire. She wanted to know if the City has the information needed to consider the budget at the next meeting. Page 6 of 10