12-11-2023 City Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING December 11, 2023 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 7 of 9 they will listen with an open mind. The Orono Fire Department was a catalyst for her to step up and pay attention. She said the behavior she sees lecturing citizens, knowingly defying court orders and disrespecting other Council members does not sit well with her. She said she wants to see debates before Council members take a vote but urged them to try to be respectful. She apologized for any disrespect she has shown and promised to do better. She said she would continue coming to Council meetings or watching them online when she is unable, and that she would vote in November. Krista Berbig, Long Lake, said she wanted to bring up some of the awesome things Long Lake Fire Fighters are doing in both cities including the tree lighting and community events. She said as they wrap up and leave this evening, they should think about the fire fighters who will remain ready to serve the community throughout the holiday season perhaps taking calls while at Christmas parties, on Christmas Eve, or taking time with their families. The community will remain a priority for them and if called they will be torn away to serve. Remember that they have asked you not to split them up, she said. Remember Long Lake does want to work with you and wants to build with Orono a joint powers agreement which is a trend among communities where communities join together to create a board where each City is represented. She said Orono’s share of the costs could go down from 85 percent to less than 50 percent if more communities joined the JPA. A proposal to work together to make a JPA remains on the table unanswered by Orono. She asked the Council to continue to negotiate in good faith. Kelly Grady, Long Lake, said she has been accused of not living in Orono and asked why she cares. She said her family lived a great portion of their lives in Orono. Since her husband is a Long Lake fire fighter, decisions made by the Orono Council affect her more than they affect many Orono citizens. She said two years ago, that day her father died of sudden cardiac arrest, so she understands the need for effective and skilled first responders. She said for the last decade Orono has done everything it could to undermine the Long Lake Fire Department as a long-range play for control, and she cited flagrant violations of judge’s orders. All this, she said, is being done with zero community input. She said playing with fire has a human cost. There is still a proposal for a shared services agreement with Long Lake on the table. Orono does not have to go it alone. Coming together to share resources and fiscal responsibility is the future of fire services nationwide, she said. The Council is making a deliberate choice to isolate themselves from surrounding communities. There will be mediation January 30, 2024 and she asked citizens to write to the Council and urge them to mediate in good faith with a goal that builds on the existing public service entity. Brad Erickson, Corcoran, brought a bag of coal for the Mayor and said he had been informed of a rumor circulating at Orono High School involving the Mayor and a high school girl and said there is now a video up suggesting the Mayor of Orono is propositioning high school students. He said he had talked to the Police Chief and contended the Mayor has a drinking problem and should get treatment. He said he is about done but would be back next year. Jay Nygard, 1386 Rest Point Road, said that Erickson may be a little wound up but he is on to something. He said he himself is a survivor of past sexual abuse by Orono school staff. He said he is not explicitly accusing Walsh of anything, but the allegations are out there and need to be addressed. He said the police have waffled and it is not the time to waffle in this community when it comes to that. It is time to stand up and investigate and find the truth.