05-13-1985 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO COUNCIL, MEETING HELD APRII. 22, 1985, AT THE ORONO MIDDLE SCHOOL AUDITORIUM AT 685 OI.D CRYSTAL BAY ROAD - PAGE 6 PUBLIC HEARING Frances Setterlund of 4415 North Shore Drive stated that she (CONT. ) has lived in the same house for 30 years and has been a widow for over 20 years. Setterlund disclosed that she is on a fixed income and it has been hard to keep her home. Setterlund stated that when sewer came by her house she paid for it and is still paying for it on her tax bill. Setterlund sympathized with the Crystal Bay area but felt she would lose her home if any additional assessment would be added to her tax bill. Setterlund noted that she is not against improvements but cannot afford to pay for someone else's sewer project. Setterlund stated that when she first moved into Orono, her taxes were $146 and now they have r'_sen to $4,000 which is very difficult to pay on a fixed income. Judy Christensen of 1251 Brown Road South remarked that the residents of Crystal Baywill pay for their sewer and the rest of the Orono residents should have to pay for their own road reconstruction. Christensen noted that she lives in a high density area and she pays the same taxes for the cost of maintaining the roads that everyone else does that has two or five acres. Christensen felt that as a community, the Crystal Bay residents have don,: everything possible to lower the cost of the sewer project. Christensen stated that originally the City proposed widening all roads in the Crystal Bay area which raised the cost of the project, and the Crystal Bay residents asked that this not be done and only restore them to their existing state. Christensen felt that the Crystal Bay area needs the sewer because of the unsanitary conditions that exist. Alex Jentilucci of 1295 Briar Street sympathized with those on fixed incomes but noted that there are many people in the Crystal Bay area that will lose their homes because of the sewer assessment. Jentilucci also noted that many people in the Crystal Bay area are older folks that have been in the area for a long time. Jentilucci noted that their money was put into the City of Orono in many ways. Jentilucci explained that he and his wife don't have children but they did vote for the referendum to raise school taxes because the children need the education. J� itilucci felt that this wasn't charity but something that the community needed. Jentilucci me- boned that this community needs the general tax payer's help. Hamilton Moran of 2965 Casco Point Road noted that he was willing to go a little farther on the helping stan('•-)oint but felt that basically and ethically every proper,y should stand its own expense. Moran asked the Council to consider if they could put a lien or mortgage on a home that cannot pay the assessment and then collect the money when the person dies or the home is sold. Moran felt it was unfair and unethical to do what the Council is proposinq.