06-28-2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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R "I" MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, June 28, 2004 7:00 o'clock p.m. (PUBLIC COMMENTS, Continued) Other veterans and Vets Camp supporters in attendance included: Jeff Hoffman, 2259 Lilac Road, Spring Park, Spring Park City Council member Keith Kask, 19750 Manor Road, Deephaven, Mike Flanagan, 20560 Summerville, Deephaven, Ex -Board of Governors Representative Ed Callahan, Orono Woods Apartments, Past Orono Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Orono resident and Past Mayor Bret Greenwald, 411 Lake Street, Excelsior Tamra Johnson, 2400 Interlachen Road, Spring Park Mike Flanagan stated that in the 1920's the camp was established as a rest camp, or place for vets to recover with their families. Legislation of that time stated that the first priority of this camp would be its disabled vets, a priority which continues at the camp today. He urged the Council to make a recommendation to support the camp, noting what a bizarre notion it seemed to him to close the camp when the country is at war. Flanagan acknowledged that, if no other alternatives remained, he could support selling a small portion of the camp to create an endowment for the remainder of the camp for generations of veterans to come. Keith Kask stated that the camp operated at a mere $3,100 deficit last year, which to him seemed a minimal expense, since the camp was not meant to be a profitable entity. With good utilization and increasing numbers visiting annually, he argued that the vets continue to do a great job maintaining the camp at minimal expense for well over 5,000 users per season. Kask stated that, since he • personally writes the insurance on the camp, he can attest to the fact that it continues to be covered. • Sansevere questioned where the dollars would go if the camp were sold. Flanagan stated that the funds would go into a trust fund for benefit of veterans at the discretion of the Board of Commanders. Jabbour interjected that developers are already eager to get their hands on Big Island, with one such developer telling him the past week that Orono will jump at the opportunity to make money off developers on Big Island. Anderson stated that the vets have begun approaching private entities to fund the camp and gain financial commitments to keep it open. Olson questioned what drove the decision to sell the camp and was curious to hear what the vets felt the motivation was. Although admittedly conjecture on his part, Anderson stated that after State Commission of Veterans' Affairs Jeff Olson collected reporting data and mission statements from him on several occasions, and attended some meetings, suddenly Anderson received a letter on April 16'' which removed him from the Board and prohibited him from attending the next meeting. Kask added that two other board members seats were open at the time and during the vote in April, two regular board members abstained from the vote. PAGE 5of19