08-08-2016 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August S, 2016 7:00 o'clock p.m. Levang moved, Cornick seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6655, a Resolution Accepting a Donation from Orono Lions for Use at the Orono Golf Course. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Levang moved, Cornick seconded, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6656, a Resolution Accepting a Grant from CenterPoint Energy for Use at the Orono Golf Course. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. PUBLIC COMMENTS Peter Lanpher, 1380 Rest Point Road, stated he and his wife have applied for a variance on their fences and that they are requesting the City Council waive the standard application fee so they can proceed to the Planning Commission meeting. Lanpher stated this request is being made because it was suggested by the Orono fence viewing panel and that they have also incurred a number of expenses associated with the disputes they have been involved in with their neighbor. Lanpher stated in their view it is appropriate that the fee be waived at this time. Mayor McMillan asked if Mr. Lanpher is in the middle of the variance process. Community Development Director Barnhart stated the application is incomplete at this point and is scheduled to go to the Planning Commissionn next week once the fee has been paid. Barnhart indicated the application is incomplete at this time because the application fees have not been submitted. Council Member Walsh asked if the application fees are nonrefundable. Barnhart indicated they are. McMillan stated the Council will not be able to discuss this matter tonight since they do not know many details about the variance request. Lanpher stated the information is in the application and that he is attempting to get the fees waived prior to his application going to the Planning Commission. Walsh stated in order to move it ahead, he would vote to put it on as an agenda item for the next City Council meeting. Barnhart stated the Planning Commission could review the application in September and the fee waiver request could be heard by the Council in August. Barnhart stated what normally happens is the applicant pays the fee, and if the Council feels it is justified, they can refund that fee. Barnhart stated the fee is nonrefundable in the sense that if the application is denied, the fee is not returned to the applicant. McMillan asked if he would be agreeable to the Council reviewing this at their next meeting. Lanpher stated he is okay with that. Council Member Cornick asked if he would be interested in a reduction rather than a waiver. Lanpher stated there will be a firestorm regardless and that he might be interested in a reduction depending on what it is. Page 2 of 17