03-13-2017 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday March 13,2017 7:00 o'clock p.m. 17. CITY PLANNER RECRUITMENT Barnhart stated he is looking for authorization to be able to move forward with the recruitment process of a new city planner to replace the senior planner. Barnhart noted the pay grade for this position would be lower than the senior planner position and that the money has been budgeted for 2017. Printup commented he is good with moving forward on this. Printup noted under job description abilities it states that the person should have an ability to be able to listen and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. Printup stated he hopes that that happens. Reeder noted that language comes right out of the consultant study that the City had done approximately two years ago. Reeder stated the language is very basic that is included to make sure there is not a language barrier. Printup stated he is satisfied with that explanation. No public comments were received. Seals noted she is on the organizational committee and that in her view it is good to have these items phased in with some overlap in the planner position. Crosby moved,Dankey seconded,to authorize the recruitment of a city planner. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Crosby and Printup stated they had nothing to report. Seals stated the Orono Gala has opened and tickets are now available for the event. Dankey noted the event has been sold out. Seals stated she wanted to mention that while the Council meeting two weeks ago was challenging,ever since then she has received a number of emails from residents that were very positive. Seals stated it is great that more people are looking at Big Island and that in the end what will come of it will be good. Walsh reported he attended the Park Commission meeting last week and that they had a discussion on Saga Hill. Walsh stated he appreciates all the work the Park Commission is doing and that they now have a group of alternates that have been appointed in addition to two new regular commissioners. Walsh stated the Big Island Committee will be getting together in the near future. Walsh stated he would like the committee to get together on Tuesday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. There are cunently somewhere between 17 and 20 people interested in being on the committee and the City is still taking applications. Walsh stated some of the things that he would like the committee to discuss are ways in which to bring more attention to the veterans and that perhaps erecting a Veterans memorial and history center on the island could be explored. Walsh stated he would also like to form a task force within the committee to compile a history of Big Island. Page 29 of 32