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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-30-2020 Council Minutes MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,March 30,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. ROLL CALL The Orono City Council met on the above-mentioned date with the following member present: Mayor Dennis Walsh and the following members appearing remotely: City Council Members Richard Crosby, II, Matt Johnson,Aaron Printup, and Victoria Seals. Representing Staff were City Administrator Dustin Rief, Finance Director Ron Olson, Development Director Jeremy Barnhart, City Planners Melanie Curtis and Laura Oakden, and Public Works Director/City Engineer Adam Edwards. Mayor Walsh called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONSENT AGENDA 1. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MARCH 9,2020 2. COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES OF MARCH 9,2020 3. EMERGENCY COUNCIL MEETING OF MARCH 18,2020 4. CLAIMS/BILLS 5. APPROVAL OF RENTAL LICENSES 7. APPROVAL TO ACCEPT DONATION 8. REQUEST TO HIRE PART-TIME OFFICER RESOLUTION NO. 7081 9. 20-019 BACK UP GENERATORS FOR LIFT STATIONS 43 (EAST LAKE STREET) AND LIFT STATION#13 (CASCO POINT) 10. 2020 SANITARY SEWER INSPECTION 11. REHABILITATION OF GS#10 (SHORELINE DRIVE), LS#19 (LOMA LINDA AVENUE) AND LS#30 (LAKEVIEW TERRACE) 12. APPOINTMENT OF SEASONAL EMPLOYEES 13. APPROVAL OF KENNEL LICENSES 14. LA20-000005—GORDON JAMES CONSTRUCTION O/B/O DAVID& LYNN GUTERMUTH,2665 CASCO POINT ROAD,ATF VARIANCES—DENIAL RESOLUTION NO. 7082 Crosby moved,Printup seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as submitted. Johnson moved, Crosby seconded,to approve the Consent Agenda as revised,with Item No. 6 being removed from the Consent Agenda.VOTE: Ayes 5,Nays 0. Page 1 of 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,March 30,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. Walsh recognized Gina Paulucci for her donation to the police officers.He also noted all the bids came in with a lesser amount than the City anticipated. PUBLIC COMMENTS None 6. REFUNDING OUTSTANDING 2010A BONDS Rief explained that Olson and himself were in contact with Ehlers&Associates and they did an evaluation regarding outstanding bonds.The 2010A bonds,in the amount of 1.4 million dollars,were eligible to be refunded,which would save the City about$160,000. Based on what the city has in investments and cash reserves,they felt it was a good time to refund the cash reserves over the next five years. Some of the money is MSA funding and the other is a general funds bond. Walsh said the City is fortunate to have money in the bank. He and Rief looked to see what could possibly be paid off early,and the only bonds the City has that are callable are the 2010A bonds for 1.4 million.The$160,000 that will be saved in interest is approximately$23,000 a year. The City also has $145,000 which is in the budget every year for principal payments.There is another$150,000 in the MSA funds.He stated this opens up the budget for other things the City wants to fund. Because it is a line item, it leaves room for flexibility.The City of Orono is run like a business,and their good fiscal responsibility is paying off right now. Johnson asked if there was any concern,going into somewhat of an unknown economy,to be parting with any of the reserves. Walsh said there is so much in reserves currently, $10420 million,that the City is sitting fairly good. He noted they are paying 3%interest and this bond would not get paid off until 2027.The line item is being freed up much earlier to take advantage of other things the City wants to get done in the next few years. Rief said he and Olson feel comfortable paying it off and the City is in a good financial position.The$12 million would pay roughly 80%of the City's expenditures,and all of the requirements are being met as far as cash on hand and in reserve. Johnson said it was more of a rhetorical question and agrees with lessening City debt. Johnson moved,Seals seconded,to approve Refunding Outstanding 2010A Bonds.VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT Seals stated she is thankful that they are home and can work from home. They survived the first day of distance learning. Crosby thanked Staff for their assistance in getting online and getting everything together. He reminded everyone to get take-out as much as possible to support the small businesses in the area.He encouraged everyone to keep the social-distancing and hand-washing and noted that we will all get through this. Page 2 of 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, March 30,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. Johnson had a question regarding the attendees appearing remotely, specifically noting a triangle with an exclamation point on-screen, and asked if that was something to take notice of. Barnhart explained that meant their web viewer was in the background and they have other documents in front of that. Johnson asked if the attendees appearing remotely could be called upon to wave their hands electronically as a test run. Mason Balster and John Dosch did so; pleasantries were exchanged after they were called upon. Printup noted he did not see hand-raising, so the Council members and Staff discussed the procedure of making that option available. Printup thanked City Staff for keeping the City running. He also thanked the officers and staff in the jails and prisons. He asked everyone to do their part on the outside to help avoid it coming inside of those facilities. He said his heart goes out to those unable to work. Crosby also thanked the first responders, police officers, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, and the people working in the grocery stores. Walsh echoed other Council members' sentiments and said Orono is open for business and the Police and Fire Departments are fully functioning. The roadwork is getting done as scheduled and they will get more bids for new roads for the next year(s). The next newsletter will be out soon. He reminded everyone this is a strong community, and that this is the time to help out friends,family, small businesses, and nonprofits. He noted his wife likes the 20/20 tipping motto: 20% and$20. He noted City Administrator Rief and his family are sick and wished them all well. Johnson said the City has done a really good job of making public spaces available whenever they can, and they've been pretty liberal over the years about letting people use the golf course, even before and after the open season, for walking around, etc. The City will continue to do that even if the environment does not allow for it at this time. The golf course is currently barricaded because people were doing damage to tee boxes and greens because of the soft ground. Rief left the meeting. CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT None CITY ATTORNEY REPORT None ADJOURNMENT Printup moved, Crosby seconded, to adjourn the Orono City Council meeting at 6:21 p.m.VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. Page 3 of 4 MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,March 30,2020 6:00 o'clock p.m. ATTEST: e�zm— 4 Anna Carlson, City Clerk Dennis Walsh,Mayor Page 4 of 4