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MANAGER’S
REPORT TO: The
Honorable Mayor Walter Ash Jr. Non-Agenda Item: #1 I will not be at the June 17th meeting. I will be away at a family wedding but I will be in 24-hour/day contact with the City by cell phone. #2 We hope to have the Auditor, Robbie Dorr attend your July 1st meeting. #3 When I came to Belfast one year ago -people told me that Belfast was a City that was divided. I accepted that and I began searching for anything I could find that represented some sense of common ground. I thought that if I could wrap my hands around those things that we share and value, then I could talk about them more to promote a stronger sense of community. I hoped to generate the kind of feeling- a little trust maybe- to help us through the moments and issues where different perspectives were highlighted. I thought I might find this common ground in a place- such as City Park or the Harbor or the Hutchinson Center. In looking for common ground I stumbled over common themes. I began to realize that at the root of many of our controversies was a real sense of personal fear that something we highly valued was likely to change --and not necessarily for the better. Big box retail, land use regulation, referendum process, budgeting and taxes, economic development, vibrancy, committee roles and recommendations, range ways, merging departments each raised perspectives and voices that were worried about how the changes might impact things we otherwise really loved about this community. Behind this fear of loss I found the real common ground in Belfast. These fears all had their foundation in your love and your pride in what this community was- and what this community is. Your common ground it turned out was not in your places - but rather in your hearts. Everyone I have met here, native and non-native like me- either openly or quietly cheers for this community. You are each dedicated fans who regularly offer willing hands. Whether you donate money to the college, volunteer to work on our gardens, serve on a local board or committee, drive a neighbor to a medical appointment or anonymously drop off some firewood by some snow encrusted steps --you give of yourself and take care of this community in your own way every single day. Recently I had the honor to meet Chet Grady at his one-hundredth-birthday party. Chet served for 22 years on the City Council; the longest term of any Council member in history. As people spoke about him you saw the daily contribution and commitment he made to Belfast and to the entire region. He repeatedly said to me “I’ll do everything I can for you”. One hundred years old and today he is willing to do everything he can for me! What City Manager could be luckier than to work for a community with people in it like that? Belfast is not a community divided- it is a community that is diverse. That’s a very important distinction. Divided suggests we lack common ground and I have come to know that this is just not true. We are diverse instead and we should be proud of it- diverse in our experience, perspective, talents, lifestyles, goals, abilities and passions. Diversity is what provides the grit, the flavor, the color, the texture, the aroma, the curiosity, the interest, the challenge and all of the endless possibilities such things inspire. Belfast- I respect and applaud both your diversity as well as your common care for the people, places and opportunities that make this City so special. Thanks so much to each of you. This was the best year of work I have ever had. It is a genuine privilege to work with you and an honor to bear witness to your incredible passion for this great community. Agenda Items 11. B Adoption of the 2008-2009 FY Budget Appropriations. My thanks to the Department Heads and to each of the individual members of the Belfast City Council for their effort, time and consideration of this budget. The net effect on property tax payers is a total increase of about a $55,000 over last year representing a 1 % increase. The mil rate will certainly decrease so property tax bills will decrease. The property tax bill represents the property tax appropriations for the County, the Schools and the City. The break down is as follows: (Salmon) BELFAST PROPERTY TAXES Taxing entity Amount Percentage of tax bill
County $1,369,939 11% The City of Belfast budget will represent about 33% of the property tax bill. The other 67% of that bill comes from the County and the Schools. The City Budget is at best an intelligent business plan. We will do our best to live within it and we will continue to monitor expense and anticipated expense in areas of heating oil and diesel fuel on a daily basis. 11. C Discussion and Action on a request from the VFW for a monetary donation toward purchasing U.S. flags to display around Belfast. Last year I seemed to remember the VFW asked the Council if they should look into the possibility of getting American Flags on utility poles in the downtown area. I do not think it was an agenda item and I thought the Council encouraged the VFW to look into the matter further. Apparently the VFW has secured the permission of CMP to place these flags and many of them have recently been hung in the downtown area. The VFW has now sent a letter, which is attached (Goldenrod) and is requesting a contribution to help cover the cost of these flags. If you wish to contribute I would suggest you use money from the Miscellaneous Promotions budget line 650-596. 11. D Discussion of Parks and Recreation Department request for a youth concert in City Park on July 4th. At the last Council meeting 3-young men showed up and were concerned that their request to use City Park for a concert on the 4th of July was not on the agenda for consideration. We assured them that we would have it on for this meeting. (Green) At first blush there were several concerns- insurance, selling items for personal gain, the 4th of July etc. Jim Bell and I discussed this and we began to see this as an opportunity rather than a list of concerns. Jim met with the proponents of this event and spoke with the Police Chief who indicated that he did not see a problem. As a result Jim Bell is proposing and I am heartily endorsing approval by the City Council for a Youth Concert in City Park sponsored by the City Parks Department on the 4th of July. The young musicians will provide the bands, chaperones, clean up, get notices to the neighbors and be out of City Park by 9:00 p.m. Did I mention that all donations received would go to benefit the improvement of the skate park? A community is doing well when young people can come forward and both plan and take responsibility for a local recreational event that is supported and encouraged by local officials willing to extend the welcome sign. I think this is great and I thank Jim and these young gentlemen for their efforts in putting this together. 11. E Formal Action on Merging the Public Works & Parks and Recreation Departments. The Budget resolution is based upon this policy decision. Recently we had a work session with the Parks and Recreation Commission to discuss the pros and the cons of this proposal. I have made a personal commitment that neither the Parks facilities nor the Parks programs would suffer under this proposal. I have further committed that they will indeed be enhanced. I am committed to include within the new job description of the Public Works: Parks Division Manager, - the clear understanding that they are in control of all Parks Programs. The Director of Public Works will not have the authority to decide which programs the City will offer. Those programs should continue to be recommended by the Parks Commission through the budget process and once adopted those programs will all occur as approved. If you approve this policy change then I will propose a variety of documents – including this new job description-- and work with the City’s Parks and Recreation Commission on the appropriate language for your further consideration. These changes will need Council Approval and be submitted after consultation with the Parks & Recreation Commission. There are some real concerns here from the Parks and Recreation Commission and from some members of the Friends of the Parks about this proposal. They share in that common ground appreciation and pride of what they have helped these park facilities and programs become and they do not want to see them do anything other than continue to grow and benefit this community. Who will make sure that our commitment to our Parks and to our programs doesn’t falter? Each of us will. We can write it into documents but at the end of the day Belfast will have what it wants to have. I can’t imagine that anyone wants our Parks to be in worse condition or our programs less viable. I hear and respect these concerns. I will do everything I can to reassure them that these facilities, these programs and their ongoing valued efforts to make them bloom will indeed continue. As a first step I am committed to attend all Parks and Recreation Commission meetings next year to make sure this transition, if you approve it, is as seamless as I can make it. 11. F Discussion and Action on transferring money from the Ambulance Capital reserves to the Ambulance Supplies and Expenses Account #270504 and to waive bid requirements to purchase two new defibrillators. This was held over from last meeting because we heard some industry chat that the company we originally wanted to buy these defibrillators from may not be able to deliver them for some time. Chief Richards has made further inquiries, obtained a competitive quote and determined the original company has not been forthcoming on a likely delivery date. These are much needed life saving pieces of equipment. I support the Chief’s recommendation, which is attached. (Pink) That’s about it for now. Have a great weekend. I will sorely miss seeing all those cyclist coming into Town on Sunday. They all know this is the place to be. |
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