[0:00] We have a large audience today. Nice to
see you. Uh this is the Tuesday, April
[0:06] 21st and the finance committee meeting
the city of Oldtown. And the first thing
[0:12] is to call to order, which I have done
in approval of the minutes for March
[0:16] 16th.
>> I make a motion to approve the minutes
[0:19] for March 16th, July 6.
>> Second.
[0:23] » That's quick.
>> All in favor?
[0:28] So moved.
[0:32] Danielle Ruby, finance director will
update committee on the March 2026
[0:38] financials and the financials are
attached.
[0:43] Before I start, do you have any
questions on the financials?
[0:49] Any questions?
I don't have any.
[0:53] » I don't have any at this time.
>> That's
[0:58] perfect. So, uh, going down through,
I'll make it quick just in, uh, effort
[1:01] of time because we have a budget
discussion, uh, right after this. Uh,
[1:05] we're at the 75% mark 9 months into our
fiscal year. So, anything above or below
[1:10] that, 75% on on revenue and expenses is,
you know, good or bad, uh, depending
[1:15] what we're at. There was nothing
significant in the month of March that
[1:19] stood out uh, as far as things that we
needed to do. Going through the month, I
[1:25] realized I hadn't build the pollution
for our services. We build them a set uh
[1:29] percentage every month in a March. So
that you'll see in April coming through
[1:37] the tree growth uh that was uh money
you'll see a negative 21,500
[1:43] that was acred into June and when I went
down through I saw that we had received
[1:47] it back in October and forgot to reverse
that out. So that
[1:50] » can you say where where that is please?
So following down
[1:54] » truth uh page one, it's the fourth one
up from the bottom.
[1:58] » Thank you.
[2:03] » Okay.
>> Any questions on general revenue?
[2:06] » I do have one question. The general
assistance reimbursement.
[2:10] » Yes.
[2:13] » Yes. So the the general assistance
reimbursement that is um we get 70% from
[2:19] the state of expenses. So you'll see on
the expense side, the general assistance
[2:24] uh expenses are higher. So the revenue
is higher as well.
[2:35] Moving on to expenses as I said uh
within that um 75% above or below one of
[2:43] the so the general assistance if you
look on the under the central services
[2:47] the advertising and outreach that one is
overexpended by 138%. So that's where
[2:52] the general assistance you'll see um
we've overexpanded but we've been
[2:56] reimbursed from the state buyout.
Again, there was nothing significant in
[3:01] the month. I you know, we've been tried
to right along. Nothing significant um
[3:05] that we've been reporting on for the
prior eight months.
[3:10] So, any questions on the expenditures?
[3:24] » Yep. Moving on to the balance sheet.
Again, this just shows uh where we're at
[3:28] with collecting our receivables, where
we're paying our bills. Uh we're doing,
[3:33] you know, very well on uh taxes
receivable for the current year. We're
[3:36] down to um a million dollars of
uncollected as of um March 31st. We're
[3:42] going to get ready to put uh send out
30-day notices in May, and we'll have
[3:47] leans in June. So, between now and then,
uh we're going to collect a lot more
[3:51] than that. So, that's reassuring. Again,
the negatives on the liability side,
[3:56] that's just a prepaid uh you know, the
health insurance is negative 101 that we
[4:00] just prepaid for the month of April.
Any questions on the general balance
[4:05] sheet?
>> Are we about on track as normal for the
[4:08] taxes?
>> Yes. Yes. We ran a a report uh last
[4:13] Thursday and I think we had like 336
unpaid taxes and again from there we've
[4:20] had a lot of people that come in and
pay. A lot of them are the timing of the
[4:23] interest, like if they do a late payment
either in September or March, they'll
[4:26] have a little bit of interest. And we
sent out some reminders a week ago. So,
[4:30] some of those will be coming in as well.
Do you get a lot of people pay only for
[4:35] uh uh September and then March or do do
you get a lot of people that pay one
[4:41] lump sum?
>> Yes. Yep. Some people pay it all in
[4:44] September. Some pay will pay it all in
March. Some people pay it 18 months from
[4:48] now. So if they if they pay it in in uh
say September instead of uh March is
[4:55] there is an interest on that?
>> No, because they're paying it's all due
[5:00] in September. It's just we have two
installments to pay it. So they don't
[5:04] pay any interest if they pay early, nor
do they we don't give them interest if
[5:08] they pay early.
>> Oh, all right.
[5:12] Thank you.
>> Uh moving on to pollution. Um, again,
[5:17] nothing significant. They're right on
track as far as their revenues, um, and
[5:22] their expenses. They're they're doing
very well at managing their expenses to
[5:25] keep their cost down. So, that's
nice to see.
[5:31] Any questions on the pollution revenue
or expenses,
[5:38] and their balance sheet, again, they're
doing very well on their balance sheet.
[5:42] uh you know, we have some cash in the
savings account, which is good because
[5:46] as the bills are going to start coming
in for the bridge, we're going to try to
[5:49] pay them uh with cash instead of taking
a loan out for them as they trickle
[5:54] through over the next couple years.
[6:09] » Moving on.
>> Moving on. Uh next will be the update on
[6:13] uh fiscal year 2025
2026 budget.
[6:19] » Before that we have a dump truck.
>> Yeah, we have a
[6:23] » Oh, sorry for that. Danielle again,
finance director will update the
[6:28] committee on March 26th. No, I already
did that.
[6:30] » Discussion on the bid.
>> Oh,
[6:33] I did
discussion.
[6:36] » She's excited to get to the budget.
Here's the dump body on the 2019
[6:42] 6x410
wheeler dump truck for the public works
[6:46] department. The body sustained damage
from a hydraulic line failure in
[6:51] February of 2025.
[6:58] So on this uh dump body we had, as it
says, you know, we had a a hydraulic
[7:02] failure in February 2025. Uh we thought
it was something that we could fix. So,
[7:07] our mechanic on staff was able to fix
it, but it was a temporary fix and now
[7:12] the body is twisted. And so, we've tried
to go through the insuranceances to get
[7:17] um you know, submit the incident report
and get them to pay it. But because it's
[7:20] a mechanical failure, um it's not
anything that's covered by the
[7:24] insuranceances. So, now at this time,
it's cheaper for us to replace the bed
[7:29] itself as opposed to get a brand new
truck.
[7:36] So, are we going to uh discuss this and
bring it forward to the committee uh
[7:41] meeting or our next meeting?
>> Yes.
[7:44] » Yeah. Because we'll get it on to the
next council meeting for the first one
[7:48] in May.
>> Go for it.
[7:50] » Uh Steve, did uh who built that truck
originally for us?
[7:56] » Got a Viking.
>> Do you have a preference on which one of
[8:00] these two? Well, like Ally, yeah, it's
it's an MG body. We used to run them
[8:07] quite quite a bit back in the in through
the '9s and early 2000 with pretty good
[8:13] success. I really I really don't want to
throw it on the Viking body on it. And
[8:18] the other one is it's the Fairfield body
is quite a bit more.
[8:23] » So, a lot more. I mean,
>> so you prefer the Allied equipment body
[8:29] on it? Yeah, I do.
>> Okay, excellent. That's the least
[8:34] expensive one, too.
>> 125 bucks.
[8:37] » The one that's so much more expensive.
Is it for all the same things or is
[8:40] there something additional?
>> Um,
[8:43] it's got AR AR grade steel in it. Um, it
just has better wear properties. But if
[8:50] if we were like a construction outfit
hauling with that every day and having
[8:56] material dump it in and out of it then
but with what we do and what it's used
[9:01] for. I mean we've never had any trouble
with them with those other corn style
[9:06] bodies. It's
>> Sure. Thank you.
[9:11] » I make a motion we move to the full
council to
[9:15] spend $49,550
allied equipment to increase the body.
[9:19] I'll second that motion.
>> Made a motion to
[9:26] And we're looking at the Allied one that
is for $49,550.
[9:33] » I I do have a question, but Danielle,
what account will that money come out
[9:36] of?
>> Uh we have a heavy equipment reserve
[9:39] account that will come out of that.
>> I didn't think it ought to come out of
[9:42] their operating.
[9:46] Any other questions? Discussion move.
Okay. So, the motion is to move this on
[9:52] to favor to the next next
[10:01] meeting that's held in May first of May.
All those in favor? So, moved.
[10:17] Danielle, you're still sitting at the
spot where you're
[10:21] » waiting for the next budget.
>> Waiting for the next budget.
[10:26] » Now I can hear update on the FY 2025
2026 budget.
[10:33] » I think Bill is excited to talk about
that.
[10:38] » I can tell it.
Go for it.
[10:42] » Um, looking at the information you have
here, just to go down through, um, you
[10:47] obviously have a lot of detail in the
back, but you got a you got a budget
[10:50] summary page here, onepage budget
summary. Um, if you look at that, uh,
[10:56] just to run down through the budget
notes, um, just so we're all thinking
[11:01] about this in in the same way. um wages
that have been budgeted in this budget.
[11:06] Uh it's 3% um for non-un employees.
We're looking uh again working on a
[11:13] salary survey uh just to check and see
where we're at in the market. Last one
[11:17] we did was in 2022.
Um fire union employees are in here uh
[11:23] through their contract three and a half
plus uh two 2% step increases. Uh PD's
[11:29] in at one with 2% step increases.
um health and dental, we have an 8%
[11:35] placeholder um on current rates. We're
working on um different uh plan options
[11:41] here. Um
we'll do a presentation
[11:46] um coming up in about two weeks uh to
run over with the employees to look at
[11:51] that. Um our main pers uh union 3 plan
went from 11.4 to 11.5 and non-union the
[11:59] plan had no change. just stayed at 9%
this year.
[12:04] Um on the expense side, uh debt service
increased uh by about $57,000 on our
[12:11] bond schedule. Um biggest part of that
was our global secure building that we
[12:15] built. Um and the clerk under other
contractual um you'll see $2,600 in
[12:22] there for anticipated ordinance changes.
um software decrease $3,700
[12:28] and miscellaneous expenses decreased
$26.
[12:31] Um underneath my part of the budget,
audit fees, there was an increase this
[12:36] year coming up uh $5,000.
Um our IT services are going to go down
[12:42] 15,000 on server upgrades. Uh and
Juniper Ridge Landfill on our impact
[12:48] fee. That's that's built into that host
community u agreement. So that changes
[12:54] basically on a yearly basis. So it went
up about $10,000 this year.
[13:00] Um airport, you'll see in there uh on
expense changes, janitorial supplies
[13:05] increased around $1,400, which really
reflects the work and the amount of uh
[13:10] supplies that they've been using. Um
there's a decrease in there under their
[13:15] capital outlay on the hanger reserve
side. It was down about $28,000, but
[13:20] that's always project specific on how
much comes out of the hanger reserve.
[13:25] So, not as not as big a projects this
year. So, that's a that's a decrease.
[13:30] Um, you'll see in the PD uh information,
there's a K9 cost in there, $5,000
[13:37] um on an expense line. Um public works,
uh there was an increase um in the sand
[13:44] gravel loom. Um that's up about $32,000.
Um as Steve reported out earlier this
[13:50] year, first time he's seen the back wall
in the sand shed for I can't remember
[13:54] exactly how many years, but it's been a
long time. So
[13:56] » since 2000
>> y
[14:00] » um in parks um another request from the
public works director is he did not want
[14:06] he didn't want to see the uh the sewer
cost in his budget anymore. We moved it
[14:10] to parks where the uh comfort station
>> really didn't do anything except we did
[14:15] move it over there because it does kind
of make sense for that being there.
[14:19] » Um
revenue changes that you'll see in this
[14:23] year's budget. Um the Oldtown U housing
payment L taxes, there's a decrease in
[14:30] there of $12,000. Um they're they're
changing their housing designation. Um
[14:37] so that's like half that's like a half a
year. So, it' be the same thing again
[14:41] for next year. Um, that that pilot's
going to decrease. Uh, again, I just
[14:48] talked about that Juniper Ridge landfill
impact fees. Uh, it's contractual
[14:52] increase that's in there. Um, treasure
revenue. Uh, we adjusted what, um,
[14:58] finance charges out for wastewater
treatment services because they handle
[15:02] all the billings and accounts payable
and receivable for them.
[15:07] um phone reimbursement.
There's a decrease of almost $1,700 pool
[15:12] and rec center contract changes.
Um we have not put this in the budget
[15:18] and we don't do this every year. So
typically we have a fund balance
[15:22] transfer. We had $400,000 in there last
year. We don't put that in there without
[15:28] coming back and requesting it. So that's
that's not shown in these numbers.
[15:33] Um, TIFF revenue, there's a decrease of
$192,000.
[15:37] Uh, that's final impact from mill
closure. Our homestead's up $32,000.
[15:44] Um, Betty is down. Um, part of that is a
mill. We've also had some equipment
[15:50] changes in some of our bigger
construction companies. So, that'll
[15:53] definitely have an increase a decrease
on that. Uh, main revenue sharing's down
[15:59] $184,000.
Uh we have a increase in highway block
[16:04] grant fund of 157,000.
Um solar reimbursements going to be up
[16:10] $56,000. That's a new uh tax that we're
going to be able to collect on solar
[16:15] farms. That hasn't been there
legislatively in the past. Um our EMS
[16:20] services, uh we got an insurance rate
increase, so that's going to go up about
[16:24] $32,000.
lease parking permits actually went down
[16:29] because we changed the $250 to $25. You
remember we did that. So that's down
[16:34] $2,400.
Um there's an increase in the school
[16:37] resource officer of $3,300.
Um tip fees, uh we're getting a decrease
[16:44] on that. Waste management started taking
their trash over to Hamon commercial
[16:49] stuff from Oldtown, so we don't get that
revenue anymore.
[16:53] Um, and I mentioned that before on the
airport hang reserve. That decrease is
[16:57] all project specific. That's that's in
there. And economic development, you'll
[17:02] see an increase in there due to the
global secure shipping uh lease on their
[17:07] rent payment that they make.
Um, when you put all this together
[17:13] and you look uh
at where this sits on that summary page
[17:19] of of all the departments, a one-page
summary page here. Um, when we started
[17:25] out a couple meetings ago, we were up
around $520,000
[17:29] increase in the budget. We're down now
to $258,000, which is a 1.5 uh%
[17:36] increase. Um the biggest issue that we
have in here is not on the expense side
[17:42] of the budget, it's on the revenue side
of the budget because we've lost a lot
[17:46] of revenue. Um
it uh so when you roll those numbers
[17:51] through, I had Danielle put together our
yearly estimated tax rate calculator.
[17:59] That number right now would be around
8%. Again, that doesn't include like a
[18:04] fund balance transfer in there, which
would pretty much cut that number in
[18:08] half, but we don't have that in there
because we haven't come back and asked
[18:11] for it. Don't know what you folks want
to do. So, just rolling the numbers all
[18:15] forward based on what you have right
now. That's what that that's what that
[18:20] number would look like.
[18:24] And I know this is throwing a lot of
stuff at you.
[18:32] » Oh, I'm sorry.
>> You're all right. Uh, I just got a
[18:34] question about the disconnect between
the 1 1.54%
[18:40] projected increase in total city
operations, but we're looking at an 8%
[18:43] increase in the mill rate. Where is
that?
[18:45] » Revenue revenue being down. So, revenue
is down like almost 1.2 million.
[18:52] uh 5,000 new expense line. I thought
that was being taken care of on the
[18:57] police, the K9 cost. Is that
>> with the grant?
[19:01] » With the grant. So, it's just going to
go from one to the other. Okay. That's
[19:06] three years, correct?
>> Yes.
[19:10] » Thank you,
[19:14] » Danielle. Are there any revenues
uh budget compared to actual that we're
[19:21] expecting not to collect in full like by
the end of the budget cycle?
[19:27] » No, the biggest one was the rec center
which we took care of that earlier. So,
[19:32] um I don't foresee anything not being
collected.
[19:35] » Great. Thank you.
>> First,
[19:39] » so Bill, you talk about the fund
balance.
[19:42] » There's not an ask yet.
But would there be a projective ask
[19:46] depending on how where we want to be at?
Correct. Is that what you're saying?
[19:49] » Y.
>> So if we technically did the 407, that
[19:53] would drop that down to a 4% increase
roughly
[19:55] » like 4.3 in that area.
>> Yep.
[20:00] » I'm not looking at Danielle because I
know she doesn't like that question.
[20:02] » Yeah.
>> I wouldn't look at her.
[20:05] » Um
because last year was 400,000 as well.
[20:09] » 407.
>> 407 as well.
[20:11] » Can Can we handle that? Can we handle
that again this year?
[20:14] » Taking it up.
>> Can we handle more?
[20:20] » Because the balance is currently 6.2,
right?
[20:23] » Uh yes. But there the 6.2 there's money
in there that's committed and
[20:28] restricted. So we would we go with like
4.2 4.5.
[20:34] » I think we should plan going forward for
me to plan on 400,000.
[20:41] I agree with that balance.
>> I don't start there and and see where it
[20:46] ends up by the end.
>> You know, Bill, you talking about
[20:49] possibly a decrease with insurance
costs.
[20:52] » Yep. That's And that's not reflected any
reflected yet. That was my question
[20:56] either. So, but that's what you said
roughly 70 maybe.
[20:59] » Could be around 70.
>> Could be around 70.
[21:02] » Still not a huge debt. So, I agree with
you Dave too. I mean, I know
[21:06] historically for several years we didn't
touch it and last year we had to touch
[21:09] it.
>> And I know it's not your favorite thing
[21:12] either, ma'am.
>> Right.
[21:13] » The understanding is it's there for if
something historic like catastrophic
[21:17] happens and that type of stuff. But
>> listening to the neighbors, the
[21:22] residents, that type of stuff, too. Um,
I really think that it's a it's a option
[21:28] we need to really.
Bill, are there things uh we had talked
[21:33] at one time about uh maybe the trash
pickup being less cost to the city?
[21:39] » Are there things we could look at like
that that would benefit the taxpayers,
[21:44] not necessarily in monetary, but in
a benefit? Is that still in discussion
[21:50] stages or is that off the table?
>> Yeah. So, and you know, we're we're
[21:55] doing everything we can to get the state
um
[21:59] to actually sit down and talk with us
about the host community benefit
[22:02] agreement. Um I believe there's one
person right now that's that's not in
[22:09] agreement with that at the state.
Unfortunately, it's a commissioner um
[22:14] that doesn't agree with that. And I
don't really I don't really see how that
[22:17] is. I've I have met with and talked um
with Cassella. I certainly don't want to
[22:23] represent their thoughts on it or or
anything else, but um
[22:28] it's it's troubling that we're having to
push this through legal means to try to
[22:36] get the state to sit down and talk about
this because legislatively it was passed
[22:40] to take place. Um but right now they're
not doing anything and we've asked to
[22:46] get something back in writing and
haven't gotten anything back in writing.
[22:50] Um, I think there's certainly things in
there that are in the expense side of
[22:54] our budget, um, that could certainly,
you know, help taxpayers in town and
[23:00] help the budget ultimately.
>> Did Jim ever have it get his chance to
[23:05] talk to Janet about that? Jim Dill was
going to go talk with Janet.
[23:09] » So, so in her office, he's speaking with
someone. Um, but that was supposed to
[23:17] happen last week and I haven't really
got an update so I'm not really sure um
[23:22] where that stands.
It's
[23:29] my position is is that they should have
been sitting in a room talking with us
[23:33] this past fall. Um, and I've made that
very clear to everybody that I've talked
[23:38] to.
If
[23:41] » they don't agree with me though, but
>> I don't agree with them either.
[23:45] » If something was passed that requires
talks, what are our steps if the state
[23:49] keeps resisting
>> at some point? I mean, it's it sounds uh
[23:55] it sounds strange. I mean, the only way
to the only way to resolve that is to
[23:58] file some type of suit, which, you know,
that's why we're trying to get back in
[24:02] writing um from that department in
writing like, why do you not agree with
[24:08] this? And so far we haven't received
anything back. So
[24:13] » thank you.
>> So my patience is running short.
[24:16] » I bet.
>> Sure.
[24:20] » Yeah. Okay.
>> Daniel on the balance sheet the the
[24:24] projects reserve.
>> Is that earmarked as just a general fund
[24:28] for future projects or do we is it
dedicated money?
[24:31] » We have dedicated money for it. I can
bring the list um to our next meeting.
[24:36] And then I know we we have revisited
this over and over, but really has never
[24:40] gone anywhere, but the skateboard park
money
[24:44] allocated or not considering we've never
really done anything with it. And I'm
[24:49] talking this is way before my time.
>> Yeah, this has been
[24:54] forever.
[24:57] » So I don't know how it was earmarked if
it had a precedent that Yes, it was for
[25:02] the skateboard park, but that's never
come to fruition. Correct.
[25:05] » Do we have a
>> So that that reserve um
[25:14] got established
um
[25:18] like in the early 2000s.
I think there's $38,000 in there.
[25:24] » Yeah.
>> It's a small chunk of money, but at this
[25:28] point, anything's going to help.
>> Yeah. So, I just like like Christy said,
[25:32] is there an MOU out there that requires
us to use it for the park?
[25:36] » I think it was just a council resolved
that established it.
[25:44] » I Well, I have a question though, too.
Is that um the whole idea of uh
[25:52] Go ahead.
I know this is a tall order, but do we
[25:56] think that it would be possible to get a
list of all of our department's
[26:01] subscriptions and services that we're
subscribed to? Cuz I was talking to
[26:04] Linda about this before the meeting, and
I just would like to have a list of what
[26:08] we subscribe to and what it's used for,
and just see if there are more modern
[26:12] options, uh, what's needed, what's not
needed. Um, and I suspect we're not
[26:19] going to find much, but I think that any
dollar amount is helpful.
[26:22] » And that go that goes along with what I
was going to bring up is the fact that,
[26:26] and I know it's just because of
convenience, the way you do it, is that
[26:30] most of the line items are 3%. And I'm
thinking in the same thought that he is,
[26:35] is that I think we could get some
savings out of that if not I know wages
[26:41] and those things are set. I'm not
looking at that. I'm looking at things
[26:44] like your dues and subscription kinds of
things, even travel. Is there a
[26:49] possibility that uh your the departments
could look at those and say, "We really
[26:55] need to do X, Y, and Z, but we don't
have to do ABC." And then that way we
[27:01] could I know it won't be a lot of money,
but I think we could uh tighten the
[27:05] belt, per se, to to get a few more
bucks.
[27:09] » Yeah. So, so when we started out, that
original list was at that 3% which was
[27:14] like the $520 something,000. So, we've
gone back and looked at like actual
[27:20] versus budgeted amounts.
>> Yeah, they on this one they changed a
[27:24] little bit because the one I had most of
them there 3% 3% 3%. And I understand
[27:31] why, you know, holding that uh holding
that to that line. I understand that. It
[27:36] would help us as a council to know,
okay, we know for sure that you need
[27:42] this money for that and easier to say
yes to instead of saying no to
[27:46] something.
>> So I I can go back and do that, but
[27:49] there's as many lines that will come
down, there are lines that will go up.
[27:54] So like if you look at the utility line,
I just did 3%, but if utilities is
[28:00] understandable, that's that's going to
go up. I mean, we know that and because
[28:04] of just the way things are, we
understand that. But I'm not looking at
[28:08] those types of lines. I'm looking at the
ones that uh we look, like I said,
[28:13] advertising. Those are the types of
lines I'm looking at because we know you
[28:18] the utilities, at least I do. Uh and I
know gas is going up. I understand all
[28:24] of that. But if we just look a lot
closer to some of the other things we're
[28:28] doing, uh even supplies that you guys
have, is there a chance that that you
[28:34] look at and go, well, you know, we
really don't need that much money in the
[28:37] supplies area,
>> right? But but to that point, like the
[28:40] utilities, we have a 3% increase, but it
should go up eight or nine%. So, you
[28:46] know, that not increasing it to where it
should be, um, you know, is keeping the
[28:53] budget artificially low where, you know,
like the travel and or the supplies and
[28:57] stuff. So, I mean, I I can go through,
but
[29:00] » I don't want to just take away without
adding in.
[29:02] » Yeah. Okay. That's true. And if you want
to do that, that's all right with me,
[29:07] but
>> there's not one of us around here that
[29:09] doesn't realize that that's not going to
happen. budget. There's still, I think,
[29:13] a way to look to see if there's a place
to save a few bucks.
[29:19] » Yeah. Like on the advertising part of
it, a law to what we do um is required
[29:24] by law and they require us to put it in
a public paper like the Bangor Daily
[29:31] News, which their advertising rates are
outrageously high. If we have a list of
[29:36] what's happening, it's easy for us to
say we're spending that money because
[29:40] because we can explain it to the uh uh
our constituents that this is what's
[29:47] going on.
>> Anyway,
[29:52] and also the other question I have, you
and I talked a little bit. I don't mean
[29:57] we were talking about this building. Y
>> we owe money over it on it. When will
[30:03] When will we have it completely paid
off?
[30:05] » Uh, two years.
>> In two years.
[30:07] » We have two more years. You want to sell
it?
[30:09] » No. No. Sell it.
>> No, I don't.
[30:12] » Let's borrow.
>> You can sell it.
[30:16] Don't have very many people in here.
>> Sure. You don't want to sell it?
[30:18] » Yeah. Don't sell it.
>> No. I'm just c because that would be
[30:23] meaning that there is actually hopefully
a little bit of a help in a couple years
[30:28] or
>> to have that happen. How much are we
[30:32] paying each year?
>> Uh $70,000.
[30:34] » $70,000
>> and and principal and it's like six on
[30:38] interest. So just about just under
$80,000.
[30:42] » That's a lot of money.
>> Yeah. We've got capital expenses that
[30:47] we've got to deal with at some point in
time,
[30:50] » right? Yep.
>> Take that and then some we can't let
[30:54] that go forever.
>> Yeah, that's right.
[30:59] » Any other questions? I got one more.
>> Go. Yes.
[31:02] » The when the police and the fire
departments come to present to us, there
[31:06] are a lot of big equipment upgrades and
needs that are down coming down the
[31:10] pipeline. Are any of those factored into
this? And no, not at this time. Uh
[31:16] nothing that we expect will be directly
needed this year.
[31:20] » Well, we do have some equipment that's
needed and and so we're working on
[31:23] getting quotes and preparing that list.
And so again that list will end up
[31:27] coming out of reserves which again we
can only do that for another year before
[31:31] you know our reserves will be depleted
and then
[31:34] » we're not putting any more money in.
>> Correct. We are not
[31:38] this will be our third year not putting
money in reserves.
[31:45] » Yeah. Yeah, if you look back at that
summary page, you'll see that um you
[31:50] know capital items uh capital items in
2023 were a million6, 2024 a million7
[31:57] and then they've been 514,000 for the
past 3 years.
[32:02] » Okay.
>> Just not putting money in
[32:04] » and that's where that's where the
building would be. Correct. C. No,
[32:08] » no, under the debt service.
>> Oh, sorry. Wrong place.
[32:20] Okay.
[32:28] Any other questions? Anything else you
want to add or
[32:34] you all set?
>> Yep.
[32:38] And everyone's all set.
Is there a motion to adjourn?
[32:43] Second
favor.
[32:48] » Thank you.
[33:05] » Okay. I'd like to call to order the
Tuesday, April 21st, excuse me, city
[33:10] council meeting. Uh, first flagg
[33:20] to the flag of the United States of
America and to the republic for which it
[33:25] stands, one nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice
[33:30] for all.
[33:34] » Next up will be roll call.
>> Silent roll call has been taken and a
[33:37] quorum is present. Thank you. Approval
of minutes for the March 16th, 2026
[33:41] special city council meeting. I have a
motion.
[33:43] » Move to approve the minutes.
>> Second.
[33:47] » Dave.
>> All those in favor?
[33:52] » Additions, communications, and citizens
requests. Anybody in the audience?
[33:58] » There's no public.
>> There's no public.
[34:00] » Yeah.
>> Reports. Council President, I do not
[34:03] have anything. Standing committees,
city councilors.
[34:10] » Yes, sir.
>> As our legislative affairs liaison, I've
[34:14] reached out officially to Mike Tipping
and Jim Dill to see if we can get some
[34:18] face service and have them come in and
just give a little bit of a legislative
[34:21] update. It' just be nice to have a
connection that's a bit stronger between
[34:25] the council and our representatives. So,
Mike Tipping's on board. He's locked in.
[34:29] We just need to come up with a date that
will work. I don't know if we want him
[34:33] to come in during our budget season or
wait maybe until July, but we can figure
[34:37] that out. And I haven't heard back from
Mr. Dill, but he's going to be speaking
[34:41] with us at Rotary this Thursday, so I'll
be able to ask him right then and there.
[34:45] So, I'm sure we'll hook him, too.
>> But that's all I have.
[34:48] » Thank you, sir.
>> Chris.
[34:49] » Yes, sir.
>> I have something. Uh there's been a lot
[34:53] of talk. I don't know if you noticed it
in Shaolin's notes uh about uh things
[34:58] going on at the lake questions on zoning
and I was wondering if there was a way I
[35:03] was hoping April or uh Travis might be
here tonight but I'd like to ask Bill or
[35:10] someone to see if there's a way that we
could get some people from the lake that
[35:13] have concerns to meet with them. Uh I
don't know how we do that, Bill. What's
[35:17] the best way to do it? Maybe just have
one or two people come in and see April
[35:21] and Travis.
>> Yep. that that's to start with.
[35:25] » Uh some of the questions arise are
around uh seasonal I mean uh the zoning
[35:30] how it's zoned now and short-term
rentals and things like that. So those
[35:35] would be the two issues.
>> Okay.
[35:37] » If we could set that up or something and
I'll get a couple people from the lake
[35:41] that would come in maybe meet with them.
>> Yep.
[35:49] » City attorney.
>> Nothing. Thank you. Special committee.
[35:54] And how about city manager, sir?
[35:59] » Yes. Sure. You can finish writing your
note.
[36:07] Um
on the economic development side, um
[36:11] Amy's work with the LLC and DTO just
looking at, you know, possible
[36:15] restructure and and roles of both of
those organizations. Um, so they're
[36:20] actively working at that. Um,
we just discussed earlier, uh, been
[36:27] working on trying to get into the
negotiations with the state. We'll
[36:30] obviously keep you folks, um, prized to
that and we're we're pushing as hard as
[36:35] we can and hopefully we'll hopefully
we'll get uh, we'll get that get that
[36:40] started.
Um,
[36:44] some of the things I talked to to
Casseller about uh was curbside, the
[36:50] cost of it, if we could we could get
that changed. Um, you know, possible
[36:55] adjusting tipping fees and some
additional benefits whether it's up at
[36:59] up at the transfer station or whatever.
Um, I would say one thing to keep in
[37:05] mind uh in this negotiations is that and
this is only me uh and I'm willing to to
[37:12] take any feedback from you folks, but
you know
[37:16] throughout the course of this uh
landfill in Oldtown, the state has taken
[37:21] a very active position in pushing stuff
off to Cassella. It's their landfill.
[37:28] They own it. They started it here. So,
in my opinion, they're responsible for
[37:32] picking up some of this stuff. I'm sure
part of their push back is that they
[37:36] don't want to have to fund any of these
things. But the problem is is that that
[37:40] landfill started out as a construction
demolition debris landfill and they have
[37:45] allowed trash to be put in there and
they have allowed all kinds of municipal
[37:50] solid uh municipal sludge to go there
because of decisions they made on PAS.
[37:57] That's all well and good, but what they
had negotiated and what they're doing
[38:00] now are two totally different things. So
I believe the state carries a huge
[38:05] burden in that. Um so that will be my
push when I talk to them.
[38:10] » Could Cassella be legally responsible
for taking that stuff based on the
[38:16] agreement?
>> The all they are is the daily operator
[38:20] of that site
in the end. It's the states it's the
[38:24] state's landfill.
um
[38:28] it's their responsibility to
to deal with it and they tell Cassella
[38:34] what is going to go in there. Cassella
doesn't have any control over whatever
[38:39] goes in there. The state sets all those
parameters.
[38:46] Um
letter of support went out to uh
[38:49] Northern Border Regional Commission
support uh letter on the waterline
[38:54] extension from College A over to the
Penny Road. Um wrote a letter of support
[38:59] for that. Uh it's a $500,000 grant. The
water district has just over $4 million
[39:05] now. Um kind of in a capital stack of
different grants that they've aligned.
[39:11] And that will be a good project uh when
that happens because right now you know
[39:15] the water line kind of dead ends on
College AB and it dead ends on this end
[39:20] of town. And if we can make that loop
system particularly for the people on
[39:24] both ends of that are going to see a big
difference in the water pressure they
[39:28] have and also if there was ever a fire
or any of that stuff, we'll have some
[39:32] redundancy in those lines instead of it
just stopping. So it' be a nice be a
[39:37] nice improvement there. And I know the
University of Maine um has that in in
[39:42] some of their plans as far as possibly
adding, you know, some stuff on campus
[39:47] because they'll have extra capacity with
that with that water line there.
[39:51] Um, and the only other thing is that
we're uh Danielle and I work on a
[39:55] capital plan um that uh Isabelle Lee
asked about on the comp plan. And
[40:01] obviously when we get that done, we'll
bring that forward for the council to
[40:04] take a look at and make sure you are in
agreement with it or want to add things
[40:10] or or whatever. So that's it for me.
We have a uh meeting coming up Thursday
[40:18] all planned this week. Yep. Thursday
night. Yep.
[40:21] » Okay. You're going to be there?
>> Yep.
[40:22] » Good.
>> Okay. There wasn't very many there the
[40:25] last time. There was only like four of
us.
[40:28] » So,
>> but it was a good meeting. I learned a
[40:32] lot. So, good. Glad you couldn't be
there.
[40:35] » Bill, on the uh I I think it was in your
notes. I don't I don't remember just
[40:40] when, but something about you finally
thought there was some movement from the
[40:43] mill on the access to the energy and
enterprise pack.
[40:46] » Yep.
>> Is that still going forward?
[40:48] » So, I'm just waiting to get back. So,
they have u um Christie prepared uh all
[40:54] the information the the deed for that um
right away easement there and they have
[41:02] that. I'm just waiting for a signature
back from them.
[41:07] That's on my punch list to say, "Hey,
>> yeah,
[41:10] » let's get it signed."
>> Um, I'm gonna hate to ask this question.
[41:17] » Is there an ordinance based on the
loudness of a vendor?
[41:22] » No.
>> No. Okay.
[41:24] » We have a nuisance ordinance
>> because I sat yesterday thought I was
[41:29] hearing things at home working in my
office and then I realized that's I'm
[41:34] like that's ice cream truck music. There
was an ice cream truck that drove around
[41:39] town yesterday.
>> Honest to God, yesterday cuz I went and
[41:43] looked and I saw it and stopped at the
high school and that music played for
[41:46] probably 20 25 minutes and yeah, it's
all good. You're a kid and everything.
[41:52] But after a while, you're repetitive
that music
[41:56] » making you a little crazy in your office
at home.
[42:00] » I turned my music up in my office. But
like, so that was just curious too
[42:04] because it had a big yellow deck. It was
a purple van with a big yellow duck on
[42:07] the side and going up and down the side
streets and I'm like since when did
[42:13] Oldtown get an ice cream truck? And then
they're at the high school for a while.
[42:17] So
>> it's not just Oldtown. They go around
[42:19] there bunch of different corno they go
through Milford.
[42:23] » Okay.
>> Generally it's around the time of day.
[42:27] Um, so if we started getting multiple
complaints about that, um, we deal with
[42:34] that, but usually it's like early
morning and the more typical thing that
[42:38] we run into is someone has a day off
from work and they start their wood
[42:42] chipper at 6:00 a.m. and they're running
it. And that's not real popular. So that
[42:46] would be an example of, you know, next
door you're doing something that's
[42:51] impeding on someone's, you know.
>> So I was just like I was so dumbfounded
[42:57] to watch that truck go by and then hear
that music for a good 20 25 minutes. I
[43:01] was like,
>> and the thing is, I mean, we, you know,
[43:05] » they're doing that
>> and
[43:08] » they're probably sitting there and
they're so used to it that it's on and
[43:11] they're not even thinking about it
because you're not going to, it's not
[43:14] like once you park in the parking lot up
there at the high school, there's
[43:17] already how many kids there? You don't
have to leave the music on like for the
[43:20] next 15 minutes. I mean, we could we
could find out who it is. We could reach
[43:25] out to him. I mean, that's not a
problem.
[43:27] » Does he have a permit? Does she have to
have a permit?
[43:30] Oh, to sit on city own property you do.
>> Yeah,
[43:33] » they weren't I mean they were just
literally driving up and down the
[43:36] streets and stopping with the kids and
stuff.
[43:38] » Which was fine, but it just like I
started to laugh going that's ice cream
[43:42] music though. Like what is this? And
then all a sudden I saw him go drive by.
[43:45] I'm like okay that's good. That's nice.
And then 20 minutes later I'm like okay
[43:48] I'm done.
>> But okay. Just curious about that.
[43:53] » Lucky duck. Yes.
>> So all right. Anything else?
[43:58] » All right. We'll move on. Consent
agenda. The city council will consider
[44:01] approving the renewal of a liquor and
Victoria's licensing for the businesses
[44:05] in Oldtown. Council Wilds.
>> All right. Suggested motion is that
[44:08] resolve the Oldtown City Council
approves the renewal licensing for the
[44:13] following businesses. Nanny's Restaurant
located at 241 Main Street for a city of
[44:18] Oldtown Victillers and State of Maine
liquor license. The Oldtown Theater
[44:22] located at 261 Main Street for a city of
Oldtown Victillers and State of Maine
[44:26] liquor license. Governor's Restaurant
located at 963 Stillwater A for a City
[44:32] of Oldtown Victillers and State of Maine
liquor license and the American Legion
[44:36] Post 75 located at 20 Water Street for a
state of Maine liquor license. All city
[44:42] inspections have been done by code
enforcement and the fire department and
[44:46] past inspection.
>> May I have a second?
[44:51] » I'll second.
>> Any questions?
[44:56] Right. All those in favor? So moved. We
have no old business, no new business.
[45:02] Uh next up is
um we'll move to take up an item not
[45:07] listed in the agenda. The old um
actually we'll have
[45:12] » I wrote you a motion to add the item to
agenda.
[45:17] » Okay. So we'll make a motion. The
Oldtown So I need to read this then.
[45:20] Okay. Oldtown City Council will consider
entering into executive session pursuant
[45:23] of 1 MRSA 4056E
for the purpose of consulting with the
[45:28] city's attorney regarding a lease
agreement with the Herbert Sergeant
[45:31] building between the city of Oldtown and
the Oldtown YMCA.
[45:35] So that's my motion. Do I have a second?
I need a second. Please
[45:37] » second.
>> This is to add it to the agenda.
[45:40] » Can't you make any motion during new
business?
[45:43] » So why would you need a motion to add it
to the agenda?
[45:45] » It's not already on the agenda.
>> It's not on the agenda. It wasn't
[45:47] previously. No,
>> I don't have it.
[45:52] » No, nobody does. It just was decided to
>> Well, no, I know. That's why I'm saying
[45:55] it was being added because I didn't have
it on mine when I turn it off.
[46:02] » So, I have my second
table.
[46:05] » Who was the second?
>> Yes. Thank you.
[46:10] » So, we're adding it to there. But I
still need to read it though, don't I?
[46:13] Yeah. Right. All right.
[46:20] And you read it.
>> I read it. So we're good.
[46:22] » So you're good. We should
>> move on. Okay. So we don't need any
[46:24] further discussion at that point.
>> All right.
[46:27] » I guess.
>> Thank you.
[46:28] » And then you'll adjourn after.
>> Right. So
[46:31] » So we're going to executive session.
Thank you everybody.
[46:34] » Do we need a motion now to enter
executive session?
[46:38] » That is the motion though, too.
>> That is the motion. So
[46:40] » Okay. 647.
>> That's what was throwing me.
[46:43] » Just worded really strangely. I was
going to say you don't need to make a
[46:48] motion to add something to an agenda.