Meeting tonight

Mon, 04/08/2019 - 8:45am

ROCKPORT — Rockport’s Select Board is in for a long evening of municipal business April 8, beginning with a workshop to finalize the budget, and then convening a full meeting to continue discussions about the proposed parking for the yet-to-be constructed library in Rockport Village.

While that is a touchy topic unto itself in the community and lends the possibility of much discussion Monday evening, the Select Board has a multitude of potential ordinance amendments, new ordinances, proposed land sale, and the proposed $4.5 million bonding of a sewer line extension, all to be placed before voters on the June Town Meeting warrant.

The board will also consider a memorandum of agreement between the town and the Rockport Library Foundation, which is raising funds privately to help construction the new library, estimated now to cost $3.5 million. Construction bids are due back to the town on April 18, and will be opened at 3 p.m., in the Geoffrey C. Parker meeting room.

It will all end with an executive session to discuss a personnel matter.

The April 8 budget workshop begins at 6 p.m. in the Geoffrey C. Parker meeting room, and will be followed at 7 p.m. by the full meeting. Both will be streamed live at https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine

To read the entire select board packet, see attached PDF

In the board packet, which contains accompanying material for the meeting, Town Manager Rick Bates summarized the current status of the library parking. He wrote:

“The Board held a public meeting on this on Monday March 25th and heard public comments on a variety of the parking options that were reviewed over the course of the last three years.

“As you are aware, Gartley and Dorsky went out and staked out the location of the parking on Limerock Street, that has been sent out to bid. These stakes included the 14 spaces, as well as the sidewalk. Mike and I went out last week and measured out and added stakes, beginning with a reduction of 4 spaces to the plan proposed. That was a number that seemed to be floating around as a possible reduction. In addition, we staked out individual spaces all the way down to 7 spaces, or one half of what is being bid out. This will enable the board to see, on the ground, the impact on the park with each space of reduction.

“In my opinion, a reduction of spaces is a reasonable compromise for the board to consider.

“As we were in the initial design phases of the Reed plan, the goal was to maximize the number of spaces in the design. Every space was precious, not only for the Library, but for the village itself. So, the plan we ended up with, was to maximize the safe parking for Library patrons and staff on Limerock Street, as well as Union and Russel Ave.

“In my opinion the parallel parking plan is not a viable parking option, as we will ultimately end up with fewer parking spaces, than we now have.

“The angled in parking uses almost as much parking as perpendicular, leaves people parking on a steeper slope that will be difficult for people with varying degrees of ability and parents with kids. In addition, it requires one-way traffic bringing all the cars through the neighborhood. Additionally, once built, it makes any expansion of parking, difficult and expensive.

“The ‘north park’ plan, whichever one you want to consider, is a plan that has past it’stime for further development. Changing to that option, at this point, would mean a lot of work, redesign and costly change orders. In addition, it would have to start over in the DOT process. I am not saying that they wouldn’t approve it, they haven’t seen it and would need to see a new design. This all takes time and I would not be surprised if itdidn’t take 4-6 months to get through the process. In addition, this concept, puts parking further from the Library and as close as possible, to the most impacted neighbors.

“In my opinion a reduction in the number of spaces on Limerock Street, seems like a reasonable compromise, as the 14 spaces are designed and that is the maximum you can fit.

“If reduced, additional spaces could be added, in the future, to reach the 14-space maximum. This would have the advantage of the rebuild of Memorial Park would be completed, therefor eliminating the unknown as to what the park is going to look like. My belief is that once started, the rebuild of the park will go quickly and will show residents how much better the new park will be. Of course, the re-design would have to consider the future parking plan and not plant trees in potential parking places by designating it as future parking, but showing it as green space.

“So, the question remains, how many parking spaces are needed?

“In my opinion a reduction to 10 spaces could be warranted and would not cause a huge impact on the library but would mean that other spaces around the Library would now get used much more often and would likely need to be posted as reserved for library patrons and staff, during Library hours.

“Every space reduction below 10 spaces, would begin to have a bigger and bigger impact on potential patrons at the library. Eight spaces are, in my opinion, the absolute least number of spaces we would need.

“The Library at 1 Limerock Street previously had at least 6 spaces available on the west side of Limerock Street, 3 spaces on the east side of Limerock (closest to the Library), 4 spaces on Russel and 5 spaces on Union for a total of 18 spaces. Admittedly these were not great spaces and often meant people illegally parking and on top of the sidewalk, but they got used.

“The new plan has 4 spaces on Union Street, 3 paces on Russell (possibly a 4th), 2 for pick up and drop off adjacent to the Library on Limerock Street, meaning you would need 8- 9, just to maintain the 18 parking spaces, we had prior to construction.

“Admittedly, these parking spaces will be much better spaces, safer for the users of the library and easier to designate as library and staff parking, so in the end, the same number of high-quality spaces, might be enough to start with. Fewer than 8 spaces, in my opinion, would lead to less parking spaces than we need.

“The question of the sidewalk was also brought up at the last meeting. Included in your packet is a memo from Will Gartley the engineer on the project and also the Town’sengineer with his opinions of why the sidewalk is needed. There is no legal requirement for us to provide the sidewalk and as such the board is free to take his advice or not.

“I have no recommended motion for this agenda item.”

On April 3, project engineer Will Gartley submitted a memo to Bates:

Subject: Rockport Library proposed Parking & Sidewalks

Dear Rick,

Project 2017-416

I write to provide my thoughts regarding the proposed library parking and sidewalks on Limerock Street. The current site plan shows fourteen (14), 90 degree parking spaces on Limerock Street with a sidewalk adjacent to those spaces. The sidewalk leads to a crosswalk from the park to the front entrance of the library. We understand that on Monday April 8th, the Select Board is scheduled to discuss possible changes or reductions in the total number of parking spaces. We also understand that there has been discussion about eliminating the sidewalk. We strongly recommend against eliminating the sidewalk. The purpose of the sidewalk is to provide a safe route from the parking spaces to the crosswalk at the front entrance of the library. Without the sidewalk, the town will be creating an unsafe condition that obliges people to walk in the road and behind parked cars to get from the parking spaces to the library. In our opinion, this creates a liability for the town and put patrons of the library at risk.

We will be ready to revise the site plan based on decisions made on April 8th to ensure that the bids reflect the preferred parking plan and number of spaces.

Please let me know if you have any questions, and the outcome of the meeting so we can respond accordingly.

Respectfully,

Gartley & Dorsky, Engineering & Surveying Inc.

William B. Gartley, P.E. President

PUBLIC MEETING - Rockport Select Board
Monday, April 8, 2019 – 7:00 p.m.

Geoffrey C. Parker Room – Rockport Opera House Streamed at https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine

AGENDA

Call Meeting to Order
Please either turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices or set them to mute while in this meeting room or the hallways. If you need to take or make a phone call, please step outdoors.
Public HearingPublic Hearing on proposed Warrant Article Ten (10) Approve the design, site preparation, and construction of a sewer line extension from Sea Light Lane to South Street along Route 1, including all other expenses reasonably related thereto (the“Project”);
Public Hearing on a Special Amusement permit for music for Bleecker & Greer (d/b/a Maine Street Meats) (Sarah Greer) at 310 Commercial Street, Rockport, ME
Minutes, Meetings and Announcements
1. Approval of the minutes of previous meetings:
  ➢ Wednesday, March 14, 2018, meeting of the Select Board
2. Announcements of upcoming Select Board meeting(s):
  - ➢ Public Hearing Select Board Meeting on Monday, April 29, 2019, 7:00 p.m.,Geoffrey C. Parker Community Meeting Room, Rockport Opera House, to be streamed at https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine
  - ➢ Regular Select Board Meeting on Monday, May 13th, 2019, 7:00 p.m.,Geoffrey C. Parker Community Meeting Room, Rockport Opera House, to be streamed at https://livestream.com/Rockportmaine
3. Announcements of upcoming Select Board Workshop(s):➢ None this meeting
4. Announcement(s) and/or Training(s):➢ 1 Select Board – Three Year Term (Kenneth McKinley)
5. ➢ Candidate Nominations papers are available at the Town Office, and are due back by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 11, 2019.

1 Select Board Agenda April 8, 2019

➢ 2 Library Committee – Three Year Terms (Stephanie Kumble, Ann Filley)
➢ 1 School Board – Three Year Term (Carole Gartley)
➢ 3 Budget Committee – Three Year Term (Geoffrey Parker/Chris Farley), (Jeffrey Charland/Jan Rosenbaum) and (Mark Kelley)
➢ 1 Budget Committee – One Year Term (Jeffrey Payson/Heaven Bartlett)

Committee Openings:NOTE: If a committee does not have any vacancies, it may still be possible to apply to join the committee as an alternate member. Alternate members can attend all meetings, participate in discussions, but may only vote in the absence of a regular member. If interested, please check with the town office to see if there are alternate member spots available for the committee of interest.➢ Zoning Board of Appeals – 1 vacant seat
➢ Investment Committee – 1 vacant seat
Application for Committee Service can be found at the Town Office and on the Town Website: www.town.rockport.me.us
Agenda Changes
Public Comment – public comment should be directed at issues not under discussion on this evening’s agenda. Comment from the public will be welcome prior to each agenda item. Further comment will be granted only by permission from the Board. All public comment should be brief and to the point.

Town Manager’s Report
Consent Agenda

a. None at this meeting

VII. Unfinished Business

a. Policy discussion on allocating indirect costs to capital projects

VIII.New Business

Committee Application(s):➢ None at this meeting
Approve Peddlers Permit for Flatbread Food Truck at the Harbor Park
Vote to Approve Special Amusement permit for Bleecker & Greer (d/b/a Maine Street Meats)
Consider Parking Plans for the Rockport Public Library Project

2 Select Board Agenda April 8, 2019

Discuss and Accept memorandum of understanding from the Rockport Library Foundation
Vote to place Food Sovereignty Ordinance Article Three (3) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on Food Sovereignty Ordinance Article Three (3) of the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Vote to place Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance Article Four (4) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on Marijuana Cultivation Ordinance Article Four (4) of the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Vote to place Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 202 Article Five (5) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on the Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 202 Article Five (5) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Vote to place Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 503.1 Article Six (6) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on the Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 503.1 Article Six (6) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Vote to place Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 507 Article Seven (7) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on the Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 507 Article Seven (7) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Vote to place Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 601.9 Article Eight (8) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on the Ordinance amending the Town of Rockport Coastal Waters and Harbor at Section 601.9 Article Eight (8) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.

3 Select Board Agenda April 8, 2019

Vote to place on the warrant the sale of a portion of Town owned land located at Map 018 Lot 077, Article Nine (9) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on the sale of a portion of Town owned land located at Map 018 Lot 077, Article Nine (9) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Vote to place on the warrant the design, site preparation, and construction of a sewer line extension on Article Ten (10) on the June Annual Town Meeting Warrant, Vote to Appropriate the sum of $4,500,000 as funds for the costs of the Project to be funded through general obligation bonds; and Vote to Authorize the Select Board to issue, at one time or from time to time, general obligation securities of the Town of Rockport, Maine, including future refunding obligations, in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $4,500,000;
Recommendation vote by the Select Board on the of Sewer Line Extension on Article Ten (10) on the June Annual Town Meeting Warrant.
Final discussions and decisions on Budget Articles Eleven (11) through Twenty- one (21) and votes by the Select Board to place these Articles on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Recommendation votes by the Select Board on Budget Articles Eleven (11) through Twenty-one (21) of the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Vote to place Budget Articles Twenty-Two (22) through Thirty-one (31) on the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Recommendation votes by the Select Board on Articles Twenty-two (22) through Thirty (31) of the June 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Vote to set the annual town meeting date and time as stated in the first paragraph of the June 11, 2019 and June 12, 2019 Annual Town Meeting Warrant
Authorize payment of $24,000 to Scarborough Police Department coming out of the Police Department career development reserve account.

bb. Vote to Approve Quit Claim Deed
cc. Preliminary Discussion regarding an infrastructure bond dd. Vote to restrict the use of all MRC tip stabilizations funds ee. Select Board Group Picture

4 Select Board Agenda April 8, 2019