CITY OF ANDERSON

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

August 14, 2007

ANDERSON CITY HALL

Present:                                                                                 Staff:

Andy Archer, Acting Mayor                                              Nancy Hollis, City Clerk                                                   

Lindsay Erber      

Daryl Frisbie                                                                         Guests:  

Mary Berry @ 6:35                                                             Denna Archer                       Donna McDavid

Keith Fetzer                                                                          Berry McDavid                    Jeannie Bennett                  

                                                                                                Dave Miller                           Clint Berry

                                                                                                Tammy McKenzie              Samantha Rathbone

Excused                                                                                 Michael McKenzie              Alex Gloe

Keith Fetzer                                                                          Scott Thompson                  Shawn Gardner

Jacob Noll                                                                             Dan Giorgi                            

ROLL CALL                                       The Regular Meeting of the Anderson City Council was called to order by Acting Mayor Andy Archer at 6:38 PM.

AGENDA APPROVAL                     M/S J. Pearson/D. Frisbie moved to approve the agenda as follows:

                                                                                Delete:  Denali Borough Mayor Talerico Report

                                                                No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously.

Doug Poage, Village Safe

Water                                                    Mr. Poage gave a brief overview of the status of the Regional Sewage Lagoon.  First primary and facultative cell will be completed this fall. For the community system, he would like to complete another house to house survey to determine the interest and support for a piped sewer system.   He stated that another survey needed to be completed because he felt there was not enough community input and the user fee was not established prior to now.  A study was done in the 1980’s of the wells in Anderson and they found that the wells had levels of nitrates.  Mr. Poage stated that the reason why the city obtained the funds is because there were deficiencies in the community.  The council felt that more education was needed for our residents to fully understand why the city needs the piped sewer system. 

Minutes                                                 M/S  D. Frisbie/J. Pearson moved to approve the minutes from the following meetings:

                                                                                Regular Meeting, July 17, 2007

                                                                No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously. 

Correspondence                     None     

Financial Reports                   M/S D. Frisbie/J. Pearson moved to receive the financial reports for July 2007.  No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously.

Bills to be Paid                        M/S D. Frisbie/L. Erber moved to approve the Bills to be Paid for July 2007.

                                                There was no further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously.

Public Access                          Scott Thompson stated for three years the city has been working                                                        on the trees at the park and asked Mr. Archer to step down.  He                                                         stated that there have been the following rumors:

1.      A contract with an individual to haul gravel to the lagoon without putting out to bid.

2.      Abuse of power.  Pot holes and brush cutting to be completed on the Mayor’s street first.

3.      John Deer Loader sitting in the Mayors yard.  This equipment has not been paid for and is being used to make money.

4.      Use of private equipment in exchange for gravel or other services needs to be put out to the public on what exactly the deal was.

5.      Wanted to know why the city purchased a dump truck if the city does not have plans to build the roads and cannot haul gravel.

6.      A lawsuit will be filed if Mr. Archer does not step down.

Council Reports                      Council Person Berry asked if we were going to discuss this since the city has the potential of a lawsuit being filed against the city and it’s Mayor. Since this is a matter that deals with the reputation of the Mayor, the Mayor chose to have the discussion in executive session.

                                                M/S D. Frisbie/M. Berry to suspend the rules. No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously.

                                                M/S M. Berry/D. Frisbie to revise the agenda and add 14b executive session.  No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously. 

Department Reports

DMV                                       Council Person Pearson stated that the city had one employee quit that was being trained for the DMV position.  She has decided not be open that position again due to the upcoming winter season and reduction in hours.  The other position that was hired for this summer for assistance with training will be eliminated the 1^st week of September.  She stated that we will be having only one person staffed in the DMV throughout the winter. She stated that the reductions in staff were due to budget constraints. 

Public Works                          Mayor Archer stated that the city purchased a dump truck that will also work as a snow plow.  He stated that due to budget constraints, employees have been laid off. 

Land                                        Council Person Erber stated that she is trying to get informed on the department since she returned from vacation.

Park                                        Bluegrass and the wedding reception held at the park went well, with a few minor issues.  Park should be closing down soon.

OLD BUSINESS

Surveying                                Mayor Archer reported that the city clerk received notification from the State Department of Natural Resources that the approval of the survey would be at least 2-3 months.  There was a question on whether we can move up in priorities.  Mayor Archer stated that he would contact Mr. Jennings on this issue.  The patent approval would be another 1-2 months.     

Strategic and Economic Plan The council reviewed the survey that was complied by the committee.  Council Person Pearson made a few comments on how the community can continue to grow and improve when we are having problems with the school.  Council Person Frisbie commented that Anderson is a great school and the problems are not with the staff.  He stated that we need more community involvement rather than individuals bashing of the school.  Council Person Erber stated that what the city council can do to help improve the school within our community.  Council Person Frisbie stated that we need to get a strong school committee to help assist the school and maintain staffing.  A committee meeting was scheduled for Monday the 27^th of August.  Daryl Frisbie, Andy Archer, Eric Warner, Eileen Holmes and Lindsay Erber are on the committee

Condemning of Properties     Council Person Fetzer was not at the meeting.  Mayor Archer                                                             stated that he would contact Mr. Fetzer and set a date for a                                                     meeting.  The committee consists of Keith Fetzer, Erika Miller,                                                  Scott Thompson, Clinton Berry and Jacob Noll. 

Regional Sewage Lagoon       This was discussed with Mr. Poage earlier in the meeting.

Review of the current

Code for municipal land

Disposals                                 A committee meeting and Denali Borough Mayor Dave Talerico met last night and made a few changes to the Ordinance on land disposals. These changes will be brought forward next month amending our current ordinance with the proposed changes. 

Appointment of Fire Chief     Fire Chief Thompson reported that the Assistant Fire Chief conducted a membership survey and they unanimously voted to have Mr. Thompson continue as Fire Chief.  Mr. Thompson stated that under the current city council corruption, he would decline it.  This was postponed until the next meeting.

NEW BUSINESS

Buy out of Lot under

The Free Lot Program           The council directed the city clerk to review the current ordinance to determine which value the city would use for a buy out of the lots.

                                                The council also determined that we continue to offer the lots available using the first come, first come served basis. 

Executive Session                   M/S J. Pearson/M. Berry to go into executive session @ 9:00 PM to discuss the reputation and actions of the Acting Mayor and the city.  No further discussion. Motion passed unanimously.

                                                M/S J. Pearson/L. Erber moved to come out of executive session @ 10:25PM and no decisions were made.  No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously. 

Motion                                    M/S J. Pearson/D. Frisbie moved the allow Mr. Archer until December 1^st of 2007 to complete the park agreement with the city in exchange for the 640 Loader.  If Mr. Archer does not complete the project by that date, his contract will be null and void and the city will retain the loader.  The loader will be returned back to the city garage.  Samantha Rathbone stated that this is a conflict of interest and she would like it on record.  She stated that the council is making concessions for council members that would not be available to other private parties in the community.  She would like copies of the written contract and extensions and copies of minutes. 

                                                M/S J. Pearson/D. Frisbie to withdraw motion.  No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously. 

                                                M/S D. Frisbie/J. Pearson to set a final completion date of December 1^st of 2007. Voice roll call was Erber, Frisbie, Pearson voted yes and Berry voted no.  Mayor Archer abstained from the vote due to a conflict.  Motion failed. 

                                                M/S L. Erber/J. Pearson moved to establish a list of community available businesses that are willing to rent equipment to the city.   Council Person Pearson stated that the city should not compete with private businesses.  This list would be used to contact businesses if the city needs a bid requests.  No further discussion.  Motion passed unanimously. 

ADJOURMENT                     M/S J. Pearson/L. Erber  moved to adjourn the meeting @ 10:37 PM.