Gardiner city officials will discuss sidewalks and an agreement with Developers Collaborative at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.
At the close of the Jan. 4 meeting, At-Large Councilor Tim Cusick said he’d been approached by some city residents who asked about the city’s policy on clearing snow from city sidewalks.
“They were concerned about Water Street from Canton Village to Central Street,” Cusick said. “There are people walking down there to work, and they are concerned about the danger.”
While he knew what the policy was when he worked for the Public Works Department years ago, he doesn’t know what it is now, he said.
In Gardiner, the responsibility to clear the sidewalks generally rests with the property owner.
In 2011, city officials completed a review of the city’s snow removal routes. Scott Morelli, city manager, said at that time, some areas were added in Gardiner’s downtown, and some residential areas were dropped.
On Wednesday, city elected officials will be asked to add the stretch of sidewalk from Winter Street to Central Street to the city’s maintenance route.
In his note to councilors, Morelli said Public Works Director Tony LaPlante and some of his crew have been puzzled about why that particular area was cut from the plan, and they think it ought to be included. It’s not expected to add much additional cost.
City elected officials will also consider making a change to the option agreement the city has with Developers Collaborative for two parcels that are slated for redevelopment on Summer Street. The city selected Developers Collaborative to redevelop 1 Summer St. as a medical arts building. The Portland-based company has options on two other Summer Street parcels which have been identified for affordable workforce and senior housing projects. All three were formerly owned by T.W Dick steel fabricators before city officials acquired them for redevelopment. If approved, the change would facilitate the redevelopment there. Councilors are first expected to discuss the matter in executive session and consider making the change in open session.
City elected officials are also expected to:
• hear a presentation on the FY 16 financial audit;
• discuss in executive session the Johnson Hall renovation capital campaign and strategy;
• discuss in executive session collective bargaining proposals for the city’s four unions;
• consider appointment or reappointment of city councilors to boards, committees and commissions,
• consider appointments to city boards and committees.
The Gardiner City Council meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday in Gardiner City Hall at 6 Church St.
Jessica Lowell — 621-5632
Twitter: @JLowellKJ
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