07/09/2000 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Regular Council Meeting 7-9-01 Page 7 Chief Stevens said he has no problem with having other Chiefs address Council; he is the most tenured SPAN Chief on the panel, and he has also served time on the unit and have supervised its actual working in other communities besides our own. He doesn't mean to cloak this in secrecy, but some of the stuff that this unit does as my memo alluded to is not the kind of thing we like to talk about for unit defense purposes. Certainly everything we purchase and do, the way we operate, is out in the open. Mayor Rinker said he doesn't disagree with that but he thinks we can cover both bases--he thinks we can provide, on a confidential basis so it is not revealing something that is adverse to safety-- but he thinks Council needs to be enlightened. Then in the other respect he wants to make sure as a matter of record that what we are doing is we are making it clear that we have solicited enough input that the decision is an informed one. We are hearing on the one hand that this is a vehicle that serves transport purposes, we do all thethings that we have needed. We needed to replace what we had for transport purposes. Then what we get is an incremental addition for a very good, cost efficient reason. The question he thinks in everyone's mind is why do you need it; what is the justification for that--regardless of the economies of scale. It is sensitive but he thinks we have to provide that information. Mr. Busa said what troubles him is in the back of his mind, are we prepared to go it alone if we had a serious, serious problem. If the other 5-6 towns go this route, which he thinks they will, if we have a real problem--are we going to beg them to help us with this so-called truck or should we just take one of our jeeps or station wagons and do the best we can? We share mutual interest expenses among ourselves so why should we, for $20-30,000, be a quitter? It is not his idea of good cooperation and he doesn't know if we will have problem. He hopes we are wrong and we shouldn't have it; he doesn't know if he is wrong. Mayor Rinker said that is a good point. It's part of the reason for SPAN and if we do not go along we do set a precedent. The fact that you may not always be 100% satisfied but recognize that you have consideration of participating as part of a group--you may be reluctant but you recognize that there is a value; he thinks that is a legitimate issue. What he is hearing is that there has to be a little bit better sense of what we are deciding. He didn't get that from the last time and that troubles him. OPEN PORTIOIV - 3 minute limit imposed by Chair. Those who wish to speak must first state their name and address. This open portion is limited to discussion pertaining to the items under "Old Business" only. There were no comments. NEW BUSINESS • A motion to accept the recommendation of the S.O.M. Center Road Widening Committee for the use of Utility Poles to Mount Lighting Fixtures Council President Marquardt noted the change to the agenda of Telephone poles to Utility poles.