TOWN OF CATHLAMET

NOVEMBER 16, 2009

COUNCIL MEETING

CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Richard Swart

The regular council meeting for the Town of Cathlamet was called to order by Mayor Richard Swart at 7:00 p.m. Monday November 16, 2009.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

ROLL CALL – Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert

Present: Council Members Bob Rendler, Walter Wright, David Goodroe, William Talbott, Steve McNicholas and Mayor Richard Swart.

Absent: 0

Also present were Town Attorney Thomas Doumit, Clerk/Treasurer Tina Schubert, Wahkiakum Eagle reporter Rick Nelson, G&O engineer Ken Alexander, Public Works Superintendent David Vik, Mayor-elect George Wehrfritz, Council Member-elect Ruth Doumit, Librarian Connie Christopher and members of the public.

ADDITIONS, CORRECTIONS, DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

VOUCHER REVIEW COMMITTEE

1. Voucher Review Committee Report – David Goodroe and Steve McNicholas reported no errors and accepted the vouchers.

2. The Voucher Review Committee for the December 21st, 2009 meeting consists of Bob Rendler and Walter Wright. William Talbott will be the alternate.

CONSENT AGENDA

Motion to approve the Consent Agenda made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. The consent agenda consists of the Minutes of October 19, 2009 Regular Meeting, EMS Stipends for October in the amount of $4,102.76, Payroll for November in the amount of $24,806.52 and Vouchers for November in the amount of $52,869.47. With no changes to the consent agenda the motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

CITIZEN’S PARTICIPATION

None

PROCLAMATIONS and PRESENTATIONS

Mayor Richard Swart addressed the audience and Council and thanked them for the opportunity to serve as Mayor and wished the Mayor-elect and Council Member-elect success in their new roles. Mayor Swart announced that this would be the last Council meeting that he would be presiding over due to a vacation that he was leaving for on the following day.

Council Member David Goodroe presented Mayor Richard Swart with a Certificate of Appreciation for his exceptional services to the Town of Cathlamet.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

The Public Hearing on the Current Expense Revenues and Property Tax Levy Final Hearing was opened at 7:06 p.m. Hearing no comments in support or against the item, the hearing was closed at 7:07 p.m.

The Public Hearing on the Proposed 2010 Budget opened at 7:07 p.m. Hearing no comments in support or against the item, the hearing was closed at 7:08 p.m.

ORDINANCES

Prior to the reading of Ordinance No. 521; Repealing CMC Title 13 Entirely and Enacting a New Title 13 Governing Water and Sewer Utilities program, Council Member David Goodroe expressed his concern by the many changes that the ordinance entails and proposed that a workshop be held prior to taking any action. Motion to table Ordinance No. 521 was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Motion to approve Ordinance No. 523; Increasing the Regular Property Tax Levy for the second, third and final reading was made by David Goodroe and seconded by William Talbott. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Town Attorney Thomas Doumit read Ordinance No. 524; Regarding the need for Performance Bonds and Insurance for Town Hall Employees who handle Town Funds for the first reading. Motion to approve the ordinance for discussion was made by Walter Wright and seconded by David Goodroe. During discussion the Clerk/Treasurer noted that the according to AWC, Town Hall employees are already covered by insurance and bond. By consensus, the Council agreed that this ordinance may not be necessary. Motion failed 0 Yes, 5 No, 0 Abstentions.

Mayor Swart summarized the intent of Ordinance No. 525; Correcting Ordinance No. 494. Attorney Doumit then read the ordinance for the first reading. Motion to approve Ordinance No. 525 for the first reading was made by David Goodroe and seconded by William Talbott. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Attorney Doumit read Ordinance No. 526; Adopting the Budget of the Town of Cathlamet for the Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2010 for the first reading. Motion to approve Ordinance No. 526 for the first reading was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

Mayor Swart asked the Council if they wished to have Ordinance No. 524 revised to delete references to Town positions that no longer exist. The Council agreed by consensus. Attorney Doumit was asked to review the proposed ordinance and make changes as needed to have the ordinance resubmitted at the December 21, 2009 Council meeting.

RESOLUTIONS

Town Attorney Thomas Doumit read Resolution No. 274-09; Adopting the Town of Cathlamet Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Council Member David Goodroe called attention to a clerical error on page 3, paragraph 2, and line 2, in which the word "profession" should be changed to "professional". Motion to approve the Resolution with the said change was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Bob Rendler. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a. Gray & Osborne, Inc. engineer Ken Alexander reported that he has received comments from the National Marine Fisheries Service on the biological assessment report prepared for the new WWTP. Mr. Alexander said that the NMFS is concerned about the potential affect of storm water runoff on streams in the WWTP service area that support endangered species such as salmon. Mr. Alexander said that he has prepared and sent a memo to NMFS assuring them of compliance with current federal and state regulations.

Mr. Alexander also reported that he has submitted the contracts of the original Water Main contract between the Town of Cathlamet and Halme Construction on project 09215.0. Public Works Superintendent David Vik said that he had no dispute with the numbers given but would like to see some changes made before the final recommendation is made.

b. Mayor Swart reported that the Town and the Wahkiakum School District representatives had met to discuss a potential change to the existing easement through the District's property. The Mayor stated that neither side was able to come up with an agreeable compromise and recommended that the Town should proceed with the project as previously planned.

c. Council Member David Goodroe said that the Town was unsuccessful in obtaining the grant funding for the street lighting project. Mr. Goodroe said that the Town did obtain the energy efficiency grant for Town Hall that he had applied for. This project will be placed on the December 21, 2009 meeting agenda.

d. Motion to approve the 2009-2010 PUD contract was made by Bob Rendler and seconded by Walter Wright. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions. The Council agreed by consensus that the contract terms need to be reviewed and revised to streamline the process for both parties.

e. Council Member Goodroe reported that he has been informed that there could be a Marbled Murrelet buffer zone required on the west edge of the Town timber lands that is being considered for a possible wind farm. Mr. Goodroe said that signs of the bird have been detected in areas north and east of the property which creates a 1.5 mile circle of protection around the detected site. Goodroe said that he is waiting for the WA State Dept. of Fish and Wildlife to schedule a field biologist to perform an inspection and determine whether or not the Town property falls outside of that protection area.

f. Mayor Swart reported that the pre-bid conference on the Town Hall seismic project was held on November 12, 2009 and was well attended. The Mayor said that KGA engineer Len Krombine had responded to questions from the conference and that his responses will be forwarded to the potential bidders. Council Member Goodroe suggested that the "storefront" idea that has been discussed be added to the second phase of the renovation that will include the public and employee restrooms.

g. G&O engineer Ken Alexander cautioned the Town that the use of public funds to construct "side sewers" (i.e. Rosedale area) is not allowed and that basically G&O have "run out of ideas". Mr. Alexander said that the Town could have a discussion about this with the EPA, but that it has been his experience that the EPA does not fund projects such as these. Mayor Swart expressed his dismay that G&O has no idea on how to proceed. The Mayor said that the engineers were supposed to advise the Town on matters such as this. Mr. Alexander suggested a conference call with the EPA, the Town and G&O. The Council agreed by consensus and Mayor Pro-Tem Goodroe agreed to represent the Town on this call.

The meeting was recessed at 8:16 p.m. at the request of Council Member Steve McNicholas. The meeting reconvened at 8:31 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS

a. Motion to approve the one-time water bill adjustment request by George Hanigan was made by David Goodroe and seconded by Steve McNicholas. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions.

b. Mayor Swart told the Council that he had received a request by Cathlamet resident John Dees to be appointed to the Planning Commission. Motion to approve the appointment of John Dees to the Planning Commission was made by Walter Wright and seconded by David Goodroe. Motion carried 5 Yes, 0 No, 0 Abstentions. Public Works Superintendent David Vik noted that the Town had previously had a representative on Wahkiakum County's Planning Commission. Mayor Swart requested that David Goodroe contact County Commissioner Dan Cothren to determine the county's position on this. This item will be placed on the December 21, 2009 meeting agenda.

c. Mayor Swart explained that an Interlocal Agreement/Critical Areas Ordinance is needed in order to allow the Town to participate in the use of grant money.

COMMITTEE REPORTS –

A copy of the Public Works report and Mayor's report was included in the packets.

Member Steve McNicholas requested discussion regarding Public Safety. Mr. McNicholas said that the Pioneer Church does not have a fire suppression system and is currently uninsured. Some years back, the Town had covered the Pioneer Church in its policy, but our current AWC insurance does not permit properties not owned by the Town to be covered by its insurance pool. Mr. McNicholas suggested that the Town consider making an effort to recover the property from its current owners, the Pioneer Church Association.

ANNOUNCEMENTS – none

Council Member William Talbott inquired about the Town Council's annual Christmas buffet. It was decided that the buffet will begin at 6:00 p.m. prior to the December 21st meeting.

EXECUTIVE SESSION – none.

ADJOURNMENT – at 8:43 p.m.

Richard A Swart, Mayor Tina M. Schubert, Clerk/Treasurer