PRESQUE ISLE – Bicentennial Park will keep its name.
City councilors opted not to change the name the park was given in 1980 after a discussion at Monday night’s meeting, City Manager Tom Stevens said Tuesday.
A few weeks ago, resident Harold Dyer asked the city to rename the park in honor of his father, Elwood Dyer, who was involved in the creation and maintenance of the park on Riverside Drive near the Presque Isle Stream.
Councilors noted that while Dyer worked to help create the park, others, too, had helped, Stevens said.
“It was the idea of, ‘If we recognize one [by renaming the park], do we recognize everybody?'” the city manager said.
There was also some concern about honoring a person or a group of people for their work on the park decades after the fact, Stevens said.
Subsequently, the council took no action on the matter.
In other news, the council:
. Authorized the demolition of a structure at 30 Harris St. Stevens said the city authorized action against owner Dennis Goodridge because of code violations.
“That was only after efforts by the code enforcement officer to get the violations corrected failed,” Stevens said.
On Jan. 21, 2005, Presque Isle District Court issued a correction and abatement order, requiring Goodridge to fix the property in 30 days or the city would demolish it.
City officials have received a bid for $2,000 from a local company to demolish the building.
. Approved a Presque Isle Development Fund loan recommendation. Councilors voted to give Northern Maine Speech Language Pathology Services Inc., a 10-year, $20,000 loan, with a 6 percent interest rate, to encourage economic development. The loan allows the business to restructure its debt, retain four full-time positions and create one to two new positions, Stevens said.
The development fund, which the city manager referred to as an economic development tool, has give out approximately 90 loans since its creation.
. Approved ATV use permits to run from May 15 to Dec. 15. The permits allow holders to operate all-terrain vehicles on designated trails within the city limits. Councilors also approved an agreement with the Star City ATV Club to accept state funds on its behalf. The local club is eligible for state funding based on the amount of maintenance they do on trails they use. The city serves as funding applicant and is responsible for the funds, but passes them on to the club.
. Appointed Robert Clark to the new position recently created on the airport advisory board. A few weeks ago, the council approved a bylaw amendment that increased the board’s size from seven to eight members. They designated the seat to be filled by an Aroostook County resident who represents economic development in the county. Clark serves as executive director of Northern Maine Development Commission.
. Agreed to allocate $525 in city funds to pay the registration fee for Councilor Jennifer Trombley to attend the Maine Municipal Association’s 2005 Municipal Leadership Program.
. Established its summer schedule. For the months of June, July and August, the council will meet once, instead of twice: on June 6, July 11 and Aug. 1. The meetings will be held at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
The council will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, May 16, in council chambers.
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