Gardiner City Council approves two victualer/liquor licenses, advances sidewalk ordinance and sends wastewater bond to second reading

The Gardiner City Council on March 4 approved victualer and liquor licenses for 3 Bridges LLC (A1 Diner) and for Plum Pizza, advanced a proposed amendment to the land use ordinance governing private use of sidewalks to a second reading, and sent a proposed general obligation bond for wastewater plant and pump-station upgrades to a second reading on March 18.

The A1 Diner renewal was moved by Councilor Tim Cusick and seconded by Councilor Veronica Babcock; Mayor Patricia Hart recorded a unanimous council approval. Councilor Sean Dolly moved to approve the Plum Pizza license; Councilor Rusty Greenleaf seconded and the council unanimously approved the license after the business owner introduced herself during the public hearing.

Kristen Lamontagne, who said she is "starting Plum Pizza out of Table Bar," told the council she has "a lot of experience as a baker and pastry chef, and I'm really excited to bring some New York style pizza to Gardiner." The council recorded no written correspondence on either license item.

On the sidewalk ordinance, Mayor Patricia Hart opened a first reading of an amendment to section 10.27 addressing private-party use of sidewalks. Code enforcement officer Chris McNeil told the council staff did not want to broadly authorize commercial activity on city-owned spaces in the ordinance; instead, McNeil said such uses "need to come to you guys and ask" and would be handled "case by case" with terms that could include fees and time frames. Councilor Rusty Greenleaf moved to approve the first reading and advance it to a second reading; Councilor Debbie Kimball seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

The council also voted to advance a financing measure for wastewater system improvements. Interim City Manager Denise Brown said Gardiner has received a USDA grant/loan package and that the town will use interim financing (bid to the lowest lender) while the project proceeds, with interim interest rolled into final project costs. Brown said the permanent bond interest rate was about "3.75." Councilor Greenleaf moved to send acquisition of the general obligation bond anticipation note and the general obligation bond for the wastewater treatment plant and Main Avenue Pump Station phase 2 upgrades to a second reading on March 18; Councilor Babcock seconded. The motion passed with 6 of 6 voting councilors approving (the mayor does not vote on bonds).

The council then approved its Feb. 18 meeting minutes and took other routine actions before entering executive session on a personnel matter. The council will consider the sidewalk ordinance and the bond at future sessions as those items return for additional readings and final votes.