WESTBROOK – The Westbrook City Council has opted to wait another week to discuss changes in the Pike Industries consent agreement to allow more time for review.

Councilors voted 6-1 on Monday night to table the Spring Street quarry discussion until the council’s next meeting on Monday, Jan. 14. Only Council Vice Chairman Michael Foley opposed the delay.

Councilor Victor Chau, whose ward includes the Pine quarry, led the motion, saying he was tired of rushing through the process and wanted to make sure the courts approved the documents this time. Chau said the wait would also allow residents more time to read the consent agreement and its amendments.

“I kind of would like their [the residents] input on what we’re doing. They’re the ones who have to live with it. I’m tired of it and I’m sure many of the residents are, too,” Chau said.

The latest changes to the agreement stem from a decision by the Business and Consumer Court last month, which directed the city to amend inconsistencies between the consent agreement and zoning amendments adopted in October 2012.

These language changes include alterations to the location of where blasting vibrations will be measured, requirements for spillage cleanup and variations in the synthetic screen requirements for the crushers.

The quarry has been an issue since 2009, when Pike began planning to ramp up operations there, including blasting, crushing and other activities. The plan has been resisted both by some neighbors and businesses, including Idexx. Pike and Idexx reached a compromise that allowed Pike to operate the quarry under certain restraints that curtailed hours and prevented blasts from exceeding certain decibel levels, all included in the consent agreement.

In other council action Monday, four of the five outstanding employee union contracts moved toward final approval, leaving only the fire department contract left in negotiations.

Councilors gave their second and final approval to the General Unit contract and gave first-reading approval to the police, public safety dispatch and public services unions.

The contracts “represent no increased cost to the taxpayer and have generated savings for the city,” Foley said.

Negotiations between Westbrook city officials and union leaders have gone on for nearly 10 months, pushing back the start of the new contracts, which were supposed to go into effect on July 1, 2012. The three-year contracts will run until June 30, 2015.

City Administrator Jerre Bryant said all the contracts have basically the same economic structure and were negotiated to reduce overhead costs by focusing on two key areas: health insurance and retirement programs.

Westbrook offers employees two retirement options, one through the Maine Public Employees Retirement System and a 401(a) plan that acts like a 401(k) plan, but is used primarily by government employees. Bryant said all employees have the choice between the two plans, but once they opt in to the Maine Public Employee Retirement System plan, they cannot opt out. Westbrook has no control over the state run-plan and cannot make changes to it even for their own employees.

All the contracts lower health insurance premiums by 19 percent while maintaining benefit levels, and any costs of wage increases for the city employees are covered under the savings from the health insurance and pension costs.

Bryant said the city will see savings with the new plan because it went with a higher deductible policy but added a health reimbursement savings account. Employees will have to pay deductibles up front, but will be reimbursed for medical bills out of the health savings account. This plan allows employees to use what they need without the city paying for more, according to Bryant.

The approved General Unit contract reduces the city’s cost for employees enrolled in the 401(a) retirement plan by 25 percent and 40 percent for future employees.

Westbrook’s Police Unit contract adjusts staffing levels during peak call times and allows for a 2.25 percent pay hike for employees.

The dispatch unit was the only unit not under Westbrook’s medical insurance plan. Under the new contract, employees were offered an option to be added to the city’s plan. It also provides a 2 percent wage increase. A 40 percent reduction will also be seen in the city’s costs for future employees participating in the 401(a) retirement plan.

In the Public Services contract, the city could see a 25 percent reduction in cost for employees who participate in the 401(a) plan and a 40 percent reduction in city costs for future employees who enroll. Unit employees would see a wage increase of 2 percent in year one, 2.25 percent in year two and 2.5 percent in year three of plan.

All wage increases would take place six months into each year, instead of starting on the first of the year, further reducing cost to the city, said Bryant.

The Human Resources department also had its policies and procedures manual amended to reflect a 2.25 percent adjustment to employee wages. The non-union department will also see 19 percent lower premiums in their health insurance plans and included the 25 percent reduction in city costs for current employees enrolled in the 401 (a) retirement plan and 40 percent reduction in costs for future employees.

Councilors also gave preliminary approval to a bid to add three new ramps and docks to the Presumpscot River.

Custom Float Services Inc. of Portland was awarded the $31,730 bid for floating docks and ramps to be placed at the end of Ash Street, the northwest corner of Riverbank Park and near the Brown Street community garden.

Bill Baker, Westbrook’s assistant city administrator for business and community relations, said the public benefit creates recreational access to the river and could bring more money into the area. Baker said he found more than 35 cities that have utilized their waterways and saw positive economic impact, like a water park in the middle of Charlotte, N.C.

Baker also discussed offering kayak and boat rentals at the Riverbank Park dock location.

Funding for the project would come from the Westbrook Environmental Improvement Corp., which was designed to fund, protect, preserve and improve environmental resources in Westbrook. Bryant said there was close to $1 million in the fund.

The council also set a public hearing for Monday, Feb. 4, on the updated Westbrook Comprehensive Plan.

Also on Feb. 4 will be a public hearing on a zone change for the Elms Bed & Breakfast.

The new zone would allow the inn, located in a residential zone at 102 Cumberland St., to operate under more uses, including a library, museum, medical office, restaurant or florist.

Property owner Scott Balfour first approached the city requesting a zone change in October 2011, saying the business did not generated enough income to support the upkeep of the historic Victorian building.

Balfour could not be reached for comment by American Journal deadline on his plans for the property.

The Elms, built in 1882, is still operating as a bed and breakfast. The City Council has scheduled a public hearing Feb. 4 on a zone change request from the owner.
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