Reckoning day arrives for Cardone property

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
DEADLINE DAY — If property owner Jerry Cardone fails to comply with a Superior Court order to clean up his property today, he will be billed by the Town of Houlton for the work. Town Councilors authorized spending up to $25,000 for the job.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Today is the Superior Court-ordered deadline for Jerry Cardone to clean up his cluttered property at 314 Military St. If Cardone does not comply with the deadline, he will get the bill for the cost to have it done by the town.
    At their Monday evening meeting, town councilors authorized the use of up to $25,000 from the loan repayment reserve fund to cover costs of cleaning up his property. Town Manager Doug Hazlett told councilors the bid process was being waived “since it is impossible to determine the extent of the cleanup efforts needed.” Hazlett added that expects the Public Works Department to tackle the majority of the task and that he will keep the councilors apprised of progress and costs.
    In other business, the councilors authorized use of up to $145,200 from the Tax Increment Financing Reserve Fund to offset a number of FY 2011 budget costs for legal services, assessing, public safety and roads.
    Councilors also authorized expenditures chargeable to FY 2011 appropriations for departmental expenses  from the beginning of the fiscal year to the approval of the budget. Hazlett said the annual process is in accordance with the charter and it allows the town to continue operating until the budget is finalized.
    A low bid of $49,943 from Glatfelter Insurance through F.A. Peabody got the nod for the first year of a three-year bid period to provide Houlton’s municipal insurance coverage. Hazlett said four companies had responded to the bid process and Glatfelter’s represented a $20,887 savings.
    The Houlton Police Department will get funding for patrols, a base radio system and mileage totaling $41,034.24 thanks to a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. Chief Butch Asselin stated that all radios have been moved to narrow band and are in compliance with new federal regulations with a January 1, 2012 deadline.
    Also approved during the brief meeting, was authorization for Hazlett to apply for financial assistance through the Bureau of Parks & Lands Snowmobile Trail Fund which is an annual grant to benefit the snowmobile clubs. Hazlett added that “all we need now is snow.”
    The councilors will meet again at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 27 in Council Chambers at 21 Water St.