WATERVILLE — A tax break for a natural gas pipeline and buying the Morning Sentinel building are among items the City Council will consider tonight.
The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at The Center and will be preceded by an executive session at 6:45 p.m. to discuss the sale price of the Sentinel, according to City Manager Michael Roy.
Roy said Monday that MaineToday Media, Inc., which owns the Sentinel, submitted a written proposal Monday to sell the building to the city for $600,000.
The council must take three votes on the Sentinel proposal. No more than two votes may be taken Tuesday and the third would likely be taken at the council’s next meeting in two weeks, Roy said.
As part of the vote, the council would decide whether to nullify a vote it took in February to build a new police station at Head of Falls.
The council is reconsidering the Sentinel for a possible police station site after MaineToday reduced its asking price. Initially, that price was $1.5 million and then it was reduced to $1.25 million, Roy said.
The 13,500 square foot building and property’s current assessed value is $1,246,400, according to the city’s online assessor database.
The price of the building will be discussed in executive, or private, session, which is allowed by law in real estate negotiations.
“But, as I’ve cautioned the council, any discussion about suitability for a police station has to be in open session,” he said.
Any votes on the issue must be taken in open session, as required by law.
In the matter of the tax break for a natural gas pipeline, councilors are scheduled to take a final vote on whether to establish a tax increment financing district, or TIF, and approve a related development program for, a natural gas pipeline proposed by Kennebec Valley Gas Co.
Councilors will consider several other items, including whether to authorize the transfer of an off-track betting facility license from its current location in the former John Martin’s Manor to T&B Outback Tavern at 6 Jefferson St.
Amy Calder — 861-9247
acalder@centralmaine.com
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