City projects set to move ahead (01/06/2009)

A sluggish economy won't stop the city of Portland from moving ahead with several projects, a city official said Monday night.

Bruce Hosier, mayor of Portland, reflected on several planned projects in the city during the first Portland City Council meeting of 2009.

He said the city budget is very healthy and very strong, despite a weak economy. "Don't anticipate any slow down in 2009," Hosier said of the budget. When the economy finally improves, the city will be ahead of the curve, he said.

A sewer line will be installed in Hudson Family Park this year, work on the Boundary Pike/Wayne Street project will continue and the Lafayette Street extension project will move forward this year, he said.

"I look forward to working with all of you in 2009," Hosier said to council members and the city officials in the audience.

The Boundary Pike/Wayne Street and Lafayette extension projects are being largely funded through grants.

So far, city funds have paid for the completed work on the park project.

In other business, $40,208.38 in dormant funds was moved to the city's Rainy Day Fund.

The money came from the airport taxiway grant fund, police dog donation fund, the infant car seat grant fund and the unemployment compensation non-reverting fund.

Money in the rainy day fund can be used for any purpose, city clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy said this morning.

Also Monday evening, council members voted to reappoint Bill Gibson as president of the council.

In a related matter, Hosier announced that all city department heads had been reappointed for 2009, and the same people will remain on the Portland Board of Works, Portland Board of Zoning Appeals, Portland Planning Commission, Portland Redevelopment Commission and Portland Historic Preservation Commission.[[In-content Ad]]