Council Recesses Business Subsidy Vote, Fears Six-Month Delay From Tie

MELROSE — October 19, 2017 — Melrose City Council recessed a business subsidy hearing to avoid a potentially paralyzing 2-2 tie vote. Meeting with only four of five members present on October 19, the council chose not to force a vote on a forgivable-grant agreement with Eminem Holdings — covering building demolition reimbursement and 400-block site work — after the city attorney warned that a tied vote would table the matter for six months and potentially blow past a state legislative appropriation deadline. The hearing was recessed to an October 26 special meeting in hopes of a full five-member quorum. The council separately ordered abatement at two nuisance properties on First Street within 30 days, approved a records management agreement with the Belgrade Police Department at an hourly rate reflecting city secretary Felicia Moulton's pay and benefits, confirmed Tom Hoodie as fire chief, and received a preliminary briefing on a potential $500 Melrose Lake elevation study and a DNR-backed dam replacement project that could qualify for 75-25 grant funding.