FARMINGTON -- Following brief swearing-in ceremonies Wednesday night, new Farmington City Council members Ed Johnson and Bob Hasenyager were put right to work.

Included on the agenda for the first council meeting of the New Year, was a public hearing on a request from Coe and Margaret Hadden that the city vacate 16.5 feet of street right-of-way adjacent to their property at 600 North, east of Main Street.

The Hadden family wants to build to additional homes on the site, but need the extra room to comply with square footage requirements. In addition, they need the property to be re-zoned from LR-F to R-2, but no action was taken on that aspect of the project.

A motion to approve the street vacation was approved by unanimous vote, but with one amendment. Council member Dave Dixon wanted to let neighbors living to east on the same side of 600 North know construction work would leave a jog where new and existing sidewalks meet. The city will, however, meet with those residents to work on the problem.

A second hearing was held to consider amendments to Chapter 27 of the city zoning ordinance pertaining to planned Unit Developments, including reduction of minimum parcel sizes and changes in required open space thresholds.

Although there was no public comment on the matter, the council decided to table any action on it. Instead, it will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 19, just prior to the next council meet to help familiarize new council members with the issue.

Voice Stream Wireless has submitted a request to lease city property to install a 60 foot high cellular transmission tower adjacent to and north of the cable television dishes at approximately 650 N. 100 East. In exchange for use of the property, the company would pay Farmington $600 a month.

Re-elected council member Larry Haugen told other members of the council that he felt "the existing dishes were ugly enough." He was also worried about such a structure being put up right at the entrance to Farmington Canyon.

But, City Administrator Max Forbush said he felt the tower would blend in with the tall trees surrounding the site. However, he agreed with other members of the council that a initial 5-year lease renewable for five additional 5-year terms "seemed a bit much."

In the end, Council member Dave Connors seemed to sum up his fellows' feelings by stating that "with the appropriate conditions," the council would be agreeable to the possibility.

Because this was just a "testing the waters" proposal by Voice Stream, which was just sounding the council's feelings, no action was taken on the actual request. But, the council did vote to address the matter at a future date.

In an important housekeeping item, the council approved appointments to the Planning Commission, as suggested by Mayor Greg Bell. Existing commission member David Hale was re-appointed to fill the remaining term of outgoing member Jeani Van Amen. Nominated to a full term was Larry Jensen, a former Cache County School superintendent.

Also appointed Wednesday night was Gloria Anderson to the position of City Treasurer.

Committee assignments were then handed out to members of the re-constituted council by Mayor Bell. They include the following:

Problems and Resolutions Committee -- Larry Haugen and Dave Connors; Capital Improvements -- David Dixon, Ed Johnson; Personnel Committee -- Johnson and Bob Hasenyager; Leisure Services Board -- Connors, Hasenyager; Development Review (new committee) -- Dixon, Hasenyager; Historic Preservation -- Haugen, Dixon; Wasatch Energy Recovery Systems -- Haugen; Mayor Pro Tem -- Connors; Redevelopment Board Vice-Chair -- Dixon; Farmington Youth City Council -- Johnson; Chamber of Commerce Representative -- Max Forbush.