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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-17 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Monday, June 17, 2013 5:35 p.m. City Council Chambers MINUTES Council Members: Blanchette, Civiello, Nealley, Durgin, Baldacci, Gallant, Longo, Sprague Staff: Farrar, Conlow, Hathaway, Yardley, Nicklas, Wardwell Others: Supt. Betsy Webb, Jane Gopan 1. Referral – Council Ordinance 13-194, Enacting a Moratorium on Charter Schools. Asst. City Solicitor stated this Ordinance would create an 180 day Moratorium to not allow issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for any Charter Schools in the Bangor area. Councilor Longo moved and Councilor Gallant seconded to recommend to the Council, and so voted. Discussion of the Moratorium with Councilors and Superintendent Webb in regards to homeschooled students. Councilor Baldacci suggested that Superintended Webb ask a Charter School Representative come to the full Council meeting when this matter is discussed. 2. Update and Recommendation – French Street Parking Concern. At the last meeting, Ms. Jane Gopan of 302 French Street met with the Committee to discuss a parking concern. Following the discussion, the Committee directed staff to prepare options and a recommendation regarding the situation. Chief Hathaway began with details about parking issues on French Street and resident’s concerns. Director Wardewell spoke of the 5 options for the committee to consider to help reduce the problems caused by the parking restrictions for residence. Recommendation was to remove the restriction of no parking from here to corner on the northwesterly corner of French and Garland Street. Ms. Gopan stated that this recommendation would still be a problem because there would be competition with other residents for spaces. She does not feel this is the best option. She feels the option she prefers is the special permit to park in front of her house. This can be explained to all other residence by stating they have parking options where the Gopans do not have another option. Councilor Longo felt that due to staff findings, permit parking would cause too many concerns with other residents. Councilor Longo moved staff recommendation to remove the no parking sign from here to corner on French and Garland Streets. Councilor Civiello seconded to move staff’s recommendation. Councilor Gallant would like to see the street be one way all the way to State Street to not only help the Gopans out but for others who take care of plowing, etc., in this area. This would maximize the parking for residents. Councilor Longo withdrew his motion. So noted. Councilor Blanchette agrees with Councilor Gallant to make the entire street one way. If this were to pass recommendation, a public hearing would have to be held first. Councilor Gallant moved to have a public hearing for option #3, one way option, th on July 15 with notice to all land owners effected. Councilor Longo seconded and so voted. 3. Draft Order – Ratifying City Staff action to Apply for Funding from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control, Sodium Reduction in Communities Program. Given the short notice and response deadline, this order would ratify the application that has been submitted. Councilor Longo moved staff recommendation with Councilor Gallant’s second. Councilor Civiello asked Director Yardley to explain this funding. Councilor Civiello is not in favor of this only because the City just cut 4 staff positions and this program calls for the hire of one staff member. She also felt that the government should not be telling people how much sodium we should be putting in our food. Director Yardley stated we would not be telling people how much salt they should use, it would be to educate larger facilities how to be healthier in regards to sodium consumption. Councilor Blanchette also does not support this grant program. It’s frivolous in her mind. Director Yardley states that even though people think it’s an easy thing to limit sodium intake, but this is not what research and statistics revealed. It is an important health issue. Vote ended up to be 3 in favor with 2 opposed. Vote approved to go to full Council. Adjourned at 6:30 p.m.