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.