HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-16 Government Operations Committee Minutes
Government Operations Committee
Tuesday, September 17, 2013 at 5:00 p.m.
City Council Chambers
MINUTES
Council Members: Blanchette, Hawes, Civiello, Longo, Durgin, Baldacci
Staff: Conlow, Farrar, Hathaway, Wardwell, Morgan, Fogler, Eyles, Comstock
Others: Julie Green, Bob Kilpeck, Peter Nowell
1. Resolves to Accept and Appropriate Various Grant Funds – Health and
Community Services
a. $125,000 to implement the second year of the Drug Free Communities Program.
b. $90,000 to support the third year of Healthy Eating Active Living in the Penquis
Health District.
c. $79,000 to implement the second year of marijuana and prescription drug
prevention services for the three Penquis District Healthy Maine Partnerships.
d. $2,728,057 to provide for the Woman, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program.
Councilor Longo moved, Councilor Baldacci seconded and approved to recommend to
full Council.
2. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding – City of Bangor and Community
Housing of Maine.
Community Services Manager Rindy Fogler explained about this assistance for housing
for those who need it and qualify. Proposal to rehab the school building in Brewer to
turn into housing for low income people. They are hoping to focus on our Shelter Plus
Care population. We have been asked if we are willing to use some of our project based
vouchers for this new rehab building (if they are awarded). There would be no
increased staff/administration time since we are already writing these vouchers. This
would not be additional vouchers added but redirecting some of the current ones.
Councilor Longo moved, Councilor Baldacci seconded and approved to recommend to
full Council.
3. Approval of Sub-Recipient Agreement between the City of Bangor and
Piscataquis Public Health Council.
Health Promotion Program Manager, Jamie Comstock explained that currently we have 2
Sub-Recipient Agreements. One with Mayo Regional Hospital and one with Katahdin
Shared Services. Piscataquis Public Health Council was told they needed to find a new
fiscal lead and Penquis was chosen. So this means we need to have a Sub-Recipient
Agreement between the City of Bangor and Penquis/Piscataquis PHC.
Councilor Baldacci moved, Councilor Longo seconded and approved.
4. Proposed Ordinance Amendment – raising the weight limit for vehicles
parking for more than four hours in residential districts from three quarters of
a ton to a one ton, including an exemption for moving vehicles.
Police Chief Hathaway stated that this Ordinance was dated and needed to be updated
to include one ton vehicles.
Councilor Baldacci moved, Councilor Longo seconded and approved to recommend to
full Council for first reading then to Planning Board, and finally to full Council.
5. Proposed Ordinance Amendment – creating no parking zones on Buck Street
from Main Street to Sunnyside Greenhouse, due to recent repaving/restriping
associated with the opening of the Cross Insurance Center.
Director of Public Works Dana Wardwell stated that due to the new construction of the
Cross Insurance Center and Buck Street being the new main entrance there needs to be
no parking zones on each side of the street, from Maine Street to Sunnyside
Greenhouse.
Councilor Baldacci moved, Councilor Blanchette seconded and approved to recommend
to full Council for first reading.
6. Discussion and Review of Traffic concerns on Kenduskeag Avenue.
Concerns about traffic speed on Kenduskeag Avenue have been received by
Councilors Baldacci and Civiello. As a result, they requested that this issue be
discussed at a Committee meeting to allow residents to address the Committee with
their concerns.
Chief Hathaway explained there are concerns about speeding and other traffic
infractions on Kenduskeag Avenue. Tonight we are hoping to come up with some ideas
to stop this.
Residents on this street spoke about their concerns.
Ideas spoken about were a speed hump, speed bump….
Julie Green & Bob Kilpeck of Husson University stated that their students, staff, faculty,
visitors are a part of this problem and they would like to be a part of the solution.
Engineering Director Art Morgan spoke about a speed study of Kenduskeag and other
areas. We will look at options after they get study back. Because of how Kenduskeag is
set up, there are some options that would not work for traffic calming.
Councilor Civiello said maybe it’s time to write more tickets.
Councilors, staff and citizens spoke about their own experiences with traffic in the
Bangor area. Concerns for children and bicyclists.
Councilor Blanchette suggested that it is time for something new such as the flashing
lights in front of the Library not the sign that tells you how fast you are going. That
doesn’t catch a driver’s attention anymore. We need new ways to enforce old laws.
Julie Green stated that Husson will be emailing their students, staff, faculty, visitors from
President Clark reminders to help keep their speed and infractions down.
Councilor Civiello thought we could also get the message across to City staff as well to
help with these issues.
Councilor Baldacci thought that the speed hump, lighted signage and more traffic
enforcement are the best options to slow traffic down.
Councilors asked Art Morgan to come back with update/recommendations in a month at
the Government Operations Committee meeting on October 22.
nd
Councilor Baldacci moved to have this discussion at the October 22 meeting, Councilor
Blanchette seconded, so approved.
Adjourned at 5:48pm.