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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-09-17 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee th Monday, September 17, 2012 at 5:00PM MINUTES Council Members: Blanchette, Longo, Gallant, Baldacci, Gratwick, Weston and Durgin Staff: Conlow, Farrar, Yardley, Nicklas 1. Council Resolve 12-304, Accepting and Appropriating a Drug Free Communities Grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (SAMHSA) in the amount of $125,000 to implement Substance Abuse Prevention Strategies in the towns of Brewer, Hermon and Hampden. This is a five year grant to address substance abuse prevention in three towns covered by the Bangor Region Public Health and Wellness Healthy Maine Partnership. The communities involved are Brewer, Hermon and Hampden and the school districts located within those towns. The Resolve will accept and appropriate the funds. Longo moved to Staff recommendation. It was seconded. Gallant asked Yardley to explain this resolve. Yardley, Health and Community Services Director said that this grant is broken into four areas; substance abuse by young people within a 30 day period, the perception of risk; what in their community discourages them from using drugs, the perception of their peers and perception of disapproval by parents. The three towns involved currently participate in drug use surveys at their schools. Bangor High does not meet the criteria to participate but Yardley believes that all young people including Bangor will benefit from the grant funds. It was Bangor High’s administrative choice due to concerns they have about the survey questions. The grant is a fixed amount with no regard to population. Longo asked why we are handling other communities outside of Bangor. Yardley explained that Public Health reaches out beyond the City of Bangor as part of the Healthy Maine Partnership. This grant is specific to a community. Gallant stated that the motion was approved, and it will move forward to Council with the Committee’s recommendation. 2. Proposal to Combine the Community Advisory Group with the Public Health Advisory Board. This proposal would combine the Community Advisory Group with the Public Health Advisory Board. A background memorandum from Assistant City Solicitor Paul Nicklas is attached, as well as a draft Council Ordinance Amendment reflecting the proposed change. Assistant City Solicitor, Paul Nicklas explained that there are continuing issues with the Methadone Clinics in Bangor that need to be addressed. Since the PHAB is made up of professionals in the community that deal with substance abuse issues, the Community Advisory Group and the City would benefit from that additional expertise. Nicklas further outlined that the purpose of this draft ordinance is to have a recommendation as to whether this ordinance should be passed on to Council. Councilor Longo spoke at length regarding his opposition to combining the groups, other Councilors spoke in favor of the proposal. After much discussion on Methadone Clinics and the respective roles of the Committees, Longo made a motion NOT to combine the two committees. It was not seconded. Baldacci made a motion to move to staff recommendation, it was seconded but doubted. A vote was taken by Gallant. 3 in favor of moving to staff recommendation and 1 opposed, therefore it was passed onto full Council with the endorsement of the Government Operations Committee. 3. Request for Nominations for the Municipal Review Committee (MRC) Board of Directors The annual process to solicit nominations for the MRC Board of Directors is now underway. The MRC has various oversight responsibilities related to the PERC Waste to Energy facility. Bangor has been represented on the MRC Board since the early 1990’s and has an opportunity to place a name in nomination for a Board seat. A memorandum is attached from Assistant City Manager Bob Farrar as well as additional background information. Assistant City Manager Bob Farrar explained that his term on the MRC Board is up this year and he does not wish to seek reelection. Longo made a motion to place Geoff Gratwick as a nominee, it was seconded. Gratwick then stated that he felt honored to be nominated but that City Manager Cathy Conlow is a more pivotal person in the community for this position. Gratwick offered to defer. Weston supported Conlow as a nominee; it was seconded and approved after withdrawal of first recommendation. Farrar was authorized to submit the nomination form to the MRC. Meeting Adjourned at 6:00p.m.