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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-12-27 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee December 27, 2011 Minutes Councilors: Hawes, Longo, Blanchette, Baldacci, Gallant, Gratwick Staff: Farrar, Dubois, Lovejoy, Heitmann Others: Bill Sullivan, Dawn Gagnon (BDN) 1. Ordinance 12-029, Amending Chapter 28, City Departments, Article XV, Records Department, Section 69, Records Retention of the City of Bangor This Ordinance amendment will eliminate the current records retention listing in the City Code, and replace it with the State Statute reference. This will result in the City being in compliance with State Law, and will avoid any potential conflicts that could result by the City maintaining its own records retention listing. Hawes noted that due to technical difficulties that the first few minutes of the meeting were not broadcast. Gallant spoke of a records center wondering if the staff had looked at available space within the City facilities. Dubois said not in that detailed manner. In the last couple of years, staff has looked at records in a comprehensive way Citywide. Progress has been made but not to the point of specifically looking at location. Her focus had been to secure digital software to digitize records to try to free up space such as at Health and Community Services where records are maintained for sixty years so that the City is not leasing space to house records. She spoke of space under the grandstand at Bass Park as well as in the new arena facility. Responding to Longo, Dubois said that some communities have scanning programs and may make the non-confidential records available to the public. The State Archives has a lot of records available on-line. The Clerk’s Office has documents back to the 1800’s that can be perused but the documents are very fragile. Dubois noted that a records center would also require a responsible staff person. A motion and second was made approving staff recommendation to eliminate the current records retention listing in the City Code and to replace it with the State Statute reference. This item was first read at the December 12, 2011 Council meeting. 2. Discussion of Polling Locations This item was included at the request of Councilor Baldacci. The City currently uses the Civic Center for its single polling location. Councilor Baldacci discussed this practice and asked whether alternative site(s) should be considered. He noted that elderly and disabled citizens have mentioned the Civic Center’s difficult access. He spoke of neighborhood polling sites and, in 2005, the Council voted to move to one site. He would like at least one other polling place in Bangor, would like to know if a system could be in place where citizens could chose either voting place, would like electronic voter check-in, and also mentioned the lack of Dutton Street for access to the Civic Center. He feels that these changes would maximize voting in Bangor. Responding to Baldacci, Dubois said that an east side/west side choice scenario would not be possible as there needs to be one check off list for each location only listing citizens within that district(s). This is State Law which insures that voters cannot vote twice. Electronic check-in is not available at the State level and is not in their foreseeable future. Bangor’s 2010 absentee voting was at 60% as Bangor does staff and promote early voting at the Civic Center. The Presidential Election year is of concern but most will be voting before Election Day through absentee voting. With the current set up, 1,000 voters per hour can be handled at the Civic Center. Dubois feels that Dyer, once again, can take care of the traffic and parking issues related to the closure of Dutton Street. Baldacci and mentioned the Cohen School as a possible polling location but Dubois mentioned the lack of adequate parking during the school day. She spoke about the streamlined process of one polling place. Longo spoke in favor of the single polling site. Gallant spoke of positive citizen comments relating to early voting and the voting experience at the Civic Center. One concern he noted was proximity of the handicap accessible parking spots. He asked about the use of the Civic Center this coming November 2012. Dubois said it will be available through the end of 2012 but noted that the voting location will change in 2013, whether at the new civic center or another site. Bill Sullivan, 37 Packard Drive, has served on the City Clerk’s committees dealing with voting places and has a long standing interest in voting statistics and procedures and spoke of the creation of the single voting place resulting in several positive consequences. He reviewed statewide statistical voting data for several years. He spoke of having wheelchairs and/or wheelers available at the door of the polling location. He agreed that handicap parking needs to be available and closer to the door of the Civic Center. Sullivan spoke of the City perhaps receiving public comment on how the voting process could be improved at the Civic Center. He feels that the support will be overwhelmingly positive. Baldacci commended Sullivan. He spoke again in favor of neighborhood voting. At a minimum, he asked the Committee to consider undertaking an effort to look at the Civic Center from a physical layout perspective to assure plenty of easy handicapped access as well as a public listening/forum session at some point in the spring. The accessibility issue is of more importance in looking ahead to November of 2012 in terms of Dutton Street’s closure. He wants everyone in the City to have an opportunity to vote and not to be discouraged by obstructions. Gallant strongly agreed with Baldacci’s points and making sure that more than one wheelchair needs to be available. He encouraged 8-10 handicapped parking spots be made available within a reasonable proximity to the Civic Center. Dubois said that staff has discussed purchasing 2-3 transport chairs, which are very portable and relatively inexpensive. She feels certain that the City Clerk’s Office can work with Dyer for the close proximity parking spots. The traffic pattern could be altered for that day only in front of the Civic Center to allow for parking along the curb. Dyer could also assign staff to parking and traffic. She spoke of the possibility of using golf carts in the parking lot to transport individuals. Gallant asked about liability issues. Heitmann will check with the City’s insurance carrier. Blanchette suggested publishing a telephone number which individuals could use if they were experiencing difficulty in accessing the building. She mentioned area school youth clubs and groups could be accessed as well as working with EMMC to use their wheelchairs. Gratwick commented that the voting system is not broken and doesn’t see the need to fix it. He also spoke of the concern of candidates standing out in front of the Civic Center and has heard voter objection to it. He would like it to be included in a future discussion. Heitmann said it is covered under State Law but will check into it. Baldacci would like the City staff to return to the Committee in February with a coordinated approach to making the Civic Center as voter friendly as possible in the Presidential Election year. At that time, perhaps the Committee could discuss a public forum in the spring about voting places and voting in general. 3. Discussion Concerning the Size of Political Campaign Signs This item has been included at the request of Councilor Blanchette. Currently, the City Ordinances do not regulate the size of political campaign signs. Councilor Blanchette would like to discuss the current situation, the practices of other communities, and whether there is interest in establishing any size restrictions for signs within the public right-of-way. Blanchette discussed placement of campaign signs within City limits has been to the point of being obnoxiously rude. Some signs are blocking other candidate’s signs and several areas are overloaded with signs. She asked that restrictions be considered on where signs over the standard size can be placed in City owned property; i.e. esplanades, triangles, etc. She also mentioned that candidates are not dutiful in picking up signs following the election. She does not want to restrict anyone’s right to place a sign on private property. Brunswick has two zones that allow and do not allow political signs. Blanchette felt that was a bit restrictive. Baldacci said he doesn’t feel it is the size of the signs but rather the multiplicity of signs in the same location. Since it is a First Amendment issue, he asked Heitmann for parameters over the next few months in terms of the type of permissible regulations for the future. Gallant noted that 4’ x 8’ political signs are allowed under State Law. He feels that if there is a candidate who wants to put the time and effort into signage to attain their individual goals that the City of Bangor should not restrict it. Longo referred to Brunswick’s Zoning Ordinance which does not allow for signs on public ways. Gratwick spoke about the importance of obstruction of view. He also noted that the Public Works Department also should be given permission to remove signage and not just the Police Department if the signs are obstructive of views. Blanchette and Gallant continued to discuss large hand painted signs. If there isn’t anything in the current Ordinance which is unfair, Gallant suggested looking at the timely manner of which people pick up their signs, looking at the proximity of signage to intersections and to site lines. He did not agree with an Ordinance limiting sign size. If it a sign is creating a safety issue, it should be handled. To have a fair election, the underdog needs to always have a chance. Baldacci agreed with Gallant’s thoughts in terms of a reasonable approach, and noted that he would not support a prohibition on campaign signs. He did speak about addressing the issue of the congestion of signs. Heitmann indicated he would prepare something for the Committee based on the evening’s discussions, the current state of the Ordinance and State Law, and options in terms of what can and cannot be done. Responding to Longo, Heitmann said it would not take long to pull the information together. Longo didn’t feel the issue is an appropriate use of staff time. Blanchette clarified that the City can be more restrictive than State Law but not less restrictive. Baldacci felt it appropriate for the City Solicitor to provide legal framework. Hawes asked if the Committee agreed to have the City Solicitor return to a subsequent meeting to further the discussion. A majority of the Committee agreed. Adjourned at 6:35 pm.