HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-06-28 Government Operations Committee Minutes
Government Operations Committee
June 28, 2011
Minutes
Councilors: Blanchette, Longo, Bronson, Gratwick
Staff: Farrar, Gastia, Hamilton, Nicklas
Others: Moriarty, Bangor Water District Trustees.
1. Quarterly Update – Bangor Water District
Kathy Moriarty, Bangor Water District General Manager, noted that the PUC has approved the
District’s rate increase has been approved and will be in effect July 1, 2011. The District and the
Sewer bill together will both have the same effective date for their respective rate increases.
Moriarty spoke about an EPA regulation that has been in effect since 1992. In 2010, the District was
out of compliance with the lead portion of this regulation. Hence, more frequent testing is required.
Sixty samples are collected twice per year from March 30, 2010 to June 1, 2011. It looks at the
worst case scenarios samples. The high-risk homes are reviewed as defined by the EPA as homes
that were building between 1982 and 1986. Customers collect a first draw sample after the water
has been sitting in the pipes between 6-10 hours. She spoke about compliance with the lead and
copper rule. She reviewed the testing results and noted that the copper levels were in compliance.
With the lead, the District continues to fail this portion of the regulation. From 1992 to 2007, the
District successfully complied with the regulations. The District knows flushing is effective to reduce
lead. Customers were asked to take another sample after 2-3 minutes of water running. It was
analyzed for both lead and copper. Lead levels were either near or at the detection limits. Lead is
not in the District’s source of supply; i.e. Floods Pond, the District distribution system. The source of
lead is in the homeowner’s plumbing. Part of the District’s program is to educate the public about
the importance of the lead in drinking water. Materials are available and informational sessions
through EMMC. The sampling will continue. The Board has approved staff to work with Woodward
and Curran on a corrosion control treatment plan. The deadline to implement a corrosion control
treatment plan is September 30, 2012.
Moriarty spoke about water pipe replacement. In looking at their annual capital improvement plan,
the District looks at the age of a pipe, the condition of a pipe, and leakage. The District works with
the City’s road paving schedule as well to coordinate pipe replacement. For this year’s projects, the
dead end of Pine Street will be replaced, three pipes at Garland/Essex intersection, Buck Street from
the Nursery down to Main Street, and Franklin Street from the bridge to Hammond Street. Moriarty
spoke about a turbine. The District has a turbine that has been generating renewable power, and
has a site in Veazie with has two pressure reducing valves. The water is gravity fed from a treatment
plant into town. When it goes underneath the Penobscot River to this facility, the pressure is about
135 and needs to be reduced to about 80 before going into the city, which is what this facility
accomplished. Instead of wasting energy to reduce from 135 pressure to 80, one pressure reducing
valve and a turbine was installed. The turbine was installed several years ago but took years to
receive permitting from PERC, to work with Bangor Hydro to get net energy billing so that the District
could sell the power back to itself at a retail price, and work out environmental complications. The
District estimates its revenue to be about $35,000 year and with about a 4 year payback. Moriarty
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invited Council to participate in the July 20 Standpipe tour from 5-9 pm.
Gratwick spoke about the District’s rate increase indicating that it is different from what the Council
has been doing comparing rate increase and tax rate increases. Should they be working together
rather than independently? Longo said the School Department and the City has a 0% cost-of-living
increase and the Water District implemented a cost-of-living increase. Moriarty referred to a
compensation study performed. She stressed the importance of communication between the District
and the City. Moriarty meets with the Council on a quarterly basis. Bronson said his impression
from an earlier presentation by Moriarty to the Council was that the Water District employees
effectively received pay raises and City employees did not other than those with current union
contracts. Moriarty explained that the District employees received a step increase not a cost-of-
living. Blanchette asked if the District employees have various longevity steps. City employees have
not received a COLA for 2-3 years. If a City employee was eligible for a step increase in their job
classification, it was implemented. Moriarty said it works the same way at the District. Blanchette
said there may have been some miscommunication and felt badly about it. She had understood that
the District’s rate increase was in part because of District employees receiving a raise. A step
increase is different than raise, Blanchette said. Farrar said about 1/3rd of the City’s employees are
progressing through their pay scale; 2/3rds are at the top of their scales. Thus, approximately one-
third of City employees will be eligible to receive a pay increase (step or merit) this coming year.
3. Presentation and Review of Bangor Police Department Recruitment Video
Item 3 was taken out of sequence. Gastia noted that he went to NESCOM last year asking about
their willingness to work with the Police Department on a recruitment video. Gastia showed the
video to the Committee. Responding to Blanchette, Gastia said the problem with attracting the right
people for the Department is to some extent generational; i.e., a certain work ethic which is not
shared across generational boundaries. Longo spoke of contacting overseas military personnel. Gastia
said the military is approached on a regular basis by the Department and offer incentives to work for
the Department. It is treated as educational incentives. Incentives are offered to individuals who
put themselves through the Academy. Over a three year period, the Department offers to pay their
Academy fees. In the long run, it is less expensive than the Department sending an individual to the
Academy. The video will be shown at job fairs and will also be broadcast on the City’s government
channel. The State Police and other communities have used recruitment videos. Blanchette
suggested showing the video to the local Guard. Gastia agreed. All agreed that this would be a
helpful recruitment tool.
2. PUBLIC HEARING – Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
A motion was made and seconded to open a Public Hearing for the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance
Grant. Gastia noted that for past several years the Bureau of Justice Assistance has made funds
available to law enforcement agencies for a variety of purposes. In order to be eligible the City and
Penobscot County Sheriff’s Department must file a joint application. Bangor will act as fiscal agent as
we have done in the past. The total grant award is $26,148 of which the City’s share is $13,335.48
and the County is $12,812.52. The City intends to use its funding to augment training costs and the
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purchase of needed equipment. The joint application deadline is July 15. If the grant is awarded,
staff will come to the Finance Committee with appropriation requests. Staff recommends that the
City Manager be authorized to apply for this Grant. A motion was then made to close the Public
Hearing. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation. The item will be
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placed on the July 11 Council agenda for Council approval.
4. Proposed Ordinance Amending Review Procedures for Applicants Denied
General Assistance
Nicklas noted that several General Assistance appeals have been recently requested. Going through
the process several times, staff has seen ways in which the review procedure can be improved. The
State requires the City to schedule appeal hearings very quickly. After receiving the appeal, the City
has 5 days to hold the hearing. Nicklas said the intent of this proposed Ordinance Amendment is to
update and revise the procedure under which applicants that are denied General Assistance may
appeal that decision. The primary change is for the review panel to consist of senior staff members
in place of City Councilors. Rather than continue to use the Personnel Committee to hold the
hearing, staff is recommending the Committee would consist of the Assistant City Manager, the
Finance Director, and the Assistant Community Development Director. The alternates would be the
City Manager and the City Treasurer. There are various other changes which align the City’s
Ordinance more closely with state law. Staff is seeking Committee review and comment before a
decision is made to place this on the Council Agenda for First Reading. Councilors in attendance
believed this change would be positive and voiced support. A motion was made and seconded to
approve staff’s recommendation. Responding to Gratwick, Nicklas said the time limit does not
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change. A Council Order will be prepared for the July 11 Council meeting under first reading.
5. Request to Apply for Grant Funds with State of Maine Center for Disease Control
The State Of Maine CDC is preparing two applications for grant funding and has asked the City to be
a partner in each application process. Hamilton said it is a Community Transformation Grant that has
been discussed by EMDC, EMMC and the City. It became clear that it had to be applied at the State
level. Unbeknownst to the City, the State was already working on it. The State is submitting an
application for the Community Transformation Grant, there are 22 awards nationwide, and the State
plans to use the Penquis Health District infrastructure and fund each district to do work that has been
similar to the health promotion work around tobacco, chronic disease, and nutrition. The State would
like the District Coordinating Council to have a Memorandum of Understanding with a lead fiscal
agent from the District. The Penquis District would like Bangor to be the lead fiscal agent. If
approved for signing, Bangor would go in with the State to apply for the grant. It would mean
$150,000 to the region and the possibility of another $75,000. The District could choose where to
focus its efforts. Staff is recommending that Health and Community Services be allowed to apply in
conjunction with the State for these two grants. A motion was made and seconded to approve
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staff’s recommendation. The application deadline is July 15. This recommendation will be sent to
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Council at the July 11 meeting.
Adjourned at 6:20 pm.