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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-23 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Tuesday, November 23, 2010 Minutes Councilors: Blanchette, Gratwick, Longo, Hawes Staff: Nicklas, Yardley Minutes Committee Chair Blanchette noted that Councilor Longo would be sitting in as a voting member for Councilor Bronson. 1. Healthy Homes Asthma Project Grant Application This grant would support a program addressing asthma in children in the twelve towns served by Bangor Public Health and Wellness. Yardley explained that one employee of the Public Health Nursing Division of Health and Community Services has specialized training in dealing with asthma. He has been trying to identify additional funds to support that effort. Currently, it is limited to children under a caseload who are referred by two doctors specializing in asthma issues in children. There is a lengthy waiting list. The subject grant would allow this employee to respond and provide basic tools for the home to make it more conducive for children with asthma. There are often other conditions found in a home setting; i.e. air quality issues. Maine Health Access Foundation has funding in the amount of $30,000 and no local match is required. Responding to Gratwick, Yardley said that smoking in the home needs to be addressed by the Department’s intervention program. The Department’s health promotion staff provides materials to the family to give them resources to attempt to cease smoking. Blanchette clarified that this is a one-year grant, and asked if additional grants would be available next year to address this continuing problem. By demonstrating success and building out the program, Yardley’s hope is that it will provide a better opportunity to apply for additional funding with different sources. The efforts with this grant will be an intervention for families, an education and support to them. The Department provides the tools and then moves on to other families. Yardley noted there are very few asthma outreach programs in Maine. Bangor’s efforts are unique. The Department’s employee assigned to this area has been certified, and she specializes in the asthma population. The waiting list speaks for itself. Doctors are clamoring to get their patients into the program. Going into the home has made a difference. Blanchette asked if at the end of the program the Department will compile data to be given to folks in Augusta. A motion was made by Longo to move the item to full Council at their meeting of December 13, 2010. The motion was seconded. 2. STD Grant This renewal of the Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic/HIV Prevention Grant for 2011 would help provide confidential STD testing and treatment and disease investigation services in the northern Maine region. With prior Council approval, Health and Community Services had applied for continuation funding for the STD Clinic in the amount of $83,000. Yardley received notification of an award of $79,000. There was no explanation provided as to why the amount was $4,000 less than last year. The funding supports disease investigation work at the STD Clinic. The service is provided throughout eastern Maine. Approximately half of the clients are from within Bangor’s rd city limits, 2/3 within 10 miles of Bangor, and the remaining from eastern and northern Maine. The annual cost to run the program is $140,000. For the coming year, the City will receive $79,000 from a State grant, approximately $20,000 in fee-for- service, $26,000 in administrative support, $7,000 expense from the days when the City converted from MSRS to private retirement. The real cost to the City of Bangor with all factored in is about $20,000 to run the program and serving about 300 Bangor residents. The Department also funds a small lab required for on-site testing for the STD Clinic. The Immunization Program also uses this lab at no cost to that program. Gratwick asked if other communities using the program could be convinced to pay for their share. Yardley said that the main issue is the right to privacy. Gratwick made a motion to approve staff’s recommendation to full Council. Longo seconded the motion. Blanchette asked Yardley to review Gratwick’s concern in terms of other communities offering support through the Penobscot County level. Yardley agreed to do a presentation to the County. 3. MRC Board of Directors Election The Municipal Review Committee has certain oversight responsibilities regarding PERC. The City of Bangor may cast its vote for one of the candidates for its Board of Directors. Farrar noted that each year, Charter member municipalities have an opportunity to elect individuals to serve on the MRC Board of Directors. The MRC has certain oversight responsibilities regarding PERC Waste to Energy Facility including monitoring and administering various contractual and financial arrangements with PERC, its owners, and well over 100 participating communities. The Board is also responsible for approximately $35M in assets that collectively belong to equity charter communities. The Board consists of 9 directors in total, each serving three year terms. Bob Farrar has served on the MRC Board of Directors since the early 1990’s and presently is Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee. Responding to Gratwick, Farrar noted that all candidates are qualified and would serve well. Responding to Longo, Farrar said that the City does have 310 votes. The candidate voted for by Bangor would most likely make a top receiving candidate level. Longo asked if it was appropriate to write- in a candidate. Farrar did not think that a write-in process was in place. Gratwick made a motion to nominate Charles Reeves from Bar Harbor. Longo seconded the motion. Farrar noted that the election ballot needs to be returned to MRC by 5 pm on th December 13. The ballot will need to be mailed in prior to the recommendation being heard by full Council at their upcoming meeting. Given that 4 Councilors are in attendance at this meeting, Farrar felt assured that it would be approved at the Council level. Blanchette agreed. Hawes noted that the same timeframe was involved with last year’s MRC agenda item. She doesn’t think there should be any issue with mailing the ballot in prior to the Council meeting. Longo asked if the candidates could be invited to the Government Operations Committee next year to meet with the Committee. Farrar said an invitation could certainly be extended. Blanchette suggested that it may be geographically prohibitive. She also suggested that the Committee contact the individuals by conference call. 4. Outer Hammond Street/Odlin Road BAT Service Interest has been expressed for a number of years in expanding BAT service to the outer Hammond Street/Odlin Road area. Staff will be available to discuss the potential for such an expansion and its impact on BAT service elsewhere. Farrar said for a number of years the City Manager’s proposed budget has included funding for that route. It is currently not a funded route. Each year as the Council has reviewed the budget and given the challenges to be faced, the Council has not been able to fund the route. From an operational standpoint, that route would cost approximately $140,000 net annually. All State and Federal funding is already expended on existing routes, and adding that route would be a burden on the taxpayer. McNeil provided a brief history. Outer Hammond Street/Odlin Road has been identified as an area in need for public transportation. Many business and individuals have requested the service. The need has been intensified by an opening of a clinic on the Dowd Road. With the purchase of five new buses in this coming year and the rehab of three existing buses, McNeil believes that there will be adequate resources (minus the operational costs) to entertain this endeavor. The new buses are scheduled to be in service in April of 2011. Blanchette asked about abbreviated service to the area; i.e. 2-3 runs per day. McNeil said that the BAT operates 13 hours/day with hourly and half-hour runs. It would take an hour to serve the Outer Hammond/Odlin area. McNeil said that has been taken under consideration. One of the problems is with staffing. It would be a minimum of two hours each time a bus is dispatched. Blanchette asked McNeil to work on other details concerning the suggested service. McNeil agreed there is an absolute need. The Dowd Road clinic is currently used by 46 individuals who are currently using other modes of transportation that could transition into The Bat service. Responding to Gratwick, McNeil said that the buses are heavily used. If a bus was removed from service for 1-2 hours to run it for another run, it would be missed. Gratwick asked where it would be least missed. Gratwick agreed that the idea needs to be pursued further. McNeil said the Mall Hopper operates about 38,000/year. He anticipates that a 13 hour day for the Hammond/Odlin run would bring an estimated $20,000 in fare box revenue. Longo mentioned that the BAT does not operate in the evening hours so does not service individuals working around the mall areas. Longo agreed that it needs further review. Farrar noted that the new buses will not be in service in April so it allows the Council and staff two-three months to look at options. Evening and Sunday BAT service would be costly, and it would be a financial decision to be made by Council. Staff will look at the option of limited service for the Hammond/Odlin area. Blanchette agreed. Prior to adjournment, Blanchette noted that no member of the Government Operations Committee will ever be refused to place an item on the Committee agenda. She only requested that she be notified in advance as a common courtesy. Back to the BAT discussion, Gratwick suggested fare increases to be included as an option to be reviewed by staff. Longo indicated he has used the BAT system for quite some time. Cutting out a 1:30 pm route might be good and it could be added to a later evening or Sunday service. A solution should be found. Adjournment at 5:55 pm.