HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-12-15 Government Operations Committee Minutes
Government Operations Committee
December 15, 2009
Minutes
Councilor Attendance: Wheeler, Gratwick, Hawes
Staff Attendance: Tracy Willette, Paul Nicklas, Barrett, Farrar, Shawn Yardley
Committee Chair Wheeler opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m.
1. Review of Trail Use Survey Results
Willette spoke about the Trail Use Policy and the need to update, create a new
policy or leave as is. To this point the trails are treated the same as any of the
other parks in Bangor. As part of the process, the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board determined that there should be an opportunity for the general public to
weigh in on the trails, especially since the use of those trails have seen an increase
in use over time. After several drafts, the Board came up with a survey that was
made available in October. It was publicized through the local media and resulted in
over 550 responses. A public meeting was scheduled in November, which was
attended by 15 or 16 folks. The Advisory Board then took the results from both the
survey and the public meeting to form a consensus to bring to the Government
Operations Committee. The consensus is that the Parks and Recreation Advisory
Board needs to move forward with a larger discussion about perhaps changing and
creating some type of leash policy within the City. They are also seeking the
Committee’s sense are providing the Committee with some options that the Advisory
Board has found through their research. As part of the review process, Willette
noted that the Board looked at other communities in Maine and found that most
have some sort of leash ordinance when it comes to their trails. The data that was
collected found that the Rolland Perry City Forest generated the most discussion. It
has been suggested that the City Forest should have designated trails or specified
times as leash and off-leash. Willette said that designating a trail network that is
entirely off-leash while having other trails for on-leash for dogs might be a solution.
Some communities have what is called a leash in hand policy or ordinance whereby
an owner should have voice control and a leash in hand if needed.
The Board is more than willing to pursue further information and create more
detailed options for this Committee but asked for feedback in order to move
forward. The other larger point that resulted from this research was the need for
what is called “the rules of the road”. The Board heard from different levels of
bikers and the conflict it can create.
Hawes recognized the Board for all its hard work and feels that some “rules of the
road” are needed and published. She feels that the Board needs to continue to work
on that. Responding to Hawes, Barrett said that Bangor operates under State Laws
that requires that the animal be under the control of the owner and that can be by
voice. There is no State Law or local Ordinance that requires the animal to be on a
leash at any location. He stated that it is possible to require a stricter set of
requirements. Hawes said it is worth looking into
Gratwick commended Willette for his work and wondered if this should go to the full
Council or a Council Workshop. He also wondered if the Committee decided to go
through this incrementally, it would seem that this group would be able to obtain
some options and then proceed accordingly. Specifically, Gratwick thinks that areas
of the City Forest should allow dogs only on leash with appropriate signage in place
on certain days. He suggested this be done on a trial basis, and later looking, at the
success or lack of before making decisions would be the best way to move forward.
He also referred to the survey and stated that ¼ or 1/3 of the people are not happy
with the way it is in regards to the dogs off-leash and he thinks this needs
attention. Willette stated that what the Committee is looking for is this type of
guidance and stated that a lot of the other communities designate different parks as
on-leash and off-leash parks. Responding to Willette, Gratwick responded by saying
that he would like to see all parks and trails have specific designation.
Willette responded to Wheeler saying that he is getting a sense from this Committee
that the Board should move forward in order to put together more suggestions for
the Committee and a willingness to pursue a more detailed policy and/or Ordinance
option for consideration. Barrett responded to Wheeler saying that it would require
an Ordinance. Such an Ordinance could be set up in a way that it allows the City to
try different approaches in different parks or even different areas of the same park.
He indicated it would be difficult to enforce regulations on public property and feels
that it would be difficult to enforce even the Ordinance. This issue has come up in
the past, about 10 years ago, and the Council has approach and requested an
Ordinance for a leash law in City Parks. That discussion turned out to be very
controversial and the Council was unwilling to take any steps to regulate dogs on
public property. Barrett thinks that Willette is interested in knowing if the Council is
willing to take a look at this subject again Barrett agreed that trying these
suggestions such as designating Essex Street Park as an off-leach and Prentiss
Street Park as on on-leash where they are close to each other would give people
options. He believes that all of this will be controversial and people will complain.
Although having strong opinions on this subject, Gratwick feels that Councilors
should put their feelings aside in order to find a solution. He feels it needs to be
taken with slow and with incremental steps. He also acknowledges that mistakes
will be made and it will be important to listen and receive feedback.
Barrett said that enforcement will be a challenge, particularly in places like the City
Forest where there is a large geographical area. City Ordinances can be enforced by
constables and do not have to be enforced by Police Officers. In the past the City
has not made Tracy Willette, a constable but he would be a good candidate. Willette
said that regardless of what the City puts out for Ordinances or policies, the
enforcement will be a problem. There is a waste issue that the parks struggle with
and he agrees that education will be required in the beginning for both the staff and
the public.
Wheeler thought that one possibility would be the folks from the Health and
Community Services that are on General Assistance be a part of the City Forest
patrol.
Based upon feedback this evening, Willette will continue to work with the Advisory
Board, and return to the Committee with specific recommendations for
consideration.
2. Consideration of Dissolving the Community Advisory Group
Hawes stated the Council is not necessarily looking to dissolve this Committee and
that it does not sunset until January 2011. When this group was formed, its mission
was to discuss issues relating to the City’s methadone clinics. There was a very
large number of participants on the Committee and has served this community and
the clinics very well. It is a place where updates are given at the state level about
how things are going in each clinic. Because the Committee has done a really good
job, things are running smoothly at these clinics right now and meetings are only
being held quarterly. There were only two meetings last year and the Committee
has gotten much smaller. The group has decided to look at possibly meeting
quarterly as part of the Government Operations Committee to give an update, or
only when issues arise. The Community Advisory Group members were in
agreement and would like to be kept on a list to remain informed.
Responding to Wheeler, Hawes said that there was also discussion about these
same members being involved with the issue of medical marijuana dispensaries.
She said that the Advisory Group has a wealth of experience and dedicated people
that deserve a great round of applause for what they put in. She would like the
door to remain open for them in the future.
Tim Woodcock said that he has been on the Committee for about four or five years.
In the beginning there were a lot of pressing issues but feels that that the Group
has served a very salutary purpose. This Group would ask these providers to meet
with them in order to provide updates with what was being done, what their
numbers were, and what their challenges were. There was almost always a
representative from the Police Department present at these meetings and there
were times that they shared information that was very helpful to each other. The
City does have an experience of going back several years ago where this was a very
fractious issue and he felt that it was attributable to people and not listening to each
other. He said that within the last year or year and a half this Group has met a
good deal less frequently and the discussions have been less substantive. At the
Group’s last meeting, a very candid discussion took place regarding the valuable
purpose in having the providers meet regularly with citizens and Councilors.
Woodcock would like to supplant this Group with quarterly meetings with a Council
Committee similar to how the Water District meets from time to time with updates
or issues. He also reminded the Committee that back when the City was first
presented with the methadone question, the whole federal construct for these
methadone clinics was very different. The jurisdiction federally over these
methadone clinics was in the Food and Drug Administration and it moved about 2
years ago to the Department of the Health and Community Services. The whole
orientation of it changed a great deal and one of the results of that was that
regulations were re-written to give the State a good deal more latitude. The City is
now in a position that if an issue arises, they can press the providers for changes.
Because of the personal relationship between the City and the providers and how
the laws have changed, the providers are more likely to make necessary changes.
Yardley reminded the Committee that the Public Advisory Board was created a few
years ago by Ordinance. The mission of the Board “will provide advice and
guidance to the City of Bangor and to other public and private health care
organizations and public policy makers to improve the health status of the regional
health population.“ Under that Advisory Board is a Substance Abuse Task Force.
On that task force are area providers and Yardley wonders if the existing structure
could serve the Community Advisory Group as well. The Board periodically updates
the Government Operations Committee and those meeting are posted in the City’s
schedule and open to the public.
Hawes asked for clarification from Yardley’s suggestion and asked if he wants to
take the Community Advisory Group as it is and start working under the Public
Health Advisory Board to meet quarterly. The Public Health Board would come back
to this Committee for update. Yardley suggested that there might be an opportunity
for the two groups, the Substance Abuse Task Force and the existing Community
Advisory Group to come together and work something out respecting the need for a
link back to the City Council in a formal way with periodic updates. She asked
Yardley if he saw any problem with that body becoming incorporated with the Public
Health Advisory Board. Yardley said that change can be an issue for everyone. He
thinks one of the advantages is to put this issue into a broader public health
context, which he believes has been lacking. The Advisory Board and in particular
the Task Force has been working on a lot of issues related to substance abuse and
recovery, and he thinks this would be a natural fit. He thinks that there should be
some discussions to ensure that everyone’s interest can continue to be represented
and that it is not too soon into a different agenda. Hawes says she thinks it is worth
trying and she would like to see a joint meeting as to what the goals might be going
forward and then if this group is the group that happens to oversee, then a report
would be brought back. The full Council would need to be involved as well.
Doug Grant, store manager of Classic Tuxedo – Strictly Formal, brought up some
issues that he does not feel is being addressed. Grant suggested that since Shaw’s
is no longer behind the plaza and the parking is available in that location, there
could perhaps be some type of ramp installed for the medical methadone clinic
patients to park in that lot and walk to the clinic.
Hawes responded to Grant admitting that this information is new to most of the
Committee and she said that members that were a part of this Committee from the
beginning are no longer here and did not necessarily pass the torch on to the newer
members. At this point, Grant’s suggestion would need to be looked into and with
the land not owned by the City it would need to go through many different channels
before that was explored. Nicklas stated that the Shaw’s property is privately
owned, but that the parking issue can and will certainly be looked at. Hawes said
that she was under the assumption that the business owners from that plaza were
still having meetings on a somewhat regular basis with the clinic management. She
assumes these meeting are not happening any longer and Grant confirmed her
suspicions.
Hawes asked Nicklas to contact the clinic and set up a meeting with the strip mall
business and the Advisory Group members. Gratwick feels that having someone to
take this Committee and its mission to heart makes a great deal of since as opposed
to having it as an occasional add-on to the Government Operation Committee.
Barrett’s suggestion would be to ask Yardley to work with Nicklas and Hawes to put
together a more specific proposal that would tie these things together and to have
details to look at. He also suggested putting it into a larger context. It is known that
substance abuse is a major problem in this community in terms of a variety of
issues. For example there are health related issues and police related issues. The
Police Chief has been asked on a number of occasions to come in and talk about
that. It would makes since to periodically once or twice a year have a report back
from police and H&CS talking about the abuse problem in Bangor and in the region.
Wheeler recommended that this discussion be continued pending the outcome of a
meeting between the Advisory Group and the Strip Mall merchants. Once the
Government Operations Committee has been updated he feels it should go to full
Council for a workshop discussion. The motion was moved that the Advisory Group
and the business owners of the Hogan Road strip mall as well as the clinic to get
together and discuss the issues brought up tonight. Hawes also moved that she,
Nicklas, and Yardley meet to layout a proposal of going forward and how this
Advisory Group can be incorporated into the Public Health Advisory Board. Once
those are done the discussion will come back to the Government Operations
Committee and then move it on to the full Council in a workshop.
3. Council Ordinance 10-030, Amending Chapter 134, General Assistance of the
Code of the City of Bangor to Provide for Staff Approval of Statutory Increases in
General Assistance Amounts
Yardley said that each fall he brings before the Committee a request to change the
overall maximum levels offered through General Assistance based on information
that is sent from the State. This always happens with very little lead time that is not
at all consistent with the process the Council needs to go through to approve. The
City of Portland adopted an ordinance a number of years ago allowing them to make
those adjustments that are required automatically without bringing the numbers
before the Council in the manner that has been done historically. The Assistant City
Solicitor has drafted language to allow the City to accomplish that. Nicklas added
that he also made some minor changes in the Ordinance in order to clarify, to some
extent, and put things into a slightly more intuitive order. He also stated that the
Ordinance is somewhat shorter due to the removal of the charts. These charts will
now be on file at the H&CS.
Responding to Gratwick, Barrett said that only vouchers are given and no money is
given to individuals. They get a voucher for rent and a voucher for food. If they go
to the supermarket to buy food, the City gets a report back from the supermarket as
to what they have purchased and how much it costs. Yardley added that the people
receiving the voucher cannot go back and return items to get cash for their
purchases. He said that General Assistance is better able to do that because of the
relationship with the vendors than perhaps what use to be called “food stamps”.
A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval of Ordinance 10-030 to
Council.
Adjourned at 6:25 p.m.