HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-11-25 Government Operations Committee Minutes
Government Operations Committee
November 25, 2008
Minutes
Councilors: Wheeler, Gratwick, D’Errico
Staff: Barrett, Farrar, Yardley
Others: 1 Member of the Public
Prior to considering the agenda, Wheeler described the role of the Government
Operations Committee.
1. Council Order 09-013, Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept a
Grant from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Substance
Abuse, to Implement Strategies to Decrease Underage Drinking.
Yardley noted that the Health & Community Services Department currently has a
$1,073,976 contract with the Maine Department of Health & Human Services to
implement a public health initiative in Bangor and eleven surrounding communities.
Substance abuse prevention is included in this public health effort, and OSA grant funds
in the amount of $56,159 will be used to target underage drinking. Specifically, the
grant will provide the seven law enforcement organizations in Bangor’s service area
with funding to conduct underage drinking patrols. Yardley also stated that there will
be a media campaign aimed at parents during the Maine Principal’s Association
Basketball, Cheerleading, and Wrestling Tournaments at the Bangor Auditorium in 2009
and 2010. Gratwick said that a good deal of the problem comes from parents, and
asked about the possibility of working with the School Superintendent. Yardley said
that interest has been expressed on how to look at working together with the area
school departments. Bangor Superintendent Webb is very supportive and she is
supportive of Yardley convening the area superintendents to look at a regional
substance abuse policy for all the schools. It doesn’t specifically get the information to
parents but part of the strategy in delivering a regional substance abuse policy would
be with the communications that go on as part of that adoption process. A motion was
made and seconded to recommend approval to the full Council at their upcoming
meeting.
2. Council Order 09-014, Authorizing the City Manager to Apply for and Accept a
Grant from the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease
Control, to Implement Capacity Building Strategies for Public Health Initiatives.
Yardley said that the Health & Community Services Department currently has a
$1,073,976 contract with the Maine Department of Health & Human Services, Center for
Disease Control, to implement a public health initiative in Bangor and eleven
surrounding communities. These funds are to be used to increase capacity to
implement the project’s work plan more efficiently and effectively. Specifically, grant
funds in the amount of $24,900 will be used to purchase technical support and training
on the application of electronic technologies that will increase the Department’s ability
to develop and share resources with our community partners, increase community
involvement, and decrease travel time, expense, and time commitment related to
meeting and resource sharing. Responding to D’Errico, Yardley said that his staff is
very competent and has a grant manager who actually writes all of the grants and
works very well with the program people in a meaningful way. The grant manager also
works closely with the staff member dealing with healthy promotions and with the
Director of Public Health and their staff. Responding to Gratwick, Yardley said another
piece to the funding involves the work of a consultant in the Augusta area dealing with
computer, web casts, etc. which goes beyond the traditional video conferencing. A
motion was made and seconded to recommend approval to full Council.
3. Program Update – Oral Health Prevention Clinic
Yardley provided an overview and update regarding the Oral Health Prevention Clinic
previously known as the Children’s Dental Clinic. Funding issues and challenges for this
program were discussed with the Council during the FY09 budget review process, and
Yardley updated the Committee. Two years ago, Dr. Frachella left the Dental Clinic. In
looking at options at that time, Yardley recommended and the Council approved an oral
prevention health program with a dental hygienist and assistant. It was a good
decision in terms of filling a need in the community. There have been a number of
obstacles. There is a trust fund for the dental clinic and he asked for two years to use
the funds and switch to the new model. There have been a number of barriers, the
state has pulled out of support for the program, MaineCare reimbursements are a
challenge. There is a grant from the Harriet and Sally Davis foundation looking at
trying to use the WIC program to offer these services in conjunction with WIC.
This update is to let the Committee know that the program has some real and
continuing challenges and Shawn will be reviewing all of the options and reporting back
in the near future. The Committee thanked Shawn for the information and looks
forward to further discussions.
4. Annual Election Ballot for the Municipal Review Committee Board of Directors
Farrar said that this item deals with the annual election of members to the MRC Board
of Directors, which oversees the operations of Penobscot Energy Recovery Company.
The Board has 9 sitting members, three of whose terms expire annually. This year, the
terms of David Chittam, Sophia Wilson and Elery Keene expire. Chittam is not running
again. In addition to Ms. Wilson and Mr. Keene, Phil McCarthy and Robert Peabody
have been nominated for consideration. Farrar noted that the MRC meets on a
quarterly basis with one annual meeting and other special meetings are needed. There
are nearly 180 member communities. The Board oversees approximately $35M in
assets that collectively belong to the 180 communities with $21M in a tipping fee
stabilization fund and the second piece is a $13M stake in the plant. Farrar is the
Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee of the MRC. Farrar recommended the
City’s support of Ms. Wilson.
A motion was made and seconded to support staff’s recommendation and to cast
Bangor’s ballot for Ms. Wilson. Responding to Gratwick, Farrar said one of the items on
each quarterly MRC agenda is ‘post 2018 planning efforts’ looking into the future.
Gratwick asked about single stream recycling at PERC in the future as well as EcoMaine.
Farrar noted it would need to be decided upon by privately-owned PERC, its member
communities, and market support. He thought it would be worth exploration.
EcoMaine has talked to the MRC Board.
Committee adjourned at 5:55 pm.