HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-04-10 Government Operations Committee Minutes
Government Operations Committee
April 10, 2007
Minutes
Councilor Attendance: Stone, D’Errico, Allen
Staff Attendance: Barrett, Heitmann, Enman, Yardley
1. Beer Sales at Bangor Municipal Golf Course
In 2006, the Government Operations Committee approved the sale of beer on the Golf
Course. The Food and Beverage Concession operators, the Murdy’s, were allowed a
one-year trial. The Murdy’s were present and asked for permission to continue to sell
beer on the Golf Course. Enman said the Murdy’s would like to remove the restriction of
days in the agreement in order to be able to sell beer at any time from the mobile cart.
A motion was made and seconded to approve the request.
2. Council Ordinance 07-140, Amending Chapter 291, Vehicles and Traffic, Article III,
Parking, §§291-40 and 291-45, to Increase the Fine for Illegal Parking in a Disability
Parking Space
Last year, the State increased the fine for illegal parking in a handicap parking space.
The purpose of this amendment is to update the City’s parking regulations to conform
with the State’s terminology and fine structure. Heitmann said the State has changed
their terminology to disability parking space and this amendment would bring the City’s
Codes up to date in terms of the terminology and the disability parking space fine.
Barrett said the fine will go from $100 for the first offense to $200 and a second offense
would be $500. Stone asked how many violations are issued annually. Heitmann said
the Police Department does enforce it and he will check to see if there is a breakdown
available. A motion was made and seconded to recommend approval to full Council.
3. Council Resolve 07-141, Accepting and Appropriating a Grant from the Maine Center for
Disease Control to Continue Pandemic Flu Planning
The CDC recently approached the City’s Health and Welfare Department to renew last
year’s Pandemic Flu Response Planning Grant for another year. Yardley said there is an
ongoing relationship with the CDC and they have offered a second year of funding at
$25,000 to continue planning for the pandemic flu and other events that would require a
coordinated response. Yardley and Barrett talked about plans that the Federal and State
governments have in place. The County’s plan is taking a bit longer. Barrett said the
City would have to fill in around that plan and there is more work to be done. D’Errico
talking about Bangor being a spot where emergency supplies would be stored. Barrett
said Bangor was designated as a site whereby the Federal government should ship in
supplies for distribution. The problem with any major epidemic is that it will overwhelm
the medical personnel and industry and citizens would be urged to stay at home, which
causes problems with servicing. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff to
apply for and to accept the funds. The item will be referred to full Council for final
approval.
Councilor Allen joined the Committee. She asked if a location had been determined; i.e.
the Civic Center and the rental fee. Yardley said it is a separate issue. The $25,000 is
for planning purposes.
4. Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Contract with EMMC to Obtain Physician
Services One Day Per Week in the STD Clinic
The City’s grant with Maine Center for Disease Control to operate our STD Clinic requires
an independent medical practitioner. Due to a recent staff resignation, the City
unsuccessfully advertised to fill the vacancy. EMMC was approached and a contract was
negotiated. The contract is still a work in progress. The STD Clinic is funded by a State
CDC grant. One of the requirements is a certain level of practitioner to oversee
components of the program. An individual as been identified and a rate has been
agreed upon and it would be cost neutral in the grant. The City Solicitor is working with
his counter part at EMMC on the agreement. Heitmann said the key issue is to have
service provided at $120/hour. He is working on insurance and liability issues.
Responding to Allen, Yardley said the City is contracting with EMMC for a service.
Yardley said there is a budget based on reimbursements. It is a bottom line number.
The only budget change in this case will take the dollars from a personnel line to a
contract line. The net will be a zero budget at the end. Responding to Allen, Heitmann
said the individual will be independent contractor. Yardley said the individual would
provide services for one three-hour day a week to keep within the grant dollars. It is a
decrease in clinical services by the doctor. The position previously was a nurse
practitioner. Allen asked to see figures when the final agreement is in place. Heitmann
said it would be $360 a week. Barrett said complete financial information will be
attached to the agreement when presented to the Council. A motion was made and
seconded to approve staff’s recommendation. The final contract will be presented to full
Council for their approval.
5. Authorizing the City Manager to apply for $5,000.00 through the Maine Family Literacy
Initiative.
If successful, these funds would be used at Park Woods’ Family Learning Center.
Yardley said it would provide staff support at the Learning Center for an Ameri-Corp
Vista position. The position has been funded for two years and this would cover the
third year. He would like to find a way to make the position self-sustaining. The age
group is young mothers and an after school program from K-5. Responding to Allen,
Yardley said in Maine there is a program Communities for Children and are an Ameri-
Corps Vista program. Responding to D’Errico, Yardley said there are 15-20 kids per
week, approximately. It is a year-round program. The only expense to the City is that
the supervisor is required to attend a gathering of other State supervisors. It takes
place in Augusta. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff’s recommendation.