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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-02-04 Government Operations Committee MinutesGovernment Operations Committee Monday, February 4, 2013 5:55 P.M. MINUTES Council Members: Hawes, Ovlello, Nealley, Longo, Baldacci, Blanchette and Durgin Staff: Farrar, Amo and Yardley Others: Bangor Daily News, Staff from St. Joseph Hospital 1. Request by Community Health and Counseling Services for Lease Extension at Park Woods Transitional Housing Program. CHCS would like to extend their anent lease of four units at Park Woods through lune 30, 2013. CHCS provides services and assistance to the tenants at Park Woods in this space. The rent was adjusted two years ago from $300 to $550 per unit, and no further increase is proposed at this time. This has been a beneficial arrangement for all parties and staff recommends approval of the lease extension. Bob Farrar, Assistant City Manager said that this is a six month extension of the current lease. The only change is adjusting the end dabs to June 30u' 2013 and staff recommends approval. Baldacci made a motion to move consent agenda as presented, it was seconded and approved 2. Resolution for Membership and Appointment of Voting Delegate Representative and Alternate for the Maine Service Centers Coalition. This action will authorize the City's membership in the Maine Service Centers Coalition far 2013. It is further recommended that Assistant City Manager Bob Farrar, who serves on the Coalition Executive Committee, be appointed as voting delegate for MSCC business meetings, and City Manager Cathy Conlow be appointed as Alternate voting member. Baldacci need this Item, then made a motion to move to consent agenda, it was seconded and approved. 3. Request to Accept Funding from St. Joseph Hospital to purchase a Taser for use by the police Department Due to the increase of incidents at St. Joseph Hospital, officials from St. Joseph have offered N provide funds for the purchase of a Taser to be located at the Hospital for the exclusive use by Bangor Police Officers. This would ensure that a Taser was on-site and available for police officers who respond to or are on private detail at the hospital. A similar arrangement with EMMC was approved several years ago, is currently In place and has worked well. Two background memorandums are attached from the Police Department and St Joseph Hospital. Staff recommends approval. Interim Police Chief Peter Amo said that both the Bangor P.D. and St Joseph Staff feel that purchasing a Laser for use at the hospital will aid in keeping their employees safe, as well as others. This is an effective tool used in managing difficult and combative people. St. Joseph Hospital will fund the purchase. The Laser will be locked up at the hospital at all times and used only by the Bangor Police Department. Baldaoci moved to approve as recommended, it was seconded and approved. 4. Request to Upgrade Part Time Grant Manager position at Health and Community Services to Full Time. The Director of Health and Community Services has requested that the current part-time (30 hours per week) Grant Manager position be upgraded to full-time (37.5 hours/week). This is a grant -funded position and the proposed upgrade will not impact the general fund. A background memorandum from Director Yardley is attached providing more detail. Shawn Yardley, Director of Health and Community Services explained that as his department receives new grants, (recently one for SNAP Education and one for Drug Free Communities) there is a need for additional staffing hours. These new grants require significant grant management including reporting to the Federal - Government and the University of Nev; England. Yardley said that in the past he has drawn on a sting staff for coverage, but his administrative support has reduced drastically over the years. Yardley asked for approval to upgrade the current part time position of Grant Manager to a full time position. Bob Farrar, Human Resources Director said that the cost of this upgrade will be approximately $12,000 which includes both the wage increase plus assoaated fringe benefit costs. Hawes reiterated that this is fully funded by grants, therefore does not affect the general fund or any other budgeting. Longo moved staff recommendation, it was seconded by Nealley, and approved S. Request for the City to Support the Repeal of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act. Several Councilors have been contacted and Councilor Baldacci has requested that the Committee discuss whether the city should support the repeal of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). A coalition of public and private sector organizations have formed and are preparing an amicus brief (friend of the Court brief) to be submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court opposing ROMA. The U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing an appeal conceming whether COMA is legal under the Equal Protection guarantee of the Constitution. The City must Indicate whether It would like to participate (sign on to the Brief) by February 10; there Is no cost involved. If there Is Interest in proceeding, a Council Order could be prepared for consideration at the February IP City Counal Meeting. The request and Background Information Is attached. Councilor Baldacci explained Mat an email was received from the Equality Maine Organization about joining an amicus brief. The Defense of Marciage Act was enacted In 1996 which states that even If a state legalizes same sex marriages, the Federal Govemment would not recognize that as a legal marriage. After the last election, there are now ten states that have legalized same sex marriages. The Defense of Marriage Act creates two types of marriages; one recognized by the Federal Government where they would be entitled to benefits and one which is sanctioned by state law, but without the benefits of the Federal level. Baldacd went on to say that huge companies such as Microsoft, Gap, Time --- Warner, and Levi Straus, have already signed on to this. There is no cost to the C14 of Bangor and ealdaccl said that he supports this request to be considered. Blanchette mentioned that with the last election, Maine voters agreed to same sex marriages, and they should have the equal rights that go along with a marriage. Civello said that she will not support; she felt the Supreme Court should decide this issue. Nealley feels that there is not enough material impact on the citizens of Bangor Longo said that he supports states'rights, let the voters'voioe be heard at the Supreme Court. Durgin said that the laws are unfairly administered with same sex marriages. Both Federal and State benefits are affected by this and he supports It. The motion to approve was opposed by Civiello, so Hawes called for a vote. Committee members voted 4-1 to support Bangor's participation in the Amicus Brief. Hawes said the item will go forward to be discussed at full Council at the February 11'" mewing. Meeting Adjourned at 6:25 p.m. DATE:. F-' *3 CO M MITTEE NAME: ?/ pp COUNCILORSi1TTENDING: �7Wf (ia�l4i CfgrL %I SYIIr/XiZ Sp kvh dwnd STAFFATTENDING: / nd/y OTHERSATTENDINGZPVj MTG CONVENED AT. MTG ADJOURNED AT ss Government Operations Committee Monday February 4, 2013 (Immediately Following Finance Committee Meeting) City Council Chambers AGENDA CONSENTAGENDA I. Request by Community Health and Counseling Services for Lease Extension at Park Woods Transitional Housing Program. Q ii CHCS would like to extend their current lease of four units at Park Woods through June 30, 2013. CHCS Provides services and assistance to the tenants at Park Woods In this space. The rent was adjusted two years ago from $300 to $550 per unit, and no further increase is proposed at this time. This has been a beneficial arrangement for all parties and staff recommends approval of the lease extension. 2. Resolution for Membership and Appointment of Voting Delegate Representative and Alternate for the Maine Service Centers Coalition#1q ) This action will authorize the Cltys membership in the Maine Service V Centers Coalition for 2013. It Is further recommended that Assistant City Manager Bob Farrar, who serves on the Coalition Executive Committee, be appointed as voting delegate for MSCC business meetings, and City Manager Cathy Conlow be appointed as Alternate voting member. REGULAR AGENDA 3. Request to Accept Funding from St Joseph Hospital to purchase a Taser for use by the Police Department. (? icj Due to the increase of incidents alt St. Joseph Hospital, officials from St. Joseph have offered to provide funds for the purchase of a Taser to be looted at the Hospital for the exclusive use by Bangor Police Officers. This would ensure that a Taser was on-site and available for police officers who respond to or are an private detail at the hospital. A similar arrangement with EMMC was approved several years ago, is currently in place and has worked well. Two background memorandums are attached from the Police Department and St. Joseph Hospital. Staff recommends approval. - \6 4. Request to Upgrade Part Time Grant Manager position at Health and Community Services to Full Time.(P•) a� The Director of Health and Community Services has requested that the current part-time (30 hours per week) Grant Manager position be upgraded to full-time (37.5 hours/week). This is a grant -funded position and the proposed upgrade will not Impact the general fund. A background memorandum from Director Yardley is attached providing more detail. 5. Request for the CRY to Support the Repeal of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act. ((P y) Several Couhcllors have been contacted and Councilor Beldam has requested that the Committee discuss whether the city should support the repeal of the Federal Defense of Marriage Act (ROMA). A coalition of public and private sector organizations have formed and are preparing an amicus brief (friend of the Court brief) to be submitted to the U.S. Supreme Court opposing DOHA. The U.S. Supreme Court will be hearing an appeal concerning whether DOMA is legal under the Equal Protection guarantee of the Constitution. The City must Indicate whether it would like to participate (sign on to the Brief) by February 14n; there is no out involved. If there is Interest In proceeding, a Council Order could be prepared for consideration at the February 11ir City Council Meeting. The request and Background information is attached.