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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-05-05 Municipal Operations Committee MinutesMunicipal Operations Committee Meeting Minutes May 5, 1998 at 5:00 p.m. Councilors Attending: Gerry Palmer, MLchad Crowley, Mom Farnham, Michael Aube, Jim Tyler, Ice Baldacci, Tim woodcock Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Erik Stumpfel, Bandyllanu mn, limiting, Jeff Cammack George Campbell made a presentation w the Commiftm Mfr. Campbell esplaived that he is president of Gowmmemal Services, which is a Armwide consulting from that works on community relations and partnerships on economic development. He has become part of the GMP NantualGas Company. Over the last few months he has gone to different territories in the state trying to win licensing rights. CMP is pushing hard before the PUC to get licensing rights in Bangor. CMP is well aware that the Council has already passed resolution on Bangor Gas. George introduced other representatives to continue the presentation. (Tape Inaudible for the entire presentation by CMP) . Councilor Aube asked with respect to the comment "respect to the community to serve and commitment to the community", specifically, what rale is the Couvcu's place in this endetum7 The representative responded that he frets there is a role for the Council. During the presentations that were being done before many Selectmen and City CounWs, it has provided them with an opportunity to linen to the concerns of the cities, towns and villages that they visited. In terms of supporting the company, the Council could play a role by a resolution of support and a letter of appreciation in terms of the presentation given tonight This would help CMP at the commission level. Councilor Aube explained then he was the sponsor of the resolve that went to the PUC to the pathfinders coundl and he has transcripts of that hearing. Councilor Aube read part of the transcript about what Mfr. Gordon, who represents CMP said regarding the City of Bangor's resolution. it stated -my memory is that it is essentially a von-biMiag resolution that basically h amounts to nothing. It could be rescinded neat week when they meet. This isn't worth an awful lot, not much more linen the wet of the paper it is printed on." Mike asked merepresenturves to comment on met quote. The response is that they can't speak for Mr. Gordon and the context in which he spoke. Councilor Aube pointed out that he raised this issue because me Council vies to deal wim many of these issues and deals with all kinds of cost issues, and other factors at local government and Mike found thiscommentdiBcultioswWow. He has no problemin looking at the opportunities. Certainly what the City wants is economic growth and alternatives for the community and if CMP Gas is selected, he woWd hope that the Council would be respected. The representative of CW assured MBke that the Council could count on that happening. CMP does consider the level ofwmumvity support important. Ed Bantu asked representatives about the extent to which there would bs a local presence for this endeavor. Mike Eastman explained that there would be permanent staff members in the Bangor community to respond 24 boors a day to any emergency to provide access to consumers The customer billing and anchor locations generally have tended to be centralized in one location but for the day to day operation, there would be a service center in the community. Councilor Palmer asked if Mr. Eastman could give a brief description of items that the representatives brought with them. (TAPE WAUDBLE) Representatives thanked the Council for giving them the opportunity to give thew presentation. 2. Pat's Bi ChiefHanimem explained that the Assistant City Solicitor we with both parties and an agreement has been reached for this year's race. A memo was distributed to Council explaining the terms of me agreement and Chiefflanimam is satisfied with the agreement Erik Stumpfel explained that a meeting was held on Apra 23 and the outcome was that Mr. Dean realizes that the laze fl—g of his decision may have an adverse impact on the monry PAL will raise from its races. Mr. Dean will provide PAL with the mailing lin of the corporate donors aM has offered to donate any proceeds from the race to PAL this year, PAL has offered to assist Paz's Bike Shop with the race. Ed Barrttt explained to the Committee that a recommendation or vote is needed to approve the request to use City property subject to I'm Ring's approval ofthe layout of the me course and also the Police Department's approval of parking and other arrangements to insure emergency vehicle access. Committee approved the recovwevdatiov. 3. Ambulance Propose for Consecrative Ventere Between Meridian Hea3n and Bangor Fire Councilor Crowley excused himselffrom this discussion and tumed the closer over to Councilor Aube. Approximately 45 days ago, the City Council entertained a Proposal that would provide a pilot program for the inter -facility transportation through the Fire Department. The Council voted az that time that this matter should be reviewed by a committee that was established. Councilors Aube aM Farnham served on that committee as well a various staff members, The committee worked with Emh C and representatives from Capital Ambulance to came up with a proposed that will be put forth tonight. Ed Barter[ explained that a memorandum went out that tries to provide a gememl framework for the Possibility of corporation between Pesten Maine Healthcare, Capital Ambulance, and the City of Bangor for providing ambulance services. When this item was tabled, it was tabled with the (mention that the City and other parties that are in the ambulance business for emergency response in the community, could come up with a way to Provide a complete service to the public without a great deal of unnecessary competition, duplication of service, or conversely without necessarily closing off the choice that people in the community have as to the providers that can be used. Based on the discussion to date, Bangor Fire Depertmeat would remain the primary emergency response, rescue am transportation organization wimin the commsmity. Capital would combine to provide Imer-faNity, and critical care transport and both would provide back-up services to each other, when necessary, to meet the of demands that are faced th operating emergerwy services. Ones immediate basis, thewmk would be inward interconnecting the dispatch systems so that there will be more direct commmicafions between the Police aM Fire E-9-111 center and the dispatch and medical communications operations ofMeridian HealN and Capital Ambulance. At the same time, consolidation of Police and Fre Dispatch operations into a single communication center is being looked a. One of the things to be explored is the possibility of working toward co - looming or actually consolidating the medical dispatch operations and subsequently broaden consolidation so that at one point there may be avirtual communications canter and then move to a conununicafiona center that is co -located. In addition, other areas would also he looked at for providing more efficient, cost effective services that include things such as claims processing, to encourage third party providers, be that private inners or government programs, arW training for employees to insure that everyone is trained to the same level. There would be an emergency medical service oversight committee, which would be composed of representatives who are knowledgeable about emergency response services (physicians, representative from the Fue Department as well as Capital Ambulance, EMMC and some individuals who are prectitiovem in the field). That committee would oversee the entire system and look at things such as the protocols in place for response and handling ofceaes, look at how well the system is dealing with problems in the field, the kinds of outcomes that me resutrivg, and the quality of service On a more detailed basis, more would else be ajohn committee formed between EMHC suit the City that would oversee the operations suit ded with some of the details of that operation. It would be a two-part oversight function, one being the emergency medical services oversight committee looking m larger system design issues as wall as patient outcome and quality of service issues. A hearing commlttce would look at some of the more specific details about how the operations are integrating and how well the system is working. Also,fromme beginning of the agreement, individual institutions would retain their right of choice in terms ofthe providerthat they would prefer. Vaommve needing emergency ambulance servicewished to use Capital, they would have the opportunity to do that; similarly if one were interested in imer-facility transport and requested Bangor Fire, that would be provided for as wail. All of this is going to require more detail in trying to work things through. Those areas that need to be looked at, that sell need to be clarified, arc: some of the protocols involved in determining the kinds of responses that are going to be given to calls and how things me going to be dealt with in the system; looking at issues such as integrating the data system so that there is good information about outcomes and quality of the systems as a whole; dealing with the issue of communications and developing the communications center; and following up on a number of meas that might allow for additional cooperation such as joint purchasing claims processing, naming and billing. This is avery geoerd overview of where this issue is at this point. Staff has tried to approach this from the point of view of insuring that citizens continue to receive atoll range ofemergeocy medical mid rescue services at the kind of level that is now provided. If this kind of a framework is acceptable W the Council, them we will start getting hero some of the details and working out specific arrangements and agreements between the City and the other parties. Councilor Aube commented that as a member of the Committee, tine more the mntter was studied and looked at it in terms of what is the best way to handle a City function and a healthcare function in a managed care environment that is clearly becoming a part of operations no matter where one lives, the more apparent it became that the recommendation before the Council is the am that really puts the City in a position where it can take advantage of the relationship with Meridian. Them are significant changes that will affect the way everyone is dealt with and how that is done is an importarn matter for the City to participate ao. The issues ofchoice and making sure service commues to be provided locally are important factors. In going through each issue and factor, Mike felt this recommendation is one that positions the City and is the most favorable situation to take advantage of what is an everchanging and evolving process. Councilor Baldami asked what the time frame is for coming back with more details? Ed explained that within W-90 days the Committee should be able to come back with something in detail for the Council to consider. At least there should be a preliminary agreement that identifies other things that the Committee will continue to work on. Tbere will be a period of time that staff will be worlong toward these items. The Committee approved putting two mems before the Council, one being the pending order which would be recommended to be indefirdtely postponed and a recommendation based on the discussion that was just put forth. Chief Hairiness noted that the Council received a copy of the Police Department Policy on Community Notification of avicted Sex Offenders. Ae explained that there are two areas where he will be maldvg modifications. One is under section Iq Investigation Prior to Notification. There is a section that states "When Notified, the State Bureau of Identification' and another section that states "When Notified by the State Department of Corrections". Randy will be inserting the clarifying phrase, "whenever the Department is provided with public inforrnatiom" Firm time to time, they are provided with confidential Information that the Department would not be making available to the public. To prevent any future problems, Randy will be modifying this policy with that phrase. Other than that, the policy is broken down into two areas. One, anytime the Department is aware that there is someone who has been convicted of sex offense and is on probation or has been required to register by the state, the Department would investigate to make sure those people do Eve at the address that they are given and two, the Department would proceed with notification, which is a 5 part notification (neighborhood, School Department, Walk. In, Automated Telephone Bugetin Board and an Internet Web Page). Randy explained that Here is also a mandatory caution for all methods ofnotificatiort (ROK8192MAMWIR MAMW Councilor Tyler indicated that he was sill uneasy about this information being on the Internet because it is such a huge broadcast medium. Councilor Farnham asked if there were examples of other communities that have used the Internet to do this? Rarely explained that he did have some printouts from various websites across the country. Councilor Famhara asked ifthere had been any positive or negative results from this. Boodystatedthattherehadbeenalotofinessagestothe different websites concerning different issues which are the same issues that have been raised before the Committee and through the media, but it appears that there are more and more states that are doing this every day. The teal question is, how do you know who needs access to this information and is it just someone who resides in Bangor or do people in other Communities need that information as well? Councilor Tyler suggested a she that required some information from the user. Randy agreed that that might be a better way to do this. After further discussion, the Committee authorized the Chief to implement the proposed policy except for Internet notification which should be brought before the Council in a workshop session. Transcript Provided Separately- Copy in City Managers Office 6. Application for Utility Location Permit --bfid-Maine Telphis Jim Ring explained that an application has been reviewed for installation of fibre optic cable by Mid -Maine Telplus. Tun has met with the representetives from Mrd -Maine and has regrrasted a few modifications as to specific location. This item does not require any action from the Committee add it is primarily informational at thistime. There will bean updated application on the Council Agenda ofMay 2], 1998.