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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-07-02 Municipal Operations Committee MinutesMUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES July 2, 1996 Councilors in attendance: Pat Blanchette, Tim Woodcock, David Leen, Chris Popper, Marshall Frankel Staff in attendance: Ed Barrett, Erik Stumpfel, Randy Harriman, Arthur Stockus, Jim Ring, Ron Heller Others in attendance: residents of Bangor Gardens neighborhoods Committee Chair opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. 1. Installation of Street Mohr Brewster Street A citizen mentioned that there had been problems with a "peeping Tom- and that the street is fairly dark. Police Chief Harriman said that police patrols had been increased in the area. The committee directed City staff to Improve the area's lighting where needed. Chris Popper also recommended setting up a community watch program. It was voted to authorize Public Works to put in a light on Brewster Street right away and was also recommended to authorise the Chief of Police to install additional lighting in 'troubled areas' as needed. 2. E Eno Avenue Postponed until study is completed by Public Works. 3. Request by Cablevigion Wtans Corporation for Consent for Acauisitlon of Inc. Erik Stumpfel expressed concern over the intent of Cablevision Systems to acquire stock in A -R Cable Services because the City Is currently attempting to negotiate a franchise renewal agreement with Cablevision. One of the issues is that the City is attempting to get Cablevision to do a system rebuild in the The company is reluctant to do this since Bangor is a smaller market. Erik said that Cablevision'sfinancial situation is not that good and this stock purchase would make their negative equity balance even greater. An additional debt load might make it financially impossible for them to do a system rebuild. Ron Heller said that a negative equity balance is not that unusual for this industry and that the key is their operating cash flaw --of which A -R Cable's is "basically nothing." He feels the company is heavily leveraged and that there would not be cash available to do something like the upgrade Bangor wants. He further stated that the City should be concerned that we might not get the kind of service that other parte of the country are receiving. Erik recommended that the City object to the FCC regarding the proposed transfer of ownership, or at the least, take a further look and ask Cablevision to respond. Voted to recommend that the issued be referred to a full Council workshop. The former president of the League of Women Voters, urged that when the next franchise agreement is negotiated, an agreement to corer Council meetings is included in the public access channel, stating that those meetings have become very popular in Brunswick. 4. ReSupporting Theater's Shakggpgareap Festival Ed Barrett said the Penobscot Theatre asked the City to advertise in its flyer to the riverside Shakespearean Festival. The City budget does not include this item and past practice has been to bring each request to the committee for discussion. Councilor Blanchette expressed her objection to any approval, saying she didn't want to set a precedence "that would have a landslide coming through the door", and that groups should not be looking to the City coffers to fund its progress. Councilor Frankel said he does not remember any request ever being approved and that for every one you might approve, there would be one that would have to be disapproved. Be didn't feel the people's money should be spent on advertising. There was no further discussion. S. Discussion - Parade Ordinance Erik presented proposed ordinances to cover twoissues: one to address parade permits and one to address targeted residential picketing. His proposal on a redraft of the parade ordinance would bring that ordinance more into line with a model provided by the National Institute of Municipal Lav Officers. The ordinance Erik presented on targeted residential picketing would provide a more precise definition and would then prohibit them under the City's ordinances. He pointed out to the citizens present that there had been legal findings stating that targeted residential pickets do "disturb the peace and tranquility of individuals in their own residences and have a harassing effect."