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Home My WebLink About1998-12-08 Municipal Operations Committee MinutesMunicipal Operations Committee Meeting Minutes December 8, 1998 5:00 p.m. Councilors Attending: John Rohman, Nchi FarMem, Pet Blanchette Staff Attending: Bob Farrar, Erik Stmvpfel, Chief Cammack, Dost Wu doer Joe McNeil, Bob Welch, Ter Bing, Gad Campbell Others Attending: Roxaane Sauder(BDNX Wayne Rogalsky, Stan Muller, Vaughn Smith (Bangor Water District) 1. Bangor Water District Quarterly Update Vanglm Smith explained to the Committee final the Water DisMm will not be serving the new power station in Veuve, the Maine Independent Station. Historically. the District has furnished the water W Graham Station and the 30 imh main goes between Independent Stearns and the Graham Station. Orono/Venae Water District will be supplying the water $10,000-$13,000 was anticipated revenue. The District phryN a positive role in helping permit dant facility. It was permitted on the District's ability and willingness to serve. OrmicNeane does have a charter and the facility is in the con9nea ofCronoNnaae and when the plant was sited, they raised the issue thm they would &a to service the Recon. Rather than getting into a legal bands, the District took the position that OrormNeaae would serve the station. The District has offered to furnish water ifnceded. WEE_ & IUg rim The State is in the process of deregulating electrical utilities but are looking only to deregulate the power generation side, not the transmission side. Some of the Rates that are doing tlds now are having theirmm problems and it may tum out that Maine will be the lead state that sets the example. There is some discussion Wring place from the PUC that they may be in favor of deregulating publicly owrcd waterutilmes. TheremaybemeffartinthislegWat mwt dresstbR. ThereisadreRtesk force put together that will look m all regulation of water utilities to sea that it is done the best possible way, but w reality it is a PUC deregulation bill. it needs to be looked at whether this deregulation process in in Ilia best interest of the wRomers. Part of what concerns Wayne is flat the task force as it is presentlyproposd, doesn't include municipalities. They should be involved in the makkrceprocoa. The DisMct will be looking m this Tin fact it does go forward, and feels that the City should get involved to make sure then interests are addressed. �*ingirzz iAII1R•SpT({Yk$3S%rj7 Stan Miller updated the Committee that the District does have software in place in their billing program tem is Y2K compbam. One problem is that the server at the District was put in in 1991 eat is not Y2K compaarn. This problem is magnified by the lien process. In watching for billing programa, they were unable to find am wkh a lien process. Hnosrer, there is a Gen process on the rzant wlhvare The District received a quote born their service provider that would get a new saver loaded and will have the ability to use thew current system to get through the Y2K problem. The cost is approximately $10,000, plus another $Z500 for a new server. The District feels that this proposal isbemfidalto both the WWTP and Bangor Water District Stanwillbematingwith Brad to discuss proposals and costs, etc. Poga3 MungpeoymAw Cm dh Meenngmev Drz Alm 2. Review of Schoolmate Committees - Gail Campbell One task of the Municipal Operations Committee every year is the solicitation for applications and appointments for various boards, commissions and committees. There is a Council Order that wtli thegateralscbedukofdutprocass. Cal gave Ne Committeeacopyofthe Orderand a fist ofopenings for 1999, a schedules of coned membership, and also descriptions of each Committee that dila Committee will be considering. Gail asked what the Committee wants her to do about the Recreation Center? Ed's connected that this Committee has no function and if it was ever needed, the Conumttm could appoint it Grail concentrated that technically the individuals on the Recreation Center Committee me on it until they are replaced. Should they be nmified that they are no longer on it? The recrommadation is that Gad ratify the members by letter that the Committee is not an active Committee and should anything change, they will be mulled. Councilor Blanchette asked when these position are advertised and when the applicants come in, if there are applicants for re- appointments, could Gal make a mm of the wants) they have served to indicate tithe individual isfis not eligible for the Committee that they me coavg off aud if they are eligible for another Committee. Councilor Blanchette asked if it would be advantageous for the City to go ce the Icgidaham and ask no wipe the Committee out? It was concerning [hent Neve is some potential for the Committee to boncaupeo"million Ed answeredthmyes, thisgroupcould borrow money, up to $4 millionand it wouldn't count against the City's borrowing capacity, however, borrowing limits W the Sante are verygenerousmdituudikelythatwewouldm "oNsbonowinghmit The City'sbortowivg liwis arebesed m a percentage tithe assessed vahm. Once h is offthe books, it is harder to gait back, bW ifhis Noe and fm some reason it makes sense to use it, it is oWy a natter ofamending it m ramthebormwing capacity ofthe orgmtization. Gal wfilemdthe lettasm Ne members ofthe Committee. Gail will place the ad and will get back to the Committee with the results. 3. Joint Communication Center Update - Police and Fire Chief Window and Chief Camo ack thought it appropriate to come back to the Committee to give anupdamonthisusue. The center should be operational in January, or February. Atthispobr,all the personnel have been trained and cross -trained. Most ofthe equipment has been purchased and hasmrrved. Theersahumsysmmbasnobennreceivedyet. Thecostlsapproximately$115,000. $110,000 ofthis is for Neupgmded fire slam system, which was mcmaW There have been physical changes made in the dispatch area to acomanodate additional personnel. Everything ordered, eonp'sen, programa, de, are all Y2K compliant and ahm in line with what the state is using for the new Enhanced 9-11 program. Councilor Rohmm asked if the City ever moved to a more consolidated regional progress, how would tlds work, would we have compatibility with others? Chief Winslow answered that heft act sure where other agencies me in relation to their compliance. Thus are a set of state standards and Bangor is all set If you me a designated Public Safety Answering Paid, you have to be W compliance. Protocol would be consisted. 4. Police Department- Otlice Spate at Bangor hW Don explained that he met with Roy Daigle to see how things were going at the Bangor Mall and what his expectations were of the Police Department. Boy mentioned at the time that he had some office space, 7 5' x 9.5', that he would make available to the Police Department if there were a suitable use. The benefit to the mall would be police offices; in the mall. Don looks at the space as an Opportunity m process shopl0us, tam complete accident reports, etc. This gives the beat officer Pag3 Mwccwos�MaCu amssmv,gdtinvav Deemed,& zm a place to go to do his paperwork and administrative information, process juveniles, and correct parents without going downtown and then back to the area. There is no cest, except a phone line at some point. The mall will beer and light the area. Don mcluded an movement from Roy Daigle, Erik Stumpfel looked at iS made some suggestions, and Don made the modifications. Councilor Blanchette commented that she feels thia is great on a short teen basis, because the presence of the Police Department is needed in the Mall gree, but the Committee should look a few years down the Gam see Sa subsmfion is needed in that area oftowa Don assonant that he agree, and adds that it would be nice in have a substation, but the idea behind the mobile data termwals is to keep the officer m his ares. and keep them away from Court Street There are some things that will need un be done a the downtown location but his emphasis has been moving the officers out and keeping them in the neighborboods and visible. CouncBor Fambam asked how the olBcem work with the Mall security? Don answered that they have a good relaboruhip with Mall security. Mall security mostly No delarence. They can hold a shoplifter for up to 30 minutes and the police department husnoproblemgdtiamofficctlarewitWnthat30mimutw=dtheytakeovmfmmthm. Soman ofthe larger stores have their own scaustywho take care of shoplifters. Magsecantyisthaemore mgiwdveW=,mdwbehelpfaltoshoppas. Committeeapprovedremmmendatlonto Council to accept letter of agreement as amended. S. Bus Operations Update Bob Fonar and Joe McNeil explained several new issues with the Bus to update the Committee: Then. Hope rum will be re-configured the fust of the yen to include a loop that will go up Longview and than bark out Springer Drive to pick up some areas that are cunently serviced by ralua[,but Nuisegrowing area and thaeistime inthatloopto add this run. Currently Nee is one bus saving the ren canny in tla morning at 9:15 a.m. and then closing out the run 95:30 p.m. Because of using one bus, there is sea time to service Shaw's and Wal-Mart so asecond buswasput ona9:15 am and Shaw's and Wal-Mart were dove on raryest. This w Wd bare to bedmw tlrmghtheddvar m by caU g the office. This was worked out with Shaw's and Wal-Mart. The idea has become poplar so the bus is going nearly every trip. Contender Role= 4 ed ifelaffhad spoken to Councilor Palmer regarding some suggestions he had for the But route? Bob ayswaed that they have been working with Councilors Palmer and Baldocci on a downtown shuttle has. Bob and Joe provided Councilor Baldacci with information which he was going to talk with the downtown group about. Bob mentioned that ridership continues in be good and they comme to see an increase. With respect to the new buses, there are two new buses and Ne thrd bus will be coming tomorrow Ttrere are a coupheofwceks ofbtim%scheduledforde drivers. One ofthe new busses was in the parade N ciizere got a chance to we the new bus. Joe has anannggM for Roxannea the Bangor Daily News to do a larger story on the some of these issues and Bus service in general. Fleet Replacement. Staff had hoped to purchase a fourth bus this year out of state bond money that became available. It were before the Council and approval was given but Staff indicated that if there were aw change, they would notify the County. There has been a change. They did not meet the grant program qudificatimms so the purchase will be deputed this year and gaff will stay with the regular schedule and purchase one next year. PQV 4 Mwt Drcmbw& 1vvnweCwnnse Mmin6Muvree l9➢8 6. Poles for Banner - MainStreet T Ring explained that on the other side of Buck Stmt there are two iron poles that hold barriers and the poles am seriously deteriorated. They can not be used my longer and will be taken down. Stuff's recce mendation is not to replace them. There have been problems with groups wanting to reserve years in advance, arc. The charge to anyone to hang a banner is trimmed and the cost to replace the poles is appmxiamesky$10,000. Councilor Rehman commented that this is a marketing tool and everyone wants it, Ele would hoes to but the marketing situation of Bass Park. One option that has come before staff is that Dan Wellington was contacted by Skip Chappelle, on behalf of BDN charities, who indicated that they may be interested in replacing the pokes and possibly relocating them closer to their building at their expense and taling over reservations, etc., if sonxdung could be worked out. Councilor Blanchette asked ifthe City allows the Bangor Daily News to take care of this and put it closer to their buildin& how do we say no to the next person that wants to put up poles and string banners? Ed answered that the City could contract with the BDN to administer the program. Staffwillmwt iNdw BDNandsee lywhattheyhaveinmind. Stafffcelsthisis worth pursuing. Erik explained that the City could have an arrungement with BDN where they lease thepons for this purpose, but suggest tieing in municipal uses to that stand¢. Staff will follow up on this and will come back to the Committee with a recommendation or more discussion. 7. Executive Session - Legal Issue With no father business to discuss, the meeting adjourned. emp.mmrmse O?II .se