HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-22 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
JULY 22, 1997
Councilors Attending: Don Soucy, Mike Aube, Pat Blanchette
Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Erik Stumpfel, Dale Theriault
Don Winslow
Others Attending: Martha Dudman, Roxanne Saucier, Nedra Foster
1 . Paul Bunyan Festival Days - Request for Contribution
Deborah Plowman contacted the City requesting a contribution for
the Paul Bunyan Festival Days . Edward Barrett explained that
there is no money in the budget for this, so if Council wished to
make a contribution, it would have to come out of contingency.
Councilor Blanchette explained that in the past Council has
refused contributions to things like this . Councilor Blanchette
is uncomfortable taking the money out of the City's contingency
fund. There are merchants in the downtown area that can support
this event without taxpayer dollars going toward this . Councilor
Aube asked who sponsors this event. Edward Barrett explained
that this is something that the Chamber of Commerce started, but
that a non-profit organization appears to be sponsoring it.
Request for contribution is denied.
2 . Request by Dudman Communications Corporation - T-shirt For Paul
Bunyan
Martha Dudman addressed the Committee regarding the visit of Don
Imus to the Bangor area on October 21 . He will be broadcasting
live from the Bangor Civic Center. The broadcast will be
national and he is syndicated across the country at about 100
radio stations and will also be carried on MSNBC. Martha feels
that this is a good promotion for Bangor. There will be national
as well as local press on this visit. Martha is requesting the
opportunity to put a T-shirt on Paul Bunyan welcoming Imus to the
City. Edward Barrett explained that the Shriner's were allowed,
when they had their convention here several years ago, to put the
fez on Paul Bunyan. They are having their large convention here
again this September and they will be requesting this again.
There was a question raised whether this was a violation of the
separation between church and state and Erik Stumpfel, City
Solicitor, assures staff it is not. In effect, the City has
created a limited use of that. In that instance is was by an
organization that was renting space at the Auditorium/Civic
Center. This is a similar situation and the question is whether
the Committee wants to extend that limited "public forum from
Paul Bunyan's head" to other portions of the Statue ordinance.
Councilor Blanchette feels that there is a difference between the
Shriner's and Dudman Communications . The Shriner's do millions of
40 dollars of work for crippled and burned children every year and
Pat feels that a t-shirt welcoming Imus to Bangor is not needed.
Imus is a controversial personality and Pat is not comfortable
with what Imus may have to say on the radio when he is in
Bangor. For as many people as listen to him, there are as many
people he offends . Councilor Aube responded that Time Magazine
rated Imus as one of the 25 most influential people in America.
• Cities that he has broadcast from he has created a very positive
image of that community. A good presentation goes a long way
toward his continuing to mention the types of activities that he
sees as positive things and positive influence. Councilor Aube
feels that Bangor needs to look at this from a perspective of
"can we utilize this marketing opportunity to address those
issues which are important to the City in terms of development
opportunities, exposing the kind of community we have in Eastern
Maine, and positive qualities and assets? " He feels that this
should be looked at only if Bangor can gain from this marketing
opportunity.
Martha agrees that there are many people who do not like the show
because it is controversial. Martha pointed out that in the
letter request, she did not indicate that they would put Dudman
Communications or even WWMJ on the t-shirt, because it would put
the City in a peculiar position to have a private company put
their logo on Paul Bunyan. The interest in the broadcast has
been enormous . A lot of people around the country and within
Bangor itself will be listening to this and is excited that it is
happening in Bangor. There will be a small admission charged to
people who come to the broadcast. The proceeds will be donated
to Camp Capella.
Nedra Foster (Bangor resident) asked "What if Imus is not
positive? What if what he gives the City is negative? Is there
410 a guarantee that what he gives Bangor is positive? Councilor
Aube feels that how the community receives someone with that kind
of marketing power, sends a message. Quality service will be
given to Imus during his stay in Bangor by preparing as a
community. This would increase the opportunity that it is a
positive story and not a negative one. Nedra Foster quoted the
Time Magazine article as saying that "He ( Imus) loves to goad
people into saying something that will destroy their life" . Ms .
Foster has concerns regarding this . She feels that Paul Bunyan
should not be associated with Imus ' attitude.
Councilor Soucy feels there are two different issues to deal
with. The first would be whether or not to place anything on the
Paul Bunyan statue and this may or may not be a good thing for
Bangor. If it is decided to grant this, there will be other
requests . If it is done for one, then it should be done for
everyone. As far as Imus is concerned, Councilor Soucy agrees
with Councilor Blanchette.
The City Solicitor feels that if this issue is allowed, it should
be made clear that it is limited only to those who are actually
leasing space at the Civic Center to promote their particular
event. The next questions is "what will be allowed on Paul
Bunyan? " Councilor Aube suggested that a policy be drafted
regarding this issue. Staff will add on to the advertising
111 policy and set some criteria for Council to look at. Committee
referred this issue to the full Council on Aug. 11, 1997 .
3 . Request by Bangor Police Athletic League - Use of Old Essex
Street Recreational Center
111
Dale Theriault was approached by officers involved with the
Police Athletic League (PAL) with a request that the PAL be able
to utilize the old Essex Street Lodge. The building is 25 years
old and approximately 3 to 4 years ago, Dirigo Search and Rescue
began using the building as their headquarters, storage of their
equipment and as a place to hold meetings . Prior to Dirigo
Search and Rescue moving in, there was a private adult daycare
center. The PAL has adopted the park and there has been
extensive work done on the trails and the surrounding land. Dale
Theriault supports this request because he feels PAL is working
with a segment of youth that is the most difficult segment for a
public recreation worker. Dale supports this for the same reason
he supported Dirigo Search and Rescue. The more activity there is
in that area, the less vandalism there is . Since Dirigo has been
there, they have done repair work on the building, by providing
the labor. The City provides the materials . The roof needs
repair and the outside needs painting. Dirigo Search and Rescue
spoke with Dale regarding their continued use of the building to
store some of their equipment. If they were to leave the Essex
Street site, Dale could probably find room for them to store
their equipment at the Armory and they could have their meetings
there also. Dale feels that it is feasible to have both groups
at the Essex Street site and split the costs of the utilities .
As this develops into a more teen center type area, the Parks and
Recreation Department would probably go back in and put in a
skating rink and continue to groom the slope for tobogganing and
other activities . PAL has been conducting mountain bike races
110 for the last couple of years . PAL is in a position to pay for
the utilities or a portion of the utilities . There were some
ideas as to fundraisers to get some funds together to maybe redo
a section of the parking lot. There are approximately 450-500
kids that the PAL sees in a years time.
Ed Barrett was contacted by a resident of the Essex Street area
who has expressed some concerns that this might create a
situation where there would be more vandalism and problems in the
area. This resident indicated that they felt they had some
problems at the current time with juveniles in that area because
of the fact that it is a fairly isolated area. Some questions
that need to be answered are: What will the facility be used
for? What will the operating hours be? What will the level of
supervision be? It was explained that the actual programs have
not been decided upon. Basketball, biking, rollerblading,
ping-pong tables and things of this nature have been discussed.
There will not be any events going on in the building without
police presence there. The exception to this would be if someone
were to go and do some work on the structure. The latest an
event would be going on is 8 or 9 pm. This area falls under the
park ordinance; closed from 10 pm - 6 am. The PAL has their own
insurance policy. Any injury is covered by the PAL.
Dirigo Search and Rescue feels that the key for them is being
able to continue using the building as their headquarters,
tL.) meeting place and classroom. They have been able to teach
classes there on a regular basis and this has enabled them to be
more efficient
and devote more time to other causes . Dirigo Search and Rescue
is currently sharing the building with a snowmobile club during
the winter, which they use as a meeting place. The concern is
• that they would like to continue doing what they are doing and
they feel this building meets their needs . They welcome the PAL,
but would like to ask that if their usage becomes very heavy (4-5
nights/week) , Dirigo will not be able to do what they are doing
and what they are doing is valuable. Dale Theriault, PAL and
Dirigo Search and Rescue will meet and discuss this issue further
to try and come up with an arrangement to benefit all
concerned.
•
•
w _: