HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-12-16 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes • MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS
COMMITTEE MEETING
DECEMBER 16, 1997
Councilors Attending: Michael Aube, Nichi Farnham, Michael
Crowley, James Tyler, Joseph Baldacci
Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Jeff Cammack, Gail Campbell
Others Attending: Margaret Baillie, Larry Ventura (BMHI) ,
Other Representatives from BMHI
Meeting convened at 5 :01 p.m.
1 . Fire Department Aareement with EMMC -Ambu Bags
The Legal Department has reviewed the agreement and finds
everything fine with it. Approved.
2 . Vacant Council Seat
Ed Barrett explained the options that the Council may have
regarding the vacant Council seat. Under the City Charter, the
Council' s options could be to call a special election, which
cannot be held until 90 days after the date that the election was
called. If this were acted upon on Monday, the soonest a regular
election could be scheduled would be March 24 (Tuesday election) .
It is estimated that the cost of the special election is $8, 000-
$9, 000. There have been two recent special elections. One
election was approximately an 8.5% turnout, slightly less than
2, 000 people. Another option would be to schedule a special
election in conjunction with the June primary. Finally, the seat
could be left vacant until the next regular election. If there is
a special election, the individual who wins the seat will up for
re-election again in November. City Clerk, Gail Campbell, has
some concerns about the work load that would result from getting
ready for one election and overlapping that with preparing for a
second election. Gail explained that if a March 24 election was
decided on, the process would begin at the next Council meeting by
signing an order of Notice of Election. There is a lot of cross
over work, absentee balloting, etc. Gail feels that it may cause
some voter confusion as well as confusion in the office. Ed
explained that it is a decision that should be made by the full
Council, but brought the issue to Municipal Operations to get some
indication whether something should be prepared for Council
consideration on Monday. Councilor Crowley feels that the
expense should be considered in making this decision. Unless
there is a good reason to fill the vacant seat immediately, the
City should try to minimize the added expense. Councilor Tyler
realizes the expense and doesn't feel it is practical to hold
another special election. He would encourage the City to fill the
seat at the earliest convenient time, which appears to be the June
primary. Councilor Farnham feels that the expense to the
• candidate should also be considered. Committee recommends a
workshop with the full Council before the meeting on Monday.
• 3. Memorial for First Documented European Explorer to Set Foot in
Bangor
Ed Barrett explained that Edward Dinis, an attorney in New
Bedford, MASS, has written and asked permission to put, at no cost
to the City, a memorial recognizing one of the first European
Explorers to set for in this area, Estevan Gomez. There seems to
be some question as to whether there has been significant research
done to verify the information. Roxanne Saucier from the Bangor
Daily News felt that the letter received from Jean Trowbridge, a
research volunteer from the Bangor Historical Society, inferred
that Mr. Dinis was mistaken how much of a place the explorer Gomez
has in Bangor' s history. Erik Stumpfel explained that Jim Ring,
City Engineer, is a member of the Bangor Historical Society and
this letter was referred to him. Jim sent a response that the
official position of the Historical Society is "maybe" . The
recommendation is that the Committee ask the Bangor Historical
Society to give a presentation of Mr. Gomez' history. This issue
will be tabled until the information is provided by the Historical
Society.
4 . Proposed Reduction of In-Patient Services, BMHI
Councilor Baldacci explained that the King Administration
announced that they would be cutting 62 jobs at BMHI and reducing
the number of patients that would be served. Councilor Baldacci' s
concern is that deinstitutionalization has a very good intent but
also leads to a large increase in homelessness and displacement
among mentally ill people, who will be on the streets without
treatment and without adequate shelter. Councilor Baldacci is not
sure if the State government has adequately thought through this
issue, and he feels it is important that the City respond before
these cuts take place and determine whether this community is
prepared for it. Councilor Baldacci would like a resolution go to
the legislators and the Governor' s office asking for the cuts to
be delayed until after a public hearing. The suggestion was also
made that there be a task force put together. Ed Barrett stated
that he had spoken to someone in the Commissioner' s office who
indicated that they have also received some inquiries from area
legislators and that they would be interested in holding a forum
in Bangor after the first of the year with participation from the
City Council and also the legislative delegation. Ed also feels
that he is not sure that there is anyone on City staff that
understands how the current system works. The City does see the
fall out, but it is difficult to say where these people come from.
Ed feels it would be helpful for everyone to get a better
understanding of the system and would be supportive of the notion
of a forum. Mary-Anne Chalila, Health and Welfare Director,
agrees that more information and knowledge about the system as it
exists and the system as the Commissioner envisions it in the next
year is needed so the City will have a better idea of how the
downsizing will affect the City.
Larry Ventura from BMHI explained that at the present time, what
• is envisioned with the Program on Aging is that this program be
brought into the main building. There are two units being
retrofitted by the end of May or June to accommodate these
individuals . There are over 300 admissions per year and over 300
• discharges per year. BMHI' s goal is to try to get people ready
and able to go back into the community.
The Committee' s recommendation is to send a resolve signaling to
the state government that any cuts in services or jobs at BMHI be
delayed until the City of Bangor has had a full and fair
opportunity to prepare for its impact and to insure that support
services are in place. The City should schedule a forum and
invite the state representatives to take part in it.
5 . Cable Television Consortium
Erik Stumpfel is proposing that the City fund a cable access
position that would serve all the communities in the area. There
will be expanded community access under the new franchise. Erik
provided background information and then showed a video of another
community and what they have done. Erik is currently the Cable
Franchise Administrator for the City of Bangor but feels that in
order to fully utilize the capabilities offered, the existing
cable consortium should continue in a role to jointly support an
administrator who will be handling public access in this area.
•
•
S MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS
COMMITTEE MEETING
DECEMBER 16, 1997
Councilors Attending: Michael Aube, Nichi Farnham, Michael
Crowley, James Tyler, Joseph Baldacci
Staff Attending: Edward Barrett, Jeff Cammack, Gail Campbell
Others Attending: Margaret Baillie, Larry Ventura (BMHI) ,
Other Representatives from BMHI
Meeting convened at 5:01 p.m.
1. Fire Department Agreement with EMMC -Ambu Bags
The Legal Department has reviewed the agreement and finds
everything fine with it. Approved.
2. Vacant Council Seat
Ed Barrett explained the options that the Council may have
regarding the vacant Council seat. Under the City Charter, the
Council' s options could be to call a special election, which
cannot be held until 90 days after the date that the election was
called. If this were acted upon on Monday, the soonest a regular
election could be scheduled would be March 24 (Tuesday election) .
It is estimated that the cost of the special election is $8, 000-
$9, 000. There have been two recent special elections . One
election was approximately an 8 .5% turnout, slightly less than
2, 000 people. Another option would be to schedule a special
election in conjunction with the June primary. Finally, the seat
could be left vacant until the next regular election. If there is
a special election, the individual who wins the seat will up for
re-election again in November. City Clerk, Gail Campbell, has
some concerns about the work load that would result from getting
ready for one election and overlapping that with preparing for a
second election. Gail explained that if a March 24 election was
decided on, the process would begin at the next Council meeting by
signing an order of Notice of Election. There is a lot of cross
over work, absentee balloting, etc. Gail feels that it may cause
some voter confusion as well as confusion in the office. Ed
explained that it is a decision that should be made by the full
Council, but brought the issue to Municipal Operations to get some
indication whether something should be prepared for Council
consideration on Monday. Councilor Crowley feels that the
expense should be considered in making this decision. Unless
there is a good reason to fill the vacant seat immediately, the
City should try to minimize the added expense. Councilor Tyler
realizes the expense and doesn't feel it is practical to hold
another special election. He would encourage the City to fill the
seat at the earliest convenient time, which appears to be the June
primary. Councilor Farnham feels that the expense to the
• candidate should also be considered. Committee recommends a
workshop with the full Council before the meeting on Monday.
• 3. Memorial for First Documented European Explorer to Set Foot in
Bangor
Ed Barrett explained that Edward Dinis, an attorney in New
Bedford, MASS, has written and asked permission to put, at no cost
to the City, a memorial recognizing one of the first European
Explorers to set for in this area, Estevan Gomez. There seems to
be some question as to whether there has been significant research
done to verify the information. Roxanne Saucier from the Bangor
Daily News felt that the letter received from Jean Trowbridge, a
research volunteer from the Bangor Historical Society, inferred
that Mr. Dinis was mistaken how much of a place the explorer Gomez
has in Bangor' s history. Erik Stumpfel explained that Jim Ring,
City Engineer, is a member of the Bangor Historical Society and
this letter was referred to him. Jim sent a response that the
official position of the Historical Society is "maybe" . The
recommendation is that the Committee ask the Bangor Historical
Society to give a presentation of Mr. Gomez' history. This issue
will be tabled until the information is provided by the Historical
Society.
4. Proposed Reduction of In-Patient Services, BMHI
Councilor Baldacci explained that the King Administration
announced that they would be cutting 62 jobs at BMHI and reducing
the number of patients that would be served. Councilor Baldacci' s
concern is that deinstitutionalization has a very good intent but
also leads to a large increase in homelessness and displacement
among mentally ill people, who will be on the streets without
treatment and without adequate shelter. Councilor Baldacci is not
sure if the State government has adequately thought through this
issue, and he feels it is important that the City respond before
these cuts take place and determine whether this community is
prepared for it. Councilor Baldacci would like a resolution go to
the legislators and the Governor' s office asking for the cuts to
be delayed until after a public hearing. The suggestion was also
made that there be a task force put together. Ed Barrett stated
that he had spoken to someone in the Commissioner' s office who
indicated that they have also received some inquiries from area
legislators and that they would be interested in holding a forum
in Bangor after the first of the year with participation from the
City Council and also the legislative delegation. Ed also feels
that he is not sure that there is anyone on City staff that
understands how the current system works . The City does see the
fall out, but it is difficult to say where these people come from.
Ed feels it would be helpful for everyone to get a better
understanding of the system and would be supportive of the notion
of a forum. Mary-Anne Chalila, Health and Welfare Director,
agrees that more information and knowledge about the system as it
exists and the system as the Commissioner envisions it in the next
year is needed so the City will have a better idea of how the
downsizing will affect the City.
Larry Ventura from BMHI explained that at the present time, what
• is envisioned with the Program on Aging is that this program be
brought into the main building. There are two units being
retrofitted by the end of May or June to accommodate these
individuals. There are over 300 admissions per year and over 300
• discharges per year. BMHI' s goal is to try to get people ready
and able to go back into the community.
The Committee' s recommendation is to send a resolve signaling to
the state government that any cuts in services or jobs at BMHI be
delayed until the City of Bangor has had a full and fair
opportunity to prepare for its impact and to insure that support
services are in place. The City should schedule a forum and
invite the state representatives to take part in it.
5. Cable Television Consortium
Erik Stumpfel is proposing that the City fund a cable access
position that would serve all the communities in the area. There
will be expanded community access under the new franchise. Erik
provided background information and then showed a video of another
community and what they have done. Erik is currently the Cable
Franchise Administrator for the City of Bangor but feels that in
order to fully utilize the capabilities offered, the existing
cable consortium should continue in a role to jointly support an
administrator who will be handling public access in this area.
•
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