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Home My WebLink About2002-08-14 Government Operations Committee Minutes ' , GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES � August 14, 2002 � Councilors Present: Anne Allen, Joseph Baldacci, Michael Crowley ' Staff Present: Ed Barrett, Bob Farrar, Norm Heitmann, Frank Comeau Other Present: Ken Buckley, Mr. Deering, Ms. Stone , Meeting convened at 5:00 p.m. � ConsentAgenda � 1. 2003 Slate of Officers for Maine Municipal Association and voting credentials for MMA Annual Meeting. ' 2. Approval of Seasonal Lease — Cascade Park parking spaces for EMMC ' Allen requested that the consent agenda be moved to the end of the meeting. � Regular Agenda 3. Request for "No Engine Braking" signage on Hancock Street. , Farrar said that Mr. William Deering, a resident of Hancock Street, on behalf of ■ neighbors in the area, has requested signage, which would prohibit engine ■ braking or the use "jake brakes." His request covers the area of Hancock Street heading easterly toward the entrance to EMMC. Options to accommodate Mr. � Deering's request include voluntary compliance signage or mandatory compliance signage through ordinance enactment. Staff favors the voluntary signage , approach as a first step. Heitmann has done some research on engine braking. William Deering, of Hancock Street, said that his house is the second one on the � riverside, less than 100 yards from where vehicles stop at the stoplight. He said trucks start engine braking near his home, and it is quite deafening. He presented a picture of an engine braking prohibited sign posted in Brewer. � � � � ' Baldacci asked how often this had been a problem. Deering replied everyday � and all day, and that it was a very heavily traveled street. He said heavy equipment trucks start at 5-6 a.m. , Allen wanted to know if this was related to the road construction, but Deering said that this was a year round problem. ! Molly Stone said that this is a truck route, so all trucks go through there. She said that she was the last house on the riverside, and the noise rattles the house � and dishes in the cupboards. Crowley asked if this had been brought before the council before, but Deering , said no that he had gone to Public Works concerning the issue. This year, Deering decided to go directly to the City Manager's o�ce. The Mayor wanted to know if there was anything in particular that made them decide to bring this to , the council. Stone said that the tra�c has increased, however they know that there is nothing that can be done about that. Stone said that by her house, they ' brake down and then gear up when they get to the light. Crowley asked staff how effective the voluntary signage would be, and what , would the contrast be if we went the ordinance route. Heitmann said that the voluntary compliance should be the first step for these two reasons, he received information from Dale Hanington at Maine Motor Transport, that many , communities do have voluntary compliance signs and that they work, and they publish this in their magazine to encourage drivers avoid regulation. He said that as soon as drivers take their foot of the brake when approaching the light the � engine brakes start up. Heitmann said that drivers have the option to turn off their engine brakes, and should turn them off when they reach city limits. Heitmann said an ordinance is not necessarily going to solve the problem. , Crowley said that if the sign is distinctive enough, then a voluntary sign would work fine. ' Allen asked if we might need to address the speeding on Hancock Street. Heitmann said that we could institute speed bumps, or have cruisers go through ' more often. Barrett noted that almost every residential street Mas-a problem with speeding. � Deering said the trucks that make the most noise are heavi�y loaded vehicles that are not allowed on I-95, because of the load limit. Barrett said that this area would also get trucks going through to Rte. 9, because they can't make the turn � at Oak St. ' , � , The committee approved placing voluntary signs as needed, regarding no braking in the City. Baldacci suggested reviewing this in 6 months. � 4. Proposed Playground Signage , Farrar said that as the result of recent discussions concerning the use of tobacco products around park playgrounds, stafF has prepared new signage for � playgrounds. The signs incorporate several suggestions from previous Committee meetings as well as consolidate a number of existing signs in the City's parks. Staff is seeking final comments/suggestions prior to having the � signs made. Allen said that the sign should be more brief and to the point, focusing on the ' big issues. She mentioned hours, tobacco free zone, and being less wordy regarding the equipment. Crowley suggested adding the telephone number for Parks & Recreation. ' The committee discussed and proposed various changes to the signs and then ' approved the final language. The committee discussed the consent agenda. ' 2003 Slate of Officers for Maine Municipal Association and voting credentials for MMA Annual Meeting. � Farrar said that this was an annual exercise as participants of MMA to vote for their slate of officers, and to delegate voting authoriry to one or more of our city ' representatives for their annual meeting. The process by which people are nominated has occurred previously. Baldacci asked when was the last time they had a competitive election. Barrett said last year that a gentleman from Blue Hill , whom was seeking to be elected. Farrar noted that Councilor Rohman is on the executive committee representing the City. Prior to that we had Councilor , Sullivan who was on the executive committee and was president of MMA, and Councilor Aube. Allen said that she would like to have seen more representatives from the service , center. Barrett said that Rumford, Calais and Elisworth are service center communities, and a portion of Hampden is. Barrett listed other members of the � service center community, which comprises about half of the membership. Baldacci asked how our service center coalition was going. Barrett replied that , things are going well, we have good membership, with a meeting scheduled in i 1 , I ' September. Councilors Allen and Farrington have volunteered to distribute , information regarding the next meeting. Crowley said that we might want to reexamine our term limits policy, in the ' interest of coordinating efforts with organizations such as MMA. � Baldacci proposed an amendment to repeal term limits. Allen seconded it. This will be a charter amendment. Crowley said that it would be good to raise the discussion to public debate/referendum. ' Approvai of Seasonal Lease — Cascade Park parking spaces for EMMC , Mayor Crowley stated that he would remove himself from the discussion due to a conflict. ' Barrett said that the City has done this for several of the last 8-9 years, and the funds go into a reserve for Cascade Park. The arrangement works well for both � parties and there have been no problems. The consentagenda wasapproved. � The meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m. � i 1 1 i � i 1 1 �