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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-11-23 Government Operations Committee Minutes ' Government Operations Committee November 23, 2004 ' Minutes ' Councilor Attendance: Greene, D'Errico, Hawes, Allen, Farrington Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Yardley, Winslow ' Others: Parke Clemons, Sally Bates, Diane Lacadie, Several Dynamic Car Club Members ' 1. Proposed Agreement between Park Woods Transitional Housing and Literacy Volunteers of America (LVA) , Yardley, Director of Health and Welfare, indicated that staff is still working on some of the details and asked that the item be postponed to a later date. A ' motion was made and seconded to table the item. 2. Council Ordinance 05-19 Amending Section 134-27 of the City Code, General ' Assistance Ordinance ' Yardley indicated that the State of Maine annually revises its General Assistance guidelines for maximum levels of assistance. To be in conformance with the revised assistance levels, it is necessary to amend the City's General Assistance ' Ordinance. This proposed amendment will adopt these new levels, which have increased over the current levels. The adjustments are based on HUD numbers. The maximum for a household size of one went from $420 last year to $475 this ' year. The reimbursement from the State has been approximately 90%. In response to D'Errico, Yardley thinks the rates are fair and reasonable but are not at the level where they should be. Barrett said General Assistance is a State- ' mandated program. The State specifies through HUD's Fair Market Rents and Thrifly Food Plan how much the minimums are based on family size. This year's increases are significantly higher than in the past years. The Ciry is responsible ' for the administrative cost of the program. Up to a certain level, the City is reimbursed at 50% and over that the reimbursement is at 90%. The total program is close to $2M in assistance given out with an approximate $275,000 ' administrative budget. A motion was made and seconded to approve staff's recommendation and to forward to the Council for action. , 3. Cruising Ordinance ' This item was at the request of Councilor Allen. She expressed concern with the time frame involved in resolving the issue and feels there needs to be an understanding of where both groups are coming from. At the last Committee , meeting, Bates said that Bangor Center was asked to look at the larger issue of the vision for downtown Bangor's after dark atmosphere. BCC has a series of meetings planned for the next several months dealing with the issue and will ' come back to the Committee with a description of what it has learned from the stakeholders and meeting attendees. The meetings will be held at various times ' to accommodate various schedules. Since the cruising season is past, Bates felt , y there is not an urgency involved. Four general areas of interest were identified at the first BCC "after dark" meeting: 1) inappropriate noise and crime, positive , action that would contribute to and improve the downtown atmosphere, identifying programming work and community activities as a positive step, , improvement of lighting. 2) improvement of traffic control and stepping up traffic enforcement issues not dealing with the cruising ordinance. 3) continuing and improving marketing efforts to improve the perception that Bangor after dark is , not as safe as it actually is. 4) increasing evening access to public transportation. Clemons indicated the group was very enthusiastic and cooperative. He said there was an overwhelming support of the cruising ordinance. Hawes said that if , the cruising ordinance currently in place was well received by the BCC group what was the reason that,just the cruising ordinance was brought to this meeting. Barrett said an earlier meeting was held with this Committee with ' members of the Car Club. The Club has requested that the ordinance be amended to increase the number of trips that a vehicle can pass a certain spot. Barrett suggested conversations between the downtown group and the Car Club , to talk about each side's perspectives. Allen expressed concern about the timeframe involved. She talked about the diversity in the downtown and that ' progress needs to be made showing that all groups can find a common ground and work together. Bates said that Bangor Center has several working committees. The Liaison Committee meets on these sorts of issues throughout , the year. Greene asked Winslow and a representative of the Car Club to address the Committee. Lacadie said that the Club was invited to the initial "after dark" meeting but it was not a convenient time. Allen had spoken with Lacadie ' regarding the inopportune time for the first after dark meeting and also had asked Bates to communicate with Lacadie. Bates has been in communication with Lacadie regarding the next meeting, which will be at 5 pm. Lacadie ' indicated that she did receive a phone call from Bates. Lacadie indicated that Bates was rude and unprofessional. Lacadie also complained about the erroneous BDN coverage on the club. Winslow said he can't take responsibility � for the reporting but, during the meeting, he brought up Dynamic Performance's interest in either expanding the number of times someone can drive by a traffic ' point or condensing the hours. At the meeting he indicated that he could support the change as it doesn't affect the intention of the cruising ordinance. Winslow said he had been under the impression that most members of the Club , were from the Old Town/Milford area and the BDN must have picked up on it. He stated that the complaint was not mentioned at the meeting. A Club member said the change will not affect the Police DepartmenYs enforcement but will ' affect people being able to travel from point A to point B without getting a $67 fine in a matter of two hours. The Club member feels that individuals with sports , cars are targeted. Lacadie stressed that she realizes that not all news articles ' are accurate. Winslow said that he had made the statement at a previous meeting that the Club members come to Bangor to show off their cars, not to cruise. In referencing the conversation with Lacadie, Bates recalled it difFerently ' but said she in no way intended to be disrespectful. Allen talked about encouraging and building a relationship. She said it was very unfortunate to ' have the erroneous BDN article. She had considered removing this item from tonighYs agenda but she was glad that she had not done so. She understands , ' fully the goal of the BCC. She stressed the need to find an avenue to accommodate the Club, the merchants and the tenants in downtown. She urged ' all groups to find and recognize values and to work together to bridge the issue. Greene said he would like the process to move forward and would like to hear ' back after the January 6�' meeting. Bates expects a statement to be forthcoming by early March as a result of the'�after dark" meetings. D'Errico encouraged Councilors to attend the January 6th meeting. ' In response to Lacadie, Winslow said the Department's internal investigation is still ongoing and he has been corresponding with an attorney who represents a ' Club member. Winslow is ready to have disciplinary hearing but is waiting for a sworn statement, which will serve as a balance insuring that officers are following rules and regulations and also protects them from frivolous allegations. ' Attorney Brown said he had recently sent a letter to Winslow without a response. His concern is that the process started with his client in May of 2003. He also spoke about the cruising ordinance and its enforcement. He feels his client has ' been unfairly selected and given violations by the police officers. His client feels he has been made a target and doesn't feel comfortable coming into Bangor. D'Errico said the Committee shouldn't be discussing an issue between the client , and the Police Department. D'Errico said it is completely separate from what the downtown group is looking for. Lacadie said it all ties together and it is before ' the Committee because the Police Chief has informed the committee of an internal investigation. After the investigation is completed, she is hoping all issues will be resolved. Greene said he views the committee as a facilitator to ' bring resolve to the situation. He said it is premature, the committee meeting is not a court of law, there is an investigation taking place, there are ongoing meetings with the BCC and the Car Club. He feels more information will be , available after the January 6�' meeting. Greene thanked all those attending for their involvement and interest in this issue. ' , � ' Committee adjoumed at 6:00 p.m. ' ' ' ' '