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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-06-27 Government Operations Committee Minutes ! Government Operations Committee , June 27, 2006 Minutes � Councilor Attendance: Paimer, Gratwick, Greene Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Cammack, Winslow, Yardley , Others: Water District Representatives 1. Quarterly Update — Bangor Water Distrid ! . Introduction of Trustees and Staff • Administrative Subcommittee and General Manager Search � Sypitkowski indicated 15 applications have been received. Human Resources Partners have been employed to assist. By the end of August/early September, the District expects to conduct interviews for � the position and hope to have it filled by mid-November. . Work Planned for Thomas Hill Standpipe this year. Rogalski said the District has awarded a contract to repaint the Standpipe at $64,000. It ' has not been painted since 2000. The Standpipe was constructed in 1897 and the District works at keeping its structural integrity in place. The District hired WBRC to look at specific areas of concern around the , promenade deck, the overhead ceiling, the inner wall of the promenade deck area, as well as under the deck. The study was completed on June 16�'. It will involve another expenditure of approximately , $65,000. Rogalski is in hopes the work will be completed this year and will be presenting his recommendation to the Trustees. , • 2006 Bond Issue Approved. This is a 20 year loan through the Maine Bond Bank for various capital expenditure items for the District. It was issued without a rate case. The interest rate varies from 1.9% to � 5.5%. The average is about 4.5%. • Distribution System Improvements — BanAir Road and Outer Hammond Street. The District is replacing approximately 5,000 ft. of pipe in this � area. The BanAir project is new pipe and Hammond Street Extension and Outer Hammond Street to the West Side Restaurant is renewal of existing pipe. , • State Inspection of Watershed, Wastewater Treatment, and Facilities. The State conducts an annual watershed inspection of Floods Pond. Due to the high water quality, the District is exempt from water , filtration requirements. Every five years, the State performs a broader inspection of the District's entire operation. Last year both inspections ' were combined into one. The official report was received in May. No deficiencies were noted by the State nor was the District required to implement additional federal or state requirements. , . Invitation to Tour Water Supply and Treatment Facilities. An invitation was e�ended to Councilors and City staff to tour the District's facilities. , � ' � Gratwick indicated that the District is doing a superb job in preserving the Standpipe, an historic landmark, and he commended the District 1 and WBRC for a detailed analysis. Any work done to the structure requires Historic Preservation Commission approval. Responding to Palmer, Cammack addressed fire safety concerns at the Standpipe, a � wooden structure. The communications system for both police and fire are stored in the building off to the side of the water tower. An alarm system, a propane heater, and back-up power is in place in the small , building. Rogalski spoke about the replacement of two doors keeping the historic requirements in mind. ' Greene asked Rogalski about a potential ground water well, as I discussed at a previous meeting. Rogalski said the District has been � working with Hermon to site a back up ground water supply. The well location has been determined, protection is in place, preliminary testing has been completed, and the Town of Hermon has worked with the � District to make this happen. Exhaustive water quality analysis will be done to determine the type of treatment required, a cost analysis to construct such treatment, and how to connect it to the District's current , system. This engineering study is slated to be completed in 2006. 2. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Bangor Police , Department and State of Maine Department of Public Safety — Liquor and Licensing Unit , Winslow indicated in 2003, the Maine Legislature eliminated the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement. In 2005, it enacted legislation to permit the � Department of Public Safety to enter into Memorandums of Understanding with municipalities for local law enforcement to enforce administrative violations of liquor regulations. The Bangor Police Department anticipates � that entering into this memorandum will improve its ability to respond to administrative violations of liquor regulations and will not result in significant additional work for the Department. Responding to Gratwick, � Winslow said that most visits are done in uniform although the Special Enforcement Team has been used on occasion for unannounced visits in bars Underage drinking is a substantial problem and, in a bar setting, � Winslow said the extent is unknown at this point because the Department has not had the ability to do a lot of undercover work and proactive ' enforcement. The department has always depended on Liquor Enforcement. Winslow said that without the Liquor Enforcement Bureau the potential for problems will grow. Responding to Gratwick, Winsiow , said this is an administrative violation that holds the licensee accountable for the action. Palmer asked about the DepartmenYs potential time involvement with this action. In the last year, the Liquor Enforcement � � � division indicated there has only been one incident that has been � contested in court. A motion was made and seconded to recommend staff approval. An Order will appear on the upcoming Council agenda. � 3. Proposed Agreement between the City of Bangor and Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Regarding the Recent�y Acquired Mobile , Command Vehicle Cammack discussed an agreement with the Maine Emergency , Management Agency for the City's mobile command vehicle. This vehicle was purchased with Homeland Security Funds provided through the Maine ' Emergency Management Agency and will be used by the Fire Department and the Police Department. As a part of the agreement with MEMA, it will also be available to other regional public safety entities when responding � to emergency situations. Because the vehicle was obtained through MEMA, it will be used by other entities in the region. MEMA requires an agreement setting forth the rights and responsibilities of each party. The � agreement has been reviewed by the City Solicitor. The unit in its entirety was purchased with Homeland Security funds. In two or three weeks it will be ready on a statewide basis. A motion was made and seconded to � recommend staff approval. An Order will appear on the upcoming Council agenda. ' 4. Proposed Memorandum of Understanding between the Cities of Bangor and Brewer and the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) ' Regarding the Recently Acquired Hovercraft Vehicle Cammack indicated that Bangor and Brewer share this unit that was ' acquired with Homeland Security Funds through the Maine Emergency Management Agency. When MEMA provides equipment that is jointly used by municipalities, they require a Memorandum of Understanding between � those municipalities and MEMA. This unit will be maintained jointly by Bangor and Brewer and will be housed in Brewer. It will be available for each municipality and for responses to other communities pursuant to � mutual aid agreements. By way of further background, the City of Bangor initially requested Homeland Security Funding for a boat to be used for � water rescue. At the same time, Brewer requested funding for the hovercraft. MEMA indicated that they would fund one project and suggested that the cities cooperate in this venture. A motion was made ' and seconded to recommend approval. The item will appear on the upcoming Council agenda. 5. Proposed Clinic Affiliation Agreement between City of Bangor Fire , Department and Husson College School of Nursing , � , ' Palmer noted that his wife is an employee of Husson College through the ' Husson Capehart Health Center and expressed his conflict of interest. The Committee concurred the conflict. Councilor Greene stepped in to Chair the Committee on this item only. Cammack said that the purpose of this � agreement is to provide the students at Husson College's School of Nursing with an opportunity to apply nursing practices and skills in a clinical environment. The students will accompany the ambulance crews of the ' City's Fire Department. The Fire Department will retain the responsibility of supervising the care provided to patients and would assist the student and his or her faculty advisor in having an understanding of the scope of ' clinical nursing practice within an ambulance service. Husson Coliege will be responsible to see that the students and faculty advisor are covered by � professional liability insurance. The City has similar agreements with Eastern Maine Community College, Southern Maine Community College, and Kennebec Community College. A motion was made and seconded to � recommend staff approval. The item will appear on the Council's upcoming agenda. � 6. Appointment and Nomination to Maine Municipal Association Legislative Policy Committee ' Farrar indicated that every two years the MMA and its member communities have an opportunity to fill 70 seats on the Legislative Policy Committee. The LPC assists MMA in developing a number of positions and � taking positions primarily on proposed legislation. For Bangor, one member can be appointed directly to the LPC and the second seat is � shared between Bangor and Hermon. For the past two years, Council Chair Cashweii served and the shared seat was comprised of City Manager Barrett and Town Councilor pon Shepley from Hermon, each taking a one � year term. Mr. Shepley has once again been nominated by Hermon for the upcoming shared seat. Barrett suggested that he be appointed and indicate that a Bangor City Councilor may serve as an alternate. Any time ' that a Councilor is interested in attending the LPC meetings, Barrett will step back. A staff person will be determined for nomination to the seat shared with Hermon. Greene made a motion to move the City Manager's ' recommendation. The motion was seconded and passed. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 625 p.m. � � , �