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Home My WebLink About1987-11-23 88-22 ORDER88-22 Introduced by Councilor Sawyer, November 23, 1987 CITY OF BANGOR (FITLE) (Dr1reie 111for E3election mf Council Stabling conoittees by Ballot By tM City CoaMt of the City of can -' ORDERED, TENT, pursuant to Chapter I, Article 3, Section 1(1.5), Ordinances of the City of Bangor, the City Council proceed to select by ballot those persons who shall serve during the ensuing Council your (November, 1987 W Novenber, 1988) as marbers of the Council Stabling Ccanittees listed in Sec. 6 of said Article. Statement of Pact: Chapter I, Article 3, Sec. 1(1.5), Ordinances of the City of Bmgoc, delegates to the CounC1l CTTrman�Ft e aut ity appoint all ovmittees ° ..unless m notion regularly seconded the Council my determine to select by [allot." The purpose of this Order is W provide for the selection by vote of the full Council of thoce pera xs who shall serve on the Council Stabling Comaittess listed in Sac. 6 of the smne Article. 88-22 o x nex Title, Providing for Selection of Council ...................... I............... Standing amnittees by Ballot In City Council Usvawer 23,1987 ...................................... Failed Passat' by the following yes a i m vote _ 2 yes J no Introduced andgked by voting Yea Fn9land,sawyu Voting Blanchette,Cw,FraNcel, � ..... .... .n Sax1,5lwbert,5u11iven�Tilley - Cow CITY .le =a November 18. 1987 ]O: Berger City Council FROM: Robert E. Miller, City S licitor RE: Selection of Council C ittees Earlier this weekCour Councilor Sawyer inquired he to the / procedure Ear appointment of Council 3, Section n 6 Of The CommOrdinances of the are established under Chapter I, Article 3, Section 6 of the uAainances of the City of Bangor. Provision for appointment of meters to all Committees is found in the sane Article in Section 1 which provides in relevant part as follows: "Sec. 1 Chairman's Rowers and Duties. The Chairman of the City council shall have the following powers: . . 1.5 Appoint C ittees. He shall appoint all committees, unless on motion regularly cameo the munch may determine to select by ballot.' (0rghaeis Added the above -quoted provisions clearly grant to the Chairman, in the first instance, the authority to appoint those persons who serve on the Cauncil Standing Committees. However, the provision does provide, as an alternative, for a Council vote on the issue. Pursuant to Councilor Sawyer's instructions, we have prepared an Order for him to place on the agenda for the next meeting providing for the selection of the Council Standing Chnnittees by a vote of the full Council. If the Council adopts the Order, the prior appointments by the Chairman will, in my opinion, be superseded. therefore, the Council should, at the same meeting or shortly thereafter, proceed to nominate and appoint persons from the Council m®nhership to serve on the various listed Committees. If any Councilor has any questions regarding this unique situation, please call me. As you all are aware, I prefer to have any questions relative to tte procedural issues brought to my attention prior to the actual Council meeting. R.E.M. cc: City Manager City Clerk f POLITICAL 'TEAM' SCORING VIA APPOINTMENT R 1l -as- A9 S:So ice• TEAM (B) COX 5 X 1 SULLIVAN 2 C X 2 SAWYER 1 0 ENGLAND 0 X I TEAM TOTAL: 8 yrs (1) CHAIR PLUS (3) MEMBERSHIPS = 4 COUNCIL TEAM (A) EXPERIENCE FINANCE BASS PK AIRPORT COMM. DEV. TOTALS TSLLEY 4 C X X 3 SHUBERT 1 X C 2 SAXL 0 X X 2 BLANCHETTE 0 C 1 TEAM TOTAL: 5 yrs (3) CHAIR'S PLUS (5) MEMBERSHIPS = 3 TEAM (B) COX 5 X 1 SULLIVAN 2 C X 2 SAWYER 1 0 ENGLAND 0 X I TEAM TOTAL: 8 yrs (1) CHAIR PLUS (3) MEMBERSHIPS = 4 TO: BANGOR CITY COUNCIL FROM: W.TOM SAWYER RE: RECENT COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS I RECOGNIZE THAT THE MAYOR HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT TO APPOINT ALL COUNCIL COMMITTEES WITH LIMITED COUNCIL REVIEW. AT THE SAME TIME, THAT RIGHT INCLUDES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF APPOINTING COMMITTEES WHICH SERVE THE CITY OF BANGOR BEST. MY PURPOSE IN SPONSORING COUNCIL ORDER #88-22 IS TO PUBLICLY DISCUSS THE COMMITTEE ISSUE. MY INTENT I5 TO REQUEST, BY MAJORITY VOTE OF THE COUNCIL, THAT WE RE -ASSIGN COMMITTEE APPOINTMENT$. THIS CITY IS A $40 MILLION CORPORATION, COMPLETE WITH CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, DIRECTORS, CHAIRMAN, AND SEVERAL HUNDRED EMPLOYEES. WHETHER A MUNICIPALITY OR PRIVATE ENTITY, ITS DIRECTORS NEED TO FULFILL THEIR POLICY SETTING ROLE WHERE EACH OFFERS AN UNIQUE EXPERTISE. THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE SHOULD NOT INVOLVE MUSICAL CHAIRS, OR CRONYISM. COUNCILLORS SERVE THE CITY FOR A VERY SHORT TIME, AND IT TAKES TIME TO BUILD THE NECESSARY EXPERIENCES IN VARIOUS AREAS, SUCH AS PUBLIC WORKS, TO BETTER ENABLE US TO MARE DIFFICULT, CRITICAL DECISIONS IN THE AREAS OF OUR EXPERTISE. FURTHERMORE, SOME COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS CARRY GREATER RESPONSIBILITIES THAN OTHERS. THERE'S LITTLE DEBATE THAT FINANCE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT COUNCIL COMMITTEE DUE TO ITS IMPACT ON THE CHECKBOOK. I BELIEVE THAT BASS PARR, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE AIRPORT ARE CLOSE BEHIND DUE TO THEIR LARGE BUDGETS OR HIGH PROFILE. THE REMAINING EIGHT COMMITTEES, WHILE VERY IMPORTANT, ARE USUALLY LESS CRITICAL OR REQUIRE LESS. PRIOR KNOWLEDGE. REMOVING TWO EXPERIENCED COUNCILORS FROM THE BASS PARR COMMITTEE, DURING THIS PERIOD OF TRANSITION AND CHAOS APPEARS POORLY ADVISED. TURNING OVER TWO MORE MEMBERS ON THE AIRPORT COMMITTEE IN THE MIDDLE OF DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE MILITARY IS JUST NOT IN THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST. APPOINTING A SEASONED REPRESENTATIVE TO THE M.M.A.`S LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE UNDER A FRESHMAN COUNCILLOR IS A SLAP IN THE FACE. SWITCHING HORSES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREAM USUALLY CREATES A DISASTER. FOR INSTANCE MY APPOINTMENT TO THE PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE IS A POOR CHOICE. MY BUSINESS INVOLVEMENT WITH LANDFILL ISSUES, PACKER TRUCK ISSUES, TRANSFER STATION ISSUES, AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS ISSUES WOULD FORCE ME TO ABSTAIN FROM MANY UPCOMING DISCUSSIONS. I BELIEVE I'M NOT ALONE IN THIS SITUATION. IF THE MAYOR HAD SPOKEN WITH ME PRIOR TO HIS APPOINTMENTS, HE WOULD HAVE AVOIDED THIS CONFLICT. IN SUMMARY, THE RECENT COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS PREPARED BY THE MAYOR ARE EITHER THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF LOTTERY SYSTEM, OR A BAD CASE OF FEATHERBEDDING POLITICAL SUPPORTERS. IN EITHER CASE, THE CITY'S NEEDS ARE NOT WELL MET. I, HEREBY, REQUEST THE COUNCIL VOTE "YES' ON COUNCIL ORDER #88-22 . THIS ACTION WOULD ALLOW FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF COUNCILLORS TO COMMITTEES IN LIGHT OF THEIR PRIOR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE, RATHER THAN THE WHOLESALE COMMITTEE TURNOVER THE MAYOR HAS CREATED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR INDULGENCE.