Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-07-01 Government Operations Committee Minutes Government Operations Committee Minutes Monday, July 1, 2019 Meeting City Hall Council Chambers Council Members in Attendance: Council Chair Nichols Councilor Davitt (Chaired the meeting) Councilor Sprague Councilor Graham Councilor Tremble Staff in Attendance City Manager Conlow Assistant City Manager Cromwell Lisa Goodwin – City Clerk Patty Hamilton – PHCS Director Paul Nicklas – Assistant Solicitor Agenda: 1) Update from the City Clerk on Records Management (Laserfiche) Currently City Council actions, minutes of the City Council and committees as well as certain financial records are being indexed and made available to the public on a monthly basis. While we had anticipated a faster implementation, as with any technology the end result is easy to see, but slower to achieve. Due to turnover, the pace of the back file and indexing of older records, in addition to working with other departments so that they are utilizing Laserfiche, has slowed. The new employee has received training and has started to work with the departments to reinforce and correct the current documents being filed, finalize outstanding projects such as contracts/purchasing/etc, and has begun work with one specific department. Overall the plan is to address the broader subjects that all departments will benefit from (i.e. purchasing, property records, grants, etc) thereby building buy-in, which in turn we believe will accelerate interest in this process. In the Clerk’s Department, City Council records back to 1990 are now available to the public. The records for the 1980’s should be completed within the next six months. There are approximately 12 more boxes of older records back into the 1800’s containing City Council actions that will need to be scanned and indexed. At present we have completed the scan of documents back to 1923. These records are in the queue waiting to be indexed. It is a tedious and time consuming project that is worked on as time allows. 2) Resolve to accept additional grant funds for the Overdose Prevention Program. Additional state funding has been made available to support the Overdose Prevention Program in the amount of $270,000. These funds would be used to purchase $240,000 worth of Narcan Kits to service the Penobscot, Washington, and Handcock Counties. The remaining funds will be used to provide staffing to order, distribute, and track these kits as well as provide educational materials. This resolve was moved by Councilor Sprague and seconded by Councilor Graham. 3) Ordinance Amendment allowing for a licensing process for retail marijuana establishments and an update to the fee structure for licensing. This ordinance amendment will provide a licensing process for retail marijuana establishments, in keeping with state law. The State of Maine recently passed rules implementing the Marijuana Legalization Act, the recreational marijuana law passed in November 2016 and amended since then. Title 28-B, Section 402 of the Marijuana Legalization Act requires retail or “adult use” marijuana establishments to obtain local authorization before being granted a license through the state. The local authorization process allows for licensing requirements, which are set forth in this ordinance amendment. Particular requirements include submitting an application, paying a fee, meeting state criteria, meeting City zoning, security, and oversight requirements, and being current on all taxes owed to the City. A separate Council Order has been introduced to create specific business licensing fees for retail marijuana establishments. This item was moved by Councilor Sprague and seconded by Council Chair Nichols. It was doubted by Councilor Graham. The following Councilors were in favor: Nichols, Davitt, Sprague, Tremble. The following Councilor was against: Graham