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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-04-06 Government Operations Committee Minutes � � GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITfEE �� � Minutes � April 6, 2015 � Councilors Attending: Civiello, Plourde, Sprague, Baldacci, Blanchette, Graham, Durgin � - Staff Attending: Conlow, Farrar, Willette, Nicklas � Others Attending: Media representatives, Jim Bird, Senator Gratwick, Shawn Yardley, Pat Kimball � Committee Chair Civiello called the meetin to Order at 5:15 m g p � 1. Proposed Ordinance, Amending Chapter 23 Boards; Committee, and Commissions of the Code of the City of Bangor, by Clarifying the � Notification Process for Decisions of the Board of Appeals. � This proposed ordinance will align the City's notification process with the current state law requirements. It was moved by Sprague and seconded by Baldacci to � recommend approval of the proposed Ordinance Amendment, and so voted by the Committee. � 2. Orono Bog Boardwalk Presentation � Parks and Recreation Director Willette and Orono Bog Boardwalk Executive ; Director Jim Martin provided a brief history of the Boardwalk and the relationship among the partners in the project, the City of Bangor, the University of Maine, � and the Orono Land Trust. Mr. Bird explained that the Boardwalk sections are in need of replacement and that a capital campaign is underway to raise the � required funds. Phase One of the replacement program {104 sections) has been completed and Phase Two fundraising has begun. Mr. Bird requested that the City � ' . � consider a $2,000 donation, which would fund the replacement of two Boardwalk � sections. The Committee asked several questions and indicated their general support for both the Boardwalk and the request. The Committee asked that this � request be brought forward for consideration as part of the fy 15/16 budget process that will be underway shortly, when the Parks and Recreation budget is � presented / discussed. � 3. Discussion regarding a proposal to draft a Council Resolve in Support of the � Governor's Plan for additional funding to combat drug issues and to urge legislative support. � Councilors Baldacci and Civiello asked the Committee to consider their support for the preparation of a Resolve as outlined above, as well as support for pending � legislation that would reinstate the adult drug court. There was a lengthy discussion concerning these issues and whether the Governor's approach was � appropriate and encompassed all of the various approaches that could be utilized to deal with the problem. Councilors discussed other approaches including � education, prevention, treatment, support and recovery as key aspects concerning the drug issue, in addition to enforcement and prosecution. Resident � Yardley, Senator Gratwick and Wellspring Director Kimball all spoke to the Committee. The Committee also discussed the work and recommendations of the � Community Health Leadership Board (CHLB), and the Substance Abuse Task Force. Following additional conversation and discussion, the City Manager � suggested that she would work with staff to develop a draft letter taking into account the various points raised by the committee, and the work/ � recommendations of the CHLB. She noted that the draft would be ready for the Committee's review at the next regularly scheduled meeting. The Committee � agreed with her suggested approach as a next step. � With no further business, the Committee adjourned at 6:25 pm � � �