HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-06-18 Municipal Operations Committee Minutes � MUNICIPAL OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
MEETING MINUTES
June 18, 1996
Councilors in attendance: Timothy Woodcock, Patricia
Blanchette, David Leen, Gerard
Baldacci
Staff in attendance: Edward Barrett, Erik Stumpfel, Mary-Anne
Chalila
Others in attendance: Mr. Collins, Fransway Realty
Committee Chair opened the meeting at
1. Executive Session.
2 . Council Resolve 96-265 "Authorizing Execution of
Recreational Trail Use Permit Agreement
Erik Stumpfel discussed liability issues and stated that- the
property owner, Mr. LaGrange, would have to purchase $300,000
• worth of liability insurance if the City or another party, such
as the snowmobile club, did not cover the trail. Councilor
Blanchette asked that the issue be postponed until Mr. LaGrange
could speak with the snowmobile club.
3. Council Ordinance 96-253 "Amending Chapter 1, Article 3,
Section 6 of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Bangor--
Sewer Committee"
Approved. Councilor Blanchette recommended that new Council
members be appointed to the major committees the first year they
are elected in order to assist in their learning and training.
4 . Council Ordinance 96-266 "Amending Cha�ter V, Article 1 of
the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Banc�,or� Section 20,
Recyclina"
Erik Stumpfel recommended a restructuring of the committee so
that the issues of construction/demolition debris, special
wastes, PERC and recycling. Item postponed.
5 . Council Ordinance 96-267 "Amending Chapter 1, Article 3�
• �ection 6 of the Laws and Ordinances of the City of Bangor--
�ecial Committees
. Councilor Baldacci requested the amendment to clarify procedures
to follow when establishing a "special committee. " Forwarded to
full Council, recommending approval.
6 . Cable TV Service at Park Woods
Mary-Anne Chalila stated that there were residents of Park Woods
who were behind in their rent, yet were paying for cable
television service, including many premium channels. She said
she understands that it's not good policy to make decisions for
people--that they should learn to make proper decisions for
themselves . Councilor Blanchette pointed out that the $70 per
month that some people pay for cable is not equivalent to the
delinquent amount owed on rent, and said that other public
housing programs do not restrict cable tv usage; therefore, she
could not vote to remove the cable from Park Woods as it would be
discrimination of "certain clientele. " Councilor Woodcock said
he thought they did have some obligation to the taxpayers to put
their money to the best use. Councilor Baldacci felt that the
City's role did include helping people to develop skills to live
on a budget, acquire education and training, and become
independent. Mary-Anne said that most people in the program have
become homeless because they chose to spend their money on
consumer products, not rent. Councilor Blanchette pointed out
that many poverty abatements had been granted without
• consideration to the applicant's other expenditures . Mary-Anne
said that general assistance applicants have to show receipts for
income and expenses, and that non-essential items are deducted
from any assistance a person is eligible for. Councilor
Blanchette felt that controlling the tenants' cable is one more
instance of government interference. She thinks that people
should make their own choices and that the City should not
control a specific segment of the population.
There was discussion on making a condition of the leases be that
any check received under AFDC be forwarded directly to the Park
Woods Project for rent payments. Mary-Anne was asked to look
into that possibility. The item was tabled.
7 . Request to Occu�v a Portion of Harlow Street Right-of-Way:
Fransway Realty
Approved. Fee waived.
.