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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-12-26 Government Operations Committee Minutes � GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE MINUTES DECEMBER 26, 2001 Councilors Present: Joe Baldacci, Anne Allen, Michael Crowley, Dan Tremble StafF Present: Bob Farrar, Don Winslow, Norm Heitmann Other Present: With a quorum present, the Meeting was called to Order by Committee Chair Baldacci at 5:45 p.m. 1. Fundraiser Request(Bangor Police —Chief Winslow� The Police Department has been approached by the National Child Safety Council who has asked them to assist with a local solicitation effort. Funds raised would be used to purchase educational material distributed by our Police Department employees. Chief Winslow stated that he has in the past worked with the National Child Safety � Council (NCSC) 6ack in 1993 and again in 1999. In those scenarios when the Police worked with the NCSC, their representative came to the community and physically went door to door to businesses only and solicited funds. With those funds, the NCSC produce safety materials, drug education materials, child safety books, and fire prevention books. Those materials are given back to the Police Department and, in ' turn, are given out to the DARE program or educational programs at schools. It has ; been a real benefit to the community in the past. This year when Chief Winslow was ; approached, the NCSC asked if he would be willing to do the mailing under the City's � Police Department letterhead and personally ask for the money. Chief Winslow stated that quite frankly he was not supportive of that idea and is not comfortable doing that. � Chief stated that he would issue a letter of support, as done in the past for various � fundraisers, but I was not comfortable asking money on behalf of the Police j Department. For one thing he is concerned that it may violate the City's ethics policy. ' Chief Winslow did check with the Attorney's General Office and because the material will ultimately wind up in the hands of children, they did not find that to be a tangible � benefit. As far as the solicitation laws states, the City is fine. Included in the weekly j packet is a sample letter of what Chief Winslow would draft to accompany a letter from � Mr. Braun. The program has been very successful in the past. The materials are used. The NCSC spends a lot of the own money on research and development and the quality ; of the materials provided in the past have been good and well received by the public. ! � Committee Chair Baldacci asked when the letters would out in the mail and asked if it � went to some businesses? f � i � � , � � 1 i - __- - _._ ' � Chief Winslow replied the end of January or first of February it the mailing date. Prior to the mailing, Chief Winslow will confirm mailing list as to insure that private residences were not included. Mayor Crowley asked what percent of the dollars raised goes to the cause versus administrative fees? Chief Winslow stated that according to the figures provided by the NCSC, for their fiscal year that ended July of 1999, 86% of the funds raised went to Child Safety Education Research and Supplemental Safety Services. That was the production of the books. Chief Winslow tried today to reach Mr. Braun to clarify the percentage. Some money is spent on research and development of the materials, but most of the money goes into the production of the materials. Mr. Braun, in conversations with Chief Winslow, has � stated that a lot of organizations, laboratories, etc. that will contribute research, development, and gratis in the program. Seven percent of the NCSC budget is for fundraising, three percent is for management general, and four percent is excess. Basically, according to the figures provided to the Chief, eighty-six percent comes back through either research and development or the printed material. Mayor Crowley stated that the only reason for wanting to attend this session was just to address the issue of percent because there has been gross abuse by public safety consultants, no� reflective of the department, where good intended departments who have a project were guaranteed a certain amount of money without thinking of that • percent figure and the percent figure is legal but it is, from his perspective, right on the line. It is abusive use of donor dollars. The other part is the perception of how much money is raised actually stays here and there is no mention of that. This is great if it is as altruistic as it appears. But if someone is using Chief Winslow's good name, the good name of the department to raise funds that ultimately goes to some national organization, that should just be very clear up front. Committee Chair Baldacci asked Chief Winslow if there were any other organizations that the Police had done that for or if this situation was unique. Chief Winslow stated that as everyone knows, the Police is prohibited from doing their own fundraising. The NCSC is the only organization that the Police have worked with that has produced safety materials. The Police Department has worked closely with a local Pizza Hut who is the national sponsor of the DARE organization and a few other organizations to raise money for DARE. Chief Winslow stated that, quite frankly, the ' Department's experience with the NCSC has been very good. He always gets calls from i the public just confirming, but there has not been one complaint. The NCSC is a � reputable organization in the law enforcement industry. Chief Winslow stated that he ; does not know for sure how much Mr. Braun raises and the Police Department does not ` enter into a contract or get a certain percentage, in turn, Mr. Braun provides the Police ; Department with safety materials in the form of cases. The quantity usually carries the ' Police Department for 3 or 4 years. Mayor Crowley asked if Mr. Braun would provide the material without the fundraising � • letter? ` i r I ff k 2 � • Chief Winslow stated that probably Mr. Braun would not. Councilor Tremble has joined the Committee. City Solicitor Norm Heitmann stated it would be appropriate to authorize Chief Winslow to provide a letter of support for the project. A motion was made and seconded to approve Chief Winslow's recommendation that he provide a letter of support, but not engage in solicitation of funds for the project as requested by NCSC. Councilor Allen asked if the Transit Operations Policy for the Bus could be reviewed at the next meeting as an agenda item. Bob Farrar noted that he would include it on the Agenda. Councilor Allen and Baldacci asked if the Bus Study RFP that Gerry coordinated by BACTS was finished and could be reviewed by the Committee. Bob Farrar indicated that he would check with Don Cooper, Transportation Planner at BACTS and schedule Don's attendance and a review at the January 16th meeting. With no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was adjourned at 6:00 � p.m. � 3