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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002-02-27 Government Operations Committee Minutes • Government Operations Committee February 27, 2002 at 5:00 p.m. Minutes Council Attendance:Allen, Crowley, Farrington Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, McNeil, Cammack, Heitmann Others: Rogalski, Reed, Wellington, Miller, Mark Dunbar 1. Quarterl�r Update — Bangor Water District Board of Trustees Dan Wellington indicated he was recently appointed to Chairman of the Board of Trustees and introduced other representatives from the Water District. Rogalski updated the Committee on a reminder notice program sent to customers and has been in effect for a year. He said it has been a successful program. In 2000, over 6,000 disconnect notices were issued with 56 actual disconnects. In 2001, the disconnect notices numbered 2,700. The Committee was given a brochure on Floods Pond — Source of Water Supply. In 1993, the District placed more emphasis on watershed protection and ozone • treatment facility. The watershed area is approximately 8.75 square miles and the District has direct control over all but 141 acres. It is one of the country's most protected water supplies. In response to Councilor Farrington, Rogalski said that Floods Pond is rated at 8.2M gallons per day during the driest of seasons. Last year, 4.8M gallons were pumped, 58% of the capacity. The lowest level on record in 1978-79 was seven feet and a dam was installed raising the water level by three feet. It is currently 9.1 feet. When full, it has 9.5 billion gallons of water. In the event of severe drought, the District is planning a voluntary and mandatory conservation programs. The PUC would have to authorize a mandatory conservation program. The District has a well supply in Hermon and is reviewing the costs required for development. A ground water search is being done along the transmission line and, if a sizeable ground water supply were found, it could be tied into the transmission line. Currently there is about two year's worth of water supply available at the Pond. Crowley asked about correcting water pressure in the Fairmount Park area in light of recent concerns expressed by area residents. Rogalski said the issues are control of pressure and control of volume that is handled in large diameter mains that leads to friction that develops when water is flowing. There are a number of 12" diameter lines in that area. Pressure measures have been taken in that area and in one case the average pressure is about 45 psi. The other site in the area measured pressure at 39-40 psi. Reed agreed it was adequate but on the low end. If the height � of a tank were increased to provide another 30-40 psi, it would also add the 30-40 psi to households who already have 80 psi. • Barrett asked Wellington if he had received concerns about well levels in the City. Wellington is aware of only one well that has been redrilled and has heard of other low levels in some of the older, dug wells. The District is looking at purchasing water supply tanks which could be used to assist those in dire need of water supply. 2. Paramedic Bicycle Response Team Proaram — Banaor Fire Department Chief Cammack and Fire Department members updated the Committee on their proposal to equip, train and establish paramedic bicycle response teams as a follow-up discussion to an earlier meeting with Government Operations last fall. At that time, the Committee expressed support for the concept and proposal and asked the Chief to prepare more specifics on the program, including cost estimates at $20,600 to purchase four bicycles (replacing two previously provided by the Police Department). The EMS bikes are shock-equipped to carry heavy loads. Due to the timeliness of the Folk Festival, it was not feasible to go through the annual budget process to request the bicycles as training is needed commencing in May and June. Crowley expressed the need for more regional support among municipalities in light of City budget concerns. The Government Operations Committee expressed support for the purchase of • equipment. The Fire Chief will also be bringing the item to the Finance Committee for approval. The Chief discussed the success of the mutual aid agreements that Bangor Fire has with surrounding communities. 3. Transit System Update —The Bus Farrar and McNeil updated and informed the committee in three areas regarding The Bus. The first involved the BACTS Policy Committee which is seeking volunteers to serve on the Transit Study Advisory Committee. Councilors were asked to notify the Mayor or the City Manager if they have an interest in serving. The firm selected to perform the study should be selected by BACTS on March 4th and will most likely start work in Mid-March. The second item involved changing the design, colors and logos of The Bus. Bangor will receive three new busses in the near future so the revised design needs to be completed in mid to late April. This is one of the jobs outlined in the Transit Study services. Farrar indicated he would meet with the Committee in early April to receive input and concurrence for a new design. Barrett suggested that the Transit Study Advisory Committee recommend the new design and logo for Council review. McNeil S indicated that the system is a regional system and all communities need to be in agreement with the redesign. • The third item related to the three new busses which have been ordered by the State DOT with a delivery date of mid-August. The State will also be endorsing three more busses (6 total) in the near future. The City's portion of the funding will come from the Bus Reserve Account and Bond Issue proceeds. Crowley asked if any thought had been given to a trolley system to create a unique marketing opportunity. Allen thought it would be beneficial during the Folk Festival. Barrett indicated that it has been requested that the busses provide shuttle services during the Festival. Farrar said the issue of a downtown shuttle was part of the transit study. 4. Mileage Reimbursement Rate for City Employees Farrar indicated that the City's personal vehicle mileage reimbursement rate of $.29/mile has not been updated since October of 1994. The IRS approved standard rate increased to $.36.5/mile effective January 2002. The Committee approved staff's recommendation to increase the rate of $.33.5/mile. A Council Order will be prepared, and the item will be referred to full Council for approval at its next meeting. 5. Employees Seeking Election to Political Office • As a result of discussions at the January meeting of the Government Operations Committee, staff was directed to survey other communities regarding policies for employees running for elective office. Eight of the larger communities were contacted and only Portland and Lewiston have policies in place. In the recent past, three employees have inquired about the possibility but did not run for political office. The Committee had previously expressed an interest in looking at the current provision and relaxing it a bit. Farrar offered the following suggested options: 1. Eliminate the provision requiring the employee to take a leave of absence while campaigning, but leave in current language stating that any activities be conducted on his/her own time and that he/she could not use their position with the city in conjunction with the campaign. 2. If elected to office, the employee would be required to take an unpaid leave of absence rather than to be required to separate from City service, if the elective office and employee's City position were determined to be incompatible. Mark Dunbar of the Fire Department was present and had recently contacted Farrar regarding the provision. Under the current rules, if an employee lives in another community and wants to run for office in that community, the employee would take a • leave of absence. It would not be incompatible. If elected, the employee could serve. Barrett mentioned in incompatibility of an employee serving in the State legislature • requiring 6 months of the year. Crowley felt the language was interpretative but needs to be firmer and should be strictly for running for municipal office. Dunbar said the current policy requires him to take a leave of absence from the Fire Department and financially restricts him from running for an elective office. Barrett said the City did not want to be in a position to pay an employee at time and one-half to make up time due to time off. Allen expressed concerns that the issue is beyond financial and doesn't want to see employees restricted from serving the public. Employees could run for office on their own time. Barrett stressed that the incompatibility issue needs to be addressed up front prior to running a political ofFice. Crowley said that City of Bangor employees should not be seeking a position on the Bangor City Council. Farrington said the two primary points are conflict and performance. The City needs to protect its taxpayers when hiring and dealing with employee's performance, and Farrington felt it would be beneficial to the City to have representatives in the Legislature. Farrington indicated the revised Section 9.9.2 was well written and defined. Dunbar, Bangor Firefighter for 15 years, said that he considers a seat in the Legislature would fulfill his responsibility as a firefighter for Bangor taxpayers. Crowley replied that a decision has to be made on a policy that one size fits all, not just for one employee. Barrett said that determinations would be made on a case by case basis. • The Committee agreed to the following modifications be made to Section 9.9.2 of the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations. A motion was made and seconded. 1) Specific language precluding employees from seeking election to the Bangor City Council. 2) Not requiring employees to take a leave of absence during any campaign for political office but retaining and clarifying restrictions concerning the employee's use of City time, resources, and misuse of his/her authority/ influence during the campaign. 3) Requiring the employee to notify the City Manager in advance of seeking political office so that a determination can be made as to whether the elective office and City position conflict or are incompatible. 4) If the elective position and City position are determined to be incompatible, the employee will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence, rather than having to terminate his/her employment with the City, if the employee is elected to office. Staff will prepare a revised Section 9.9.2 incorporating the modifications discussed. It will be brought back to the March 13th Government Operations Committee for further review. Allen asked if Dunbar would be allowed to run for legislative office. ! Barrett said it would have to be reviewed in light of Union Contracts.