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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-03-16 Government Operations Committee Minutes � Government Operations Committee March 16, 2006 � Minutes Councilor Attendance: Allen, Palmer, Gratwick � �Staff Attendance: Barrett, Farrar, Winsiow, Yardley � � ] stice Assistance Grant Pro ram Police � 1. 2��6 State �f Mame u � Department) � Winslow explained that for several years the City has received monies from the Department of Justice. The formula changed last year and the City and County � are eligible to apply for Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Grant funds in the amount of$18,690 that has been earmarked for the Bangor Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff's Office. Last year's monies were used to support � the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. This year, Bangor's share will be $9,000 - � which the Police Chief proposed to use to support the Special Enforcement Team (SE�. He specifically recommended that the funds be used to purchase � equipment to improve the Department's ability to investigate drug crimes. The equipment includes a body wire, surveillance camera, and a laptop computer dedicated to the team. Responding to Gratwick, Winslow said domestic violence � will continue to be an issue. Drug case involvement will also continue to be a problem. Gratwick talked about juvenile and teen issues in Bangor. Winslow � said Bangor is no different than any other community but perhaps has a higher rate of teen crimes due to Bangor being a service center community. Shoplif�ing _ is a prominent juvenile crime. Winslow said that large groups of young people � are not as significant of an issue in downtown as in the past. Palmer asked why. With some of the activities being scheduled at Pickering Square, it has brought a positive light to the area and becomes less attractive to groups that have � historically caused problems. Winslow also mentioned the zero tolerance policy in place, which is enforced. Responding to Palmer, Winslow said the methadone treatment facility on the Hogan Road has not been a problem to date. Their � parking lot has not been an issue with individuals congregating. Winslow said the department disrupted one meth-amphetamine lab last year: It is a trend � with which he is concerned. The MDEA has individuals trained to secure such � � labs and to disable them. Barrett said that the Community Advisory Group continues to meet with the Hogan Road methadone clinic and there have been � no reported issues involving other tenants in the shopping center. Responding to Allen, Winslow said the equipment to be purchased is stand alone. She asked if there has been an intensity of crimes in the area. Winslow said in his 27 years, � yes but they are not dramatic increases. Winslow said that Edward Bryne was an undercover police officer in New York City who was executed while doing undercover drug work. A motion was made and seconded to approve the City's � intended use of the grant money. . - � � , . ' Chief Winslow repiied 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 , 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? � 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 '