HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004-05-25 Government Operations Committee Minutes • GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE
� MINUTES
May 25, 2004
Councilors Present: Richard Greene, Peter D'Errico, Frank Farrington, Geoff Gratwick
Staff Present: Bob Farrar, Frank Comeau,.Arthur Stockus, Brian Enman
Others Present: Luke Beland, David Ryder
The meeting convened at 5:00 p.m.
1. Mapping, Signage and General Trail Maintenance Project— Bangor City
Forest.
Greene introduced Bangor resident and Boy Scout Eagle candidate Luke Beland
who has proposed undertaking needed improvements in the City Forest. A major
community service project of this type is one of the final requirements of the
� rank of Eagle Scout. Beland has met and conferred with Parks and Recreation
Director Comeau, Public Works Director Stockus and City Forester Perry as part
of developing and planning the project. Beland started by thanking Mr. Farrar,
Mr. Stockus and Mr. Comeau for helping him with his project. Beland said that
he is currently a Life Scout with Troop 8 and is working on his Eagle project in
the City Forest. Beland noted that he and his family treasure the time that they
spend in the City Forest. He said that the maps in the City Forest need to be
improved. His project consists of mapping the trails in the City Forest on a GPS,
and using a GIS designed program to create a map. This recreational map will
include other items of interests such as roads, benches, kiosks, and entrances.
The map will be displayed at the kiosks in the City Forest, on 12 `�You are here."
signs in the City Forest, and through brochures. Beland noted that Perry
suggested that Beland conduct volunteer work on the Moose Trail. The labor
would come from volunteers and adult specialists with attention to safety. He
discussed the types of donations from local business for goods and services.
Beland also indicated that he would be conducting fundraisers to raise money for
this project.
D'Errico wanted to know what Beland would use as a base map. Beland said
that he hoped to obtain sets of coordinates through the GPS and use the
computer program to list details for each trail. Gratwick suggested Beland have
. a draft map available for review, and include handicap accessibility data. He
urged Beland to be conservative in his trimming of the trees on Moose Trail. •
Greene congratulated Beland and noted that the City had recently developed a
standard for our park signage, and wondered if this would be extended to the
"You are here" signs. Stockus said that we should get drafts of the signs in
order to standardize them.
Greene thanked Beland and said that the Committee looks forward to the results.
Beland asked Greene for a signature on his project. D'Errico asked for the
expected completion date of the project. Beland said that he plans to start the
project in June and have it completed by the end of the warm weather.
2. Request to temporarily waive City Event or Activity Entrance Fee Policy
— Bangor Municipal Golf Course.
Comeau said that it recently came to staff's attention that the City's long-
standing practice of not requiring Golf Course employees to pay for golf
privileges at Bangor Muni is contrary to an adopted City Policy which guides
Event and Activity Fees. Given this contradiction between practice and policy,
staff is recommending that the policy be temporarily waived for the current golf
season. This would allow stafF an opportunity to develop a long-term
recommendation/solution to this situation. Additionally, the temporary waiver
would allow the Golf Course to honor its commitment that was made to the
employees through the end of this season. Comeau noted that stafF conducted a �
survey of over forty golf courses in the state and noted that only three did not
have a policy permitting free play for staff. Comeau briefly discussed the various
details.of the difFerent policies. Enman said that it is important to have golfers
be a part of the team at the golf course. Offering a limited golfing schedule to
these employees is a well-deserved benefit. Farrington wanted to know if this
was for all City employees or just those connected with the Golf Course. Enman
replied that it was just for Golf Course employees. D'Errico said that it is a
reasonable request considering that we have already hired these employees with
this benefit. He wanted to know what management thinks of this
recommendation. Farrar said that given that the employees were already hired
this spring with this understanding that it makes sense to honor and fulfill that
commitment for this current year. This request for a waiver would give us an
opportunity to reevaluate the situation and make a formal recommendation for
future years. Farrar said that what we are doing tonight is to recognize that the
policy of the Golf Course contradicts the City established policy, and gives us an
opportunity to make a recommendation for the future. Gratwick indicated that
the City Event or Activity Entrance Fee Policy states that City Council members
and employees are to be treated in the same manner as other citizens and
members of the public for admission to activities or events for which a fee is
charged. He said that he would be interested in seeing what other municipalities
have done, and where do you draw boundaries. Fayrar said that the policy had •
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� been established for this reason, and stafF's plan is to reevaluate the policy to
see if any amendment is necessary. Farrington said that he likes the idea that
employees responsible for their employment location have the benefit of
attending their location events for free. He did agree that Councilors and other
employees should have no special privileges. D'Errico agreed with Farrington.
Enman said that there are restrictions on when employees are allowed to play
the course.
The Committee approved the request to temporarily waive the City Event or
Activity Entrance Fee Policy for the Bangor Municipal Golf Course. Farrar noted
that this needed to go to the full Council for their review.
3. Update— Pancoe Municipal Aquatic Center
Comeau said that the pool is 96% complete at this time. He said that they
would hold a pool dedication ceremony on .7une 17th at 10 am to accommodate
the Pancoes. The pool opening will be ]une 19t". Greene asked what the
secondary power source is. Comeau said that due to the number of pumps at
the facility, there would be a high demand usage of electricity, so there will be a
secondary meter for the high demand months. D'Errico asked about the status
of the Dakin Pool. Comeau said that it was his understanding that the Pool
would remain open this year as the money is in the budget. We will review the
� use of the Dakin Pool and reevaluate its status after this season. If the Dakin
Pool remains open, then the bath house would need to be replaced.
The Committee adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
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