Public Protection Committee
Minutes of 10:30 A.M., May 21, 2010 Meeting
Town Office Meeting Room
A list of abbreviations can be found at the end of these minutes.
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at approximately 10:30 A.M. by Chairman Dennis Shubert.
Roll Call of Members
Attendance |
Present |
Attendance |
Present |
“Voting Members (10 total)” |
|
Citizen Rep. Kathy Branch (Kathy) |
No |
Citizen Rep. Mary-Lee Bayne (MLB) |
Exc. |
Pub. Works Dir. Tony Smith (TS) |
Yes |
Citizen Rep. Katie Bell (KB) |
Yes |
Police Chief Jim Willis (JW) |
Yes |
Fire Chief Mike Bender (MB) |
Yes |
“Non-voting attendees/at large” |
|
Harbormaster Shawn Murphy (SM) |
No |
Interim Town Manager Durlin Lunt |
Yes |
NEHA Joanne Robbins (JR) |
No |
BOS Liaison Rick Mooers (RM) |
No |
Citizen Rep. Dennis Shubert (DS) |
Yes |
MDWD Mgr. Paul Slack (PS) |
No |
Citizen Rep. Sharon Gilley (SG) |
No |
Basil Mahaney (BM) for JR-NEHA |
No |
Citizen Rep. Sumner Roulon-Miller |
Yes |
|
|
Others: None.
Item 1 of Agenda: Review of Minutes
Approved 5-0: SRM-JW. (TS arrived at approximately 10:40 A.M. and missed the vote.)
Non-Agenda Item
SRM asked to discuss the role of the PPC in recommending action to the BOS. His concern was initially prompted by a discussion held between the BOS and MB and JW about the two-way radio situation. His concern increased during the May 17th presentation by TS to the BOS about the renovations proposed for the administrative, police and fire departments workspace. He feels the PPC should be an advocate for the DH’s, giving them more clarity. He also felt that the PPC represents the people.
DH said he felt the PPC was charged with identifying problems and producing optional solutions to the problems. He said the DH’s are to report to the BOS as professionals in their fields and that the PPC has a parallel track to work with the DH’s and report to the BOS too.
The mission statement was reviewed.
KB said she felt that the role of the PPC was to look at the entire issue, whatever the issue might be at the time, and present findings to the BOS. She asked TS if he felt the PPC had been helpful to which TS said it had.
DS stated that his thrust has been fact-finding and that we should have pushed harder on some issues. He went on to say that the PPC cannot speak for the DH’s.
SRM stated that the PPC should endorse what a DH says after the PPC has reviewed the issue. He feels the PPC should be in attendance at BOS meetings as support for the DH when they have something to present to the BOS.
Regarding the proposed renovations to the PD, JW felt he had BOS support since CB assisted in discussions about the design of the renovations, the TM was in agreement with the changes and the funds were available. He did not feel the PPC was necessarily needed in this case. He did stress that there may be times when he does need PPC assistance.
Item 2 of Agenda: Discussion of misdirection by HCCC
It was pointed out that the HCCC should be the HCRCC (Hancock County Regional Communication Center). Apparently they gave the wrong directions to an emergency responder, sending them to Seal Cove instead of Seal Harbor. JW said id anyone is ever aware of an instance like that with our dispatchers to please let him know.
Non-Agenda Item
JW said he has been working on a mission statement for the PD. He has officers with 6 months to 35 years of experience and it shows in some of the recommendations from staff for comments of the mission statement. He handed out copies of mission statements from other PD’s.
It was generally agreed that the words protect, accept, respect, help, friendly and partnership should be included if possible. TS said he would help JW with it in some way if he wished. JW agreed.
Item 3 of Agenda: Reconsideration of priorization of identified deficiencies
3a. PD: JW discussed the sketch of the proposed renovations. TS said that the renovations proposed for the harbormaster facilities includes public restrooms. If the restrooms were kept open all year, the public restrooms and hallway outside PD could be converted to PD space in the future.
3b. FD: TS discussed the proposed firewall and second means of egress from MB’s office. He said MMA considers the office to have one means of egress and is requiring a second one. The Sate Fire Marshal considers the space as not having any means of safe egress since people in the office would enter a more hazardous area (diesel fuel and gasoline) when they moved from it to the truck bays. Since the office can be considered for business, they will accept a single means of egress and will allow up to 30 people in the office.
At a question from DS, MB said staffing is maintaining the status quo. MB pointed out that the FD will be replacing its tanker in 2011.
We, the PPC, agreed that we have a consensus that the consolidation of FD’s on MDI does not offer any significant advantages.
3c. DS summarized the original PPC top three priorities deserving of attention as the PD space, FD space and the rehabilitation or replacement of the highway garage. He asked if the group agreed that the highway garage should be moved to the top of the PPC priority list as the item that needs attention first. This was moved, seconded and approved in the affirmative. (KB-JW: 5-0). TS did not vote in accordance with PPC policy that prohibits DH’s from voting on items directly impacting their department.
YES: MB, DS, SRM, KB and JW.
NO: None
ABSTAINED: TS.
KB asked MB if the proposed renovations to the FD office address only egress. MB said she was correct.
Item 4 of Agenda: Review PD Report
Tabled due to time constraints.
Item 5 of Agenda: Review FD Report.
Tabled due to time constraints.
Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 Noon. Acclamation (An oral vote, especially an enthusiastic vote of approval taken without formal ballot: a motion passed by acclamation.)
Next Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for July 9, 2010 at 10:30 AM, in the town office meeting room.
Abbreviations |
Note |
Description |
Note |
Description |
Admin |
Administration Department |
OC |
Otter Creek |
AED |
Automatic External Defibrillator |
PM |
Pretty Marsh |
BH |
Bar Harbor |
PS |
Pump Station |
BOS |
Board of Selectmen |
PT |
Part-time |
COC |
Chamber of Commerce |
PW |
Public Work’s |
COA |
College of the Atlantic |
R&R |
Recruitment & Retention |
DH |
Department Head |
REG |
Regionalization |
EMS |
Emergency Medical Services |
SLAM |
Original Architects for TO |
FAQ |
Frequently Asked Questions |
SHL |
Schoolhouse Ledge |
FCC |
Federal Communications Commission |
SH |
Seal Harbor |
FD |
Fire Department |
SV |
Somesville |
FF |
Fire Fighter |
SWH |
Southwest Harbor |
FT |
Full-time |
SRM |
Sumner Roulon-Miller |
MDWD |
Mount Desert Water District |
TO |
Town Office |
MMA |
Maine Municipal Association |
TM |
Town Manager |
MRm |
Meeting Room |
WC |
Warrant Committee |
NEH |
Northeast Harbor |
WWTP |
Wastewater Treatment Plant |
NEHA |
NEH Ambulance Service |
|
|
NFPA |
National Fire Protection Assoc. |
|
|
| 