City Outlines Task Force Members & Process
Mayor Brennan has established a task force to review the City’s inspections programs.
The task force will conduct an internal review of city codes and ordinances. Following this work, the task force will review fire and code inspections policies and practices. Of particular interest will be recently completed reports that were focused on staffing levels.
20-24 Noyes Street. Scene of a three-alarm fire on Saturday, November 1st., that left 6 young tenants dead.
The task force will draft recommendations that will be shared by the Acting City Manager in her regular meetings with Neighborhood Association representatives for comment, and then forwarded to the Public Safety, Health and Human Services Committee for consideration in February 2015.
Task force members will include City staff, landlord representatives and a tenant representative. A technical consultant from the Boston fire department, Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Fleming, will also serve the group. Below is a complete list of task force members:
· Julie Sullivan, City of Portland Acting DHHS Director – Staff to the Task Force and Social Services Representative
· Joseph Fleming, Deputy Fire Chief, Boston Fire Department – Technical Consultant
· Tammy Munson, City of Portland Inspections Division Director – Code Enforcement Rep
· Jon Rioux, City of Portland Inspections Deputy Director – Code Enforcement Rep
· Rich Bianculli, City of Portland Neighborhood Prosecutor – Corporation Counsel & Police Department Rep
· Keith Gautreau, City of Portland Deputy Fire Chief, Portland Fire Department – Fire Dept. Rep
· Tuck O’Brien, Chairman, Portland Planning Board
· Julie Gregor, Inspection Supervisor for HUD Section 8 Programs – Portland Housing Authority Rep
· Carl Winslow, Southern Maine Landlord Association – Landlord Rep
· Crandall Toothaker, Southern Maine Landlord Association – Landlord Rep
· Kathryn McGovern, Esq., Pine Tree Legal Assistance – Tenant Rep
The first meeting of the task force will be held December 3rd. Recommendations should be in front of City Council by February of next year. The City plans to have extensive public education on any adopted changes to city policy and procedures.
Portland Fire Chief Jerry LaMoria urges residents, “Please remember to regularly check your smoke detectors to make sure they are in working order, replace the batteries on a semi-annual basis, and establish and practice a fire escape plan.”
For anyone who has fire safety questions or concerns that they’d like to talk about, please call City Fire Prevention officials at 207.482.LIFE or email life@portlandmaine.gov.
