Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety And Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Portland council postpones vote on police aerial vehicle after calls for more public review
Summary
Council postponed consideration of an order authorizing the police department to acquire an aerial vehicle, voting to postpone the item (new date March 2) after councilors requested a workshop or committee review to address public questions.
Portland, Maine — The City Council postponed consideration of an order to approve the police department’s acquisition of an aerial vehicle until a later meeting after councilors and members of the public asked for more information and broader public discussion.
Clerk read Order 88-25-26, described in the reading as approving a police aerial vehicle under 25 M.R.S.A. §4501. Councilor Ali moved to postpone consideration to a later date; councilors debated date options on the record and agreed to postpone the item to March 2 to allow either a workshop or further committee consideration. The motion to postpone was seconded and carried.
Councilors discussed the history of the item in committee — one councilor noted the item had appeared multiple times in the Health and Human Services (HHS) committee and had received public comment previously — and several councilors said the extra time would allow citizens and staff to address outstanding questions raised by residents. A councilor also said some concerns raised had come from fellow councilors rather than the police chief.
What happens next: The council postponed final consideration of Order 88-25-26 to the next identified meeting on March 2. Councilors proposed either a workshop or committee hearing to answer public questions before a final vote.
