Finance Committee - 08/19/2020 Page 9
There being no objection, Mayor Donchess suspended the rules to allow for the introduction of three
additional communications received after the agenda was prepared.
From: Tim Cummings, Economic Development Director
Re: Memorandum Seeking Approval of $35,167.56 for Jersey Barriers (Pilot) & Explaining the Current
Plan Narrowing Main Street with Barriers
MOTION BY ALDERMAN HARRIOTT-GATHRIGHT TO ACCEPT, PLACE ON FILE, AND APPROVE THE
PURCHASE OF 20 (10-ft.) CURVED CONRETE JERSEY BARRIERS IN THE AMOUNT OF $35,167.56
FROM CROWD CONTROL WAREHOUSE. FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE GOFERR FUND
GRANT, BY ROLL CALL.
ON THE QUESTION
Mayor Donchess
And Mr. Cummings is here to explain this item and | see he is on so | will turn it over to him.
Tim Cummings Director Economic Development
Thank you Mr. Mayor, for the record, Tim Cummings, Director of Economic Development. | am more than
happy to discuss, actually the broader plan or conversation that this specific expenditure is going to ultimately
trigger. So before you is a request to spend no more than $36,000.00 for a specific type of barrier. Why are
we asking for this? Because ultimately we are in the early stages of trying to contemplate whether we should
continue the narrowing of Main Street into next season. | had a conversation with PEDC last night and this is
the start of a conversation. | know Legislation is going to be required to amend the previous approved
Ordinance or Resolution that was adopted.
Ultimately, we have heard positive feedback over the last few months. It seems as though there is strong
interest to continue with the narrowing of the Main Street for the future outdoor dining seasons. When we first
started this, we were in the midst of COVID-19 and we were just starting to open back up not just as a City but
in the State and time was of the essence. We really looked at having the barriers through the lens of what was
safe and functional but not necessarily with an eye towards aesthetics. Moving forward, you know, there’s a lot
of variables that still need to be decided upon; my Memo goes into detail on some of those variables that we
will need to discuss. | hope that this group here is part of that conversation as we move forward. But
ultimately what we would like to do is if there is a desire, an ambition and it is my recommendation we do
continue with the narrowing of Main Street, we do it with an eye towards having a little bit better of the
aesthetics.
So with that being said, we’ve outreached to a couple groups that could provide us some barriers. We want to
pilot them for the next month or so along Main Street and assess, you know, based off of the feedback that we
get from the community, based on DPW’s input, based on your input as well. We will then ultimately look to try
to go out for a procurement where we would own barriers. So with that being said, Mr. Mayor and through you
to the Finance Committee, | am asking for you to favorably approve this request of just over $35,000.00 so we
can start this conversation.
Mayor Donchess
So of course, we are leasing the barriers now and if we are going to continue this in future years, it would be
better to purchase the barriers because the lease expense is quite a bit. And secondly, we want to put these
out so people, including The Board of Aldermen and the Public can see a couple of different alternatives that
we could ultimately pursue to get public feedback and feedback from the Board of Aldermen regarding those
alternative. Alderwoman Klee?
