ROCKLAND, Maine — The city councilors were split Monday night on whether to restart a drug education program in the local schools.
Councilors also were divided on whether the next harbor master should be a police officer.
More information will be gathered on both issues before a decision is made on either proposal.
Councilor William Jillson, who was elected to the council last month, proposed that the city reinstitute the drug prevention program formerly known as Drug Abuse Resistance Education, or DARE. Jillson’s father, James Jillson, used to teach the program as a police officer and is now retired from the force.
Councilor Valli Geiger said, however, that she had no interest in having DARE back in the schools.
“Not a single study [shows] DARE was an effective program in reducing drug use,” Geiger said. “We should not be using non-evidence based programs.”
Councilor William Clayton said he was unaware DARE was no longer being provided to the schools. He said he recalls being taught by Jillson’s father.
Clayton said it was important to start early to educate students about the dangers of drugs. He said there should be some type of drug prevention education in the schools.
Rockland Police Chief Bruce Boucher said the DARE program has morphed over the years and now focuses on school safety, Internet safety and bullying prevention.
The councilors also discussed whether the next harbor master should be a police officer.
Harbor master Ed Glaser is retiring Feb. 1, and City Manager James Chaousis said this was the time to review the structure of the department to see if changes should be made. Chaousis said Brunswick and Falmouth both have harbor masters who are part of the police department.
Harbor Management Commission member Samuel Radley said neither of those communities have the amount of harbor facilities that Rockland does and that the city has one of the busiest harbors in the state.
“Looking at this as a law enforcement position is a mistake,” Radley said.
He said the position is a managerial one, pointing out that the department is one of the few in the city that runs in the black by generating more revenues than it has expenses.
Harbor Management Commission Chair Melissa Maker said Gloucester, Massachusetts, has a police officer serve as harbor master. This is important, she said, when law enforcement is needed in the harbor.
Geiger questioned, however, whether a police officer would be the right fit for a harbor master, saying officers would have a different world view that would focus on crime rather than being a concierge.
Mayor Louise MacLellan-Ruf cautioned Geiger.
“I take umbrage to that,” MacLellan-Ruf said. “I know five to six officers on the department who would be great concierges.”
The Harbor Management Commission will develop recommendations that will be presented to the manager and council.