Public Communications:
Residents Charles Hamblen and Kathy Robbins expressed concerns about the Brickyard Quarry and urged data-driven decision making.
Councilor Communications:
Councilor Willis thanked volunteers for the Burn off the Turkey race and Gorham Light Parade.
Councilor Keuch thanked everyone involved in the Gorham Light Parade and applicants for the Board of Trustees-Baxter Memorial Library positions.
Chairperson Phillips thanked Public Works for the holiday display and announced the Gorham Historical Society holiday party on December 8th. She also urged blood donation.
Town Manager Paraschak thanked staff and Public Works for the holiday display. He reminded residents of the winter parking ban and the availability of free sand from Public Works.
The following applications for Medical and Adult Use Marijuana Licenses were renewed for 2025:
- Second Nature, Carl Binette, 44 Sanford Drive. Property owned by Jim Fox
- Premium Processing, Gerard Tardiff, 17 Gorham Industrial Pkwy, Unit C. Property owned by Dave Cowen
- White Pine Technologies, Andrew Clough, 15 Pearson Drive. Property owned by Robert Pearson Deep Sun LLC, Tim Nickerson
- 7 Laurence Drive. Property owned by Bob Pearson
- Skyfall Cannapy, Valeric Nadeau, 5 Little Wing Lane, Unit D. Property owned by Dave Cowen
- T&J Peak Vision LLC, Jeramy Windle, 36 Bartlett Road, Unit 7. Property owned by Hincks Realty LLC Threshold LLC,
- Tanner Brown, 11E Gorham Industrial Pkwy. Property owned by Parkway LLC
- B’s Trees, Michael Barris, 7 County Road, Units A&B. Property owned by 7 County Road LLC
- Flamingo Fine Cannabis, Jared Dinsmore, 5 Little Wing Lane, Unit C. Property owned by Dave Cowen
- DL Farms, Anthony Digilio, 36 Bartlett Road, Units 2 & 4. Property owned by Don Hincks
- XOCC LLC, Alexis Cantara,5 Little Wing Lane, Unit A. Property owned by Dave Cowen
- Green Trap, Green Trap LLC, 84 Olde Canal Way. Property owned by Hani LLC
- West Labs, LLC, Harrison Otterbein, 5 Little Wing Lane, Unit B. Property owned by Calendar Corp.
- Calendar Islands Cannabis Co., Harrison Otterbein, 289 New Portland Road. Property owned by 789 Development LLC.
(6 yeas, 1 nay: Gagnon).
A growth management ordinance to identify a category of growth permits for multi-family dwellings was approved by the Town Council. (5 yeas, 2 nays: Gagnon, Phillips)
Town Council approved the proposed amendments to the Fire Suppression Systems Ordinance. The amendments focused on installation, maintenance, and testing requirements for sprinkler systems in various building types. (7 yeas) The full amendments to the Fire Suppression Systems Ordinance can be found online at https://www.gorham-me.org/node/49/minutes/2024
The Town Council instructed the Finance Committee to review fees for multifamily unit growth permits and propose a fee of $2,000 per unit. This proposal was approved by the council. (7 yeas)
Based on the Ordinance Committees recommendation, Town Council decided not to proceed with an amendment to the Fire Suppression Systems Ordinance that would have removed sprinkler requirements for single-family homes in certain situations. (4 yeas, 3 nays (Gagnon, Lavoie, Phillips)
The council authorized the Ordinance Committee to review the Historic Preservation Ordinance, focusing on the South Street and Gorham Campus Historic Districts. The goal is to recommend changes that promote economic development while preserving historical character. (7 yeas)
The council directed the Capital Improvements Committee to develop a plan to increase Metro ridership and to provide annual ridership statistics. (7 yeas)
A proposal to re-establish a Recreation Department Advisory Committee and appoint two councilors to it failed to gain a second and was not voted on.
Town Council forwarded a proposal for a mixed-use contract zone on the former Gorham Country Club property to the Planning Board for review and public hearing. (7 yeas)
The Town Manager was authorized to enter into a five-year contract with Casella Waste Systems for curbside waste and recycling collection, including the purchase of totes for mechanical collection. (7 yeas)
The Town Council directed staff to review the Land Use & Development Code and propose specific recommendations to simplify the site plan review process. (7 yeas)
A Council workshop was scheduled for January 21, 2025, to focus on goal setting. (7 yeas)
Town Council accepted the resignations from Abby Alden and Linda Maclean and appointed Virginia Wilder Cross and Kassidy Helfant to the Baxter Memorial Library Board of Trustees. (7 yeas)
A proposal to approve a hardship abatement of taxes was withdrawn and did not proceed to a vote.
The full meeting minutes and past meetings can be found online at https://www.gorham-me.org/node/49/minutes.