Janet Kuech asked the Council to consider changing the Town Charter to allow town employees to be able to run for town office. She stated that she has enough signatures on her nomination papers but is not allowed to run for the Town Council because she works for the School Department.
Chairman Hartwell expressed his concern with the ongoing issues at the Silver Bullet recycling bins around town. He would like the town to better enforce the rules on recycling to cut down on contamination at the bins.
Town Manager, Ephrem Paraschak, addressed the concerns of the public on the Main Street construction project. He reminded people that the reason the steel plates were on the roads was because the DOT does not allow construction over holiday weekends. Going forward, he stated that there will be improvements in the Village. He also congratulated Chief Dan Jones on his retirement and thanked him for his four years of service to the Town of Gorham. He revealed that the Fire Department has received a grant for $94,000 to help install sprinklers in the West Gorham Fire Station. He also recognized Sharon LaFlamme and the Finance Department for earning the Excellence Award in Town Financial Reporting for the 15th consecutive year.
School Council Chairman Wright thanked staff and parents for helping to make the transition into the new school year go as smoothly as possible. He detailed the list of summer work that had been completed at the schools. He noted that the GHS Building Committee reviewed the latest designs for the GHS Renovation/Addition and agreed that the School Committee needs to discuss the next steps. He reported that the Narragansett Modular project is continuing to move forward.
The Town Council will not send a proposed amendment to the Land Use & Development Code to the Planning Board for public hearing and their recommendation. The proposed amendment would require a satisfactory water test on private wells prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The full proposal can be found on the town’s website. (1 yea, 6 nays: Phillips, Wilder Cross, Pratt, Smith, Hager, Hartwell)
The Town Council will amend the Land Use & Development Code to allow for a reinstated Middle School Impact Fee.
The Town Council will adopt a Disorderly Housing Ordinance. The purpose is to eliminate the proliferation of properties with occupants who disturb the peace and tranquility of their neighborhoods. The full ordinance can be read on the town’s website.
A liquor license renewal was issued to M and G X-Max II, LLC, dba Ocean Gardens Restaurant and Tavern located at 390 Main Street.
The Town Council authorized the Town Clerk to issue the warrant for the November 5, 2019 Annual Municipal Election. The polls will be open from 7 a.m.- until 8 p.m.
The Town Council appointed the following people for the designated voting districts and if any of the following should fail to serve, the Town Clerk is authorized to appoint substitutes.
District 1-1: Susan Emerson, Warden and Laurel Smith, Ward Clerk
District 1-2: Katherine Corbett, Warden and Cornelia Loughran, Ward Clerk
District 2: Martha Towle, Warden and Nancy Kenty, Ward Clerk
Central: Paula Nystrom, Warden and Teresa Sanborn, Ward Clerk
The Registrar of Voters be in session between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on October 29 and 30; between the hours of 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. on October 31; between the hours of 8 a.m.-1p.m. on November 1 and between the hours of 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on November 4.
The Town Clerk will be processing absentee ballots on November 4 at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and on November 5 at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Brian Plowman’s resignation from the Planning Board was accepted. The Town Council expressed its appreciation for his services to the Town of Gorham.
James Hall was appointed to the Planning Board. His term will end on April 1, 2020.
The Town Council authorized a referendum for November 5, 2019 which will authorize the Town to borrow and expend up to $4,000,000 to finance the cost of the purchase of 93 acres located off Cobb Road and 47.88 acres located off of Libby Avenue, from the M.P. Rines Trust. The referendum will also authorize the Town to borrow and expend up to $1,900,000 to finance the costs of survey, design, local, state and federal approvals, and the construction of the initial phases of road and utility infrastructure on the property. A public hearing is scheduled for October 1, 2019 to discuss the referendum.
Paraschak was directed to execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement with M.P. Rines, Trustee of the M.P. Rines Trust, in a form found in the full minutes on the town’s website, for the acquisition of approximately 141 acres of land located on Libby Avenue and Cobb Road in Gorham, for a total cost not to exceed $4,000,000.
The Town Council authorized the transfer of $25,000 from the Land Acquisition Fund for the purposes of concept design work for a future industrial park. The funds will be replaced in the Land Acquisition Fund after the issuance of bonds for the project.
The Town Manager was instructed to transition the position of Economic Development Director from part time to full time as outlined and approved in the FY2020 budget. (6 yeas, 1 nay: Smith)
The Town Manager was also authorized to enter into a lease agreement with the Shaw Family Foundation for the purposes of public use of the Shaw Cherry Hill Farm property located off of lower Main Street. The Town Council offers its utmost appreciation on behalf of the citizens of Gorham for the continued generosity of the Shaw Family in promoting and maintaining outdoor opportunities in the Town of Gorham.
The Town Council authorized staff to hire a third party estimator to review projects before going to the voters as determined by the Council. (5 yeas, 2 nays: Shepard, Hager)
The Town Council adopted a revised fire/rescue department fee schedule. Full details can be found on the town website.
The Town Manager was authorized to enter into a three-year agreement with Cumberland County for continued regional assessing services.
The Town Council went into an Executive Session for the annual performance evaluation of the Town Manager.
The full town council meeting minutes are available at www.gorham-me.org.