Chairman Pratt opened the meeting. There were 11 members of the public in attendance.
Roll Call: Chairman Pratt, Councilors Shepard, Phillips, Wilder Cross, Hartwell, Hager and Kuech. Also in attendance was Town Manager Ephrem Paraschak and Deputy Town Clerk Paula Nystrom.
Residents Fred Adams and Noah Miner, both from Green Street, expressed concerns about the removal of trees from Robie Park recently. They both said that if this space is being used for parking for High School students, to remind parents that driving a car and parking at the high school is a privilege and not a right. We must not take any more of Robie Park.
Councilor Kuech will attend the Little Rams Early Childhood meeting May 19, 2022. She also wanted Chairman Pratt to know she achieved her 48th Lifetime Blood Donation.
Councilor Wilder Cross sang praises to “The Northern Force” Gorham/Falmouth High School Robotics team for their performance at Regional Finals in Springfield, MA and for being awarded “Most Spirited” team. She attended the monthly GPCOG meeting which included a presentation to provide housing for refugees and asylum seekers in the Portland area. GPCOG will continue to make a priority reliable public transportation as well as addressing the need for affordable, temporary and optional housing.
The Village Alliance met, reminding residents of two art-related Village events. May 13, 2022, 7-9 p.m., First Parish Church will hold an “Inside Outside Digital Art Show” featuring local artists’ original work projected on the outside of the church building. Then on June 4, 2022, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the second “Art On South Art Fair” will be held on Preble Street Common (the green space next to Robie Gym) where local artists will offer their original artwork for sale.
The Village Alliance and Village Beautification groups are constantly working to make the Village an inviting place to walk and shop. Plans are for more flowers and pedestrian scale lighting at least along one corridor leading to the Village.
Thank you to the Recreation Department staff for working on the Preble Street Park getting it ready for Memorial Day as well as events and the summer to come.
Councilor Phillips reported the joint School Committee, Town Council and Facilities Committee met to go over the capital needs for all areas and to see how to merge these lists. They also discussed adopting a growth cap for Gorham which will be discussed as an item on this agenda. There is a plan to discuss the Town’s fifteen year capital plans with bonding capabilities and how the Town Council, Facilities and the School Committee can move forward working together rather than separately.
Councilor Hartwell reported that on April 19, 2022 the Ordinance Committee met to discuss the South Gorham Commercial District corridor. Recommendations and changes from Staff were referred back to the Town Council which will be on an upcoming agenda. After receiving a list of outstanding items in the Comprehensive Plan from the Town
Planner, the Ordinance Committee chose three items to bring forward to the Town Council for consideration. They are to create a vernal pool transfer program between low and high value vernal pools; the White Rock Mixed Use district plans and a long term plan for pedestrian development within Gorham. The Recreation Impact fees were tabled. At the next Ordinance meeting they will discuss integrating complete streets within the Village expansion zone. They will also speak on the Fire Suppression Ordinance to modify the increased third party inspection times.
Councilor Hartwell also reminded residents to come out for the Memorial Parade planned by the Recreation Department and to partake in the various Veterans activities available.
Councilor Hager reported that the Finance Committee will meet May 9, 2022.
Chairman Pratt reported that on April 7, 2022 the Jetport Noise Abatement group met. One of the Jetport runways will be closed from April 18 through June 13, 2022 for construction. Therefore the flight patterns have changed so Gorham will notice and hear more planes flying over. On Tuesday, May 10, 2022 there is a Budget Workshop with the Town Council and the School Committee in the Council Chambers at 6:30 p.m.
As always Chairman Pratt made a request for more blood donors and commended Councilor Kuech on her achievement with hers.
Town Manager Paraschak reminded citizens that the Vision Appraisal by Cumberland County Assessing is still going on throughout the town. They should be wrapping up their work by the summer. Sidewalks are being put in on Narragansett Street from State Street to Access Road.
Town Manager Paraschak thanked Public Works for the hard work getting this project done. He also thanked Public Works for the sidewalk and street sweeping and clean up that has been going on from the winter months.
Town Council issued a Special Amusement License to Lone Pine Brewing Company, 48 Sanford Drive. (7 yeas)
Town Council issued a Medical Marijuana License to Josh Moody, 36 Bartlett Road, Unit 8. Property owned by Hinks Realty. (7 yeas)
Town Council issued a Medical Marijuana License to Anthony Digilio, 36 Bartlett Road, Unit 7. Property owned by Hinks Realty. (7 yeas)
Town Council issued a Medical Marijuana License to Matthew Burnham, 36 Bartlett Road, Unit 7. Property owned by Hinks Realty. (7 yeas)
The Town Clerk was authorized to issue the warrant for the July 14, 2020 School Budget Validation Election. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m and the Town Council appointed the following persons for the designated voting districts:
District 1-1 — Susan Emerson, Warden and Laurel Smith, Ward Clerk District 1-2 — Katherine Corbett, Warden and Marie Plummer, Ward Clerk
District 2 — Martha Towle, Warden and Nancy Kenty & Heidi Pratt, Ward Clerks
Central — Paula Nystrom, Warden and Alida Landry, Ward Clerk
Voting hours and details can be found at www.gorham-me.org.
Town Council authorized the Town Manager to enter into a three year contract extension with Cumberland County for Assessing services starting July 1, 2022 and ending June 30, 2025. (6 yeas, 1 nay Hager)
Town Council instructed the Ordinance Committee to review and propose amendments to the Land Use and Development Code that would provide for dwelling unit growth caps in the Town of Gorham while promoting development towards grow areas and away from the rural zones.
Town Council authorized the transfer of up to $234,296 originally allocated for construction of a baseball field at the Chick Property towards the construction of two multi use courts to be completed in conjunction with the Gorham Skate Park Project. (5 yeas, 2 nays Hager and Phillips)
Town Council authorized the Town Manager to enter into a new collective bargaining agreement with the Fire Department Union, Teamsters Local #340. (6 yeas, 1 nay Hartwell)
School Committee Report
Anne Schools, School Committee Chair reported the following:
Impaired Driving
On Thursday May 5th, Gorham High School (GHS) juniors and seniors, in collaboration with the Gorham Police Department will be participating in an impaired driving simulator as a reminder of the dangers of driving while intoxicated. This is purposefully timed just before the GHS prom to try and make sure this important lesson is fresh in their minds.
Speaking of prom, GHS will host their first prom in two years on Saturday, May 7.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The School Department continued its focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion last week by sponsoring a microaggression training for all students and staff across grades 6-12. This training was during student advisory time and was facilitated by Lawrence Alexander from Carney Sando & Associates.
Budget
We are looking forward to our joint budget meeting with the Town Council on May 10, 2022, at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers. During this time the School Committee will present information to the Town Council regarding the proposed FY23 School Budget. We have developed a Q&A document for questions to be asked in advance of the meeting. A link has been sent out to council members.
Internships
Our seniors will be spending the last two weeks of school participating in internship and/or job shadowing experiences beginning May 23. Thank you to our area business people and municipal partners for helping us find placements for these students as they continue to explore what their future will look like.
The full minutes can be read at www.gorham-me.org.