The Town Council is seeking citizen volunteers to serve three-year terms on a number of boards and committees. Although the Town of Gorham employs about 250 people who provide municipal services, the Town Charter assigns many policy and procedural decisions to volunteers who serve their community without pay. They include Town Council members, as well as those Gorham residents who donate their time, interest, and expertise as members of boards and committees. Citizen participation is essential to democratic governance.
Currently there are seventeen open positions on ten town boards and committees. Time requirements range from occasional meetings to a commitment to meet twice a month. All meetings are open to the public and involve making decisions or recommendations for action by various municipal departments and the Town Council.
Anyone interested in applying to serve on one of the boards or committees should complete and submit an application before Friday, Jan. 26, 2024. Committee Volunteer Applications are available on-line on the Town of Gorham website. You may also contact the Town Clerk’s office at (207) 222-1670, or email Town Clerk Laurie Nordfors at lnordfors@gorham.me.us for information. The Appointments Committee will schedule short informal interviews with applicants starting in February and the Town Council will appoint the new board and committee members at their March meeting.
The following information about boards and committees seeking members are summaries of descriptions provided by the Town.
The Planning Board has seven members with two open positions. It meets on the 1st and sometimes 3rd Mondays. They perform duties authorized by the town and state pertaining to zoning, sub-divisions, and land-use. All private ways, sub-divisions, major site plans and special exception applications are reviewed by the Planning Board and followed by public hearing before making recommendations to the Town Council.
The Board of Assessment Review has three members with one open position. It meets when necessary to review, on behalf of the property Assessor, written applications from taxpayers for abatement and makes recommendations to the Assessor. It is also charged with adopting regulations regarding the procedure for assessment review.
The Gorham Conservation Commission has seven members with two open positions. It meets every other month and is responsible for the care and supervision of public parks, subject to Town Council approval. It directs expenditure of funds appropriated for improvement. In conjunction with the Planning Board, the Commission conducts research into local land areas and seeks to coordinate the activities of organizations with similar purposes. They may advertise, prepare, print, and distribute books, maps, and other media. The Commission keeps an index of all open areas within Gorham.
The Board of Trustees for Baxter Memorial Library has nine members with two open positions. It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of the month. The Board is responsible for the management of the public library “in every particular.”
The Board of Appeals has seven members with one open position. It usually meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Members hear and make decisions on appeals from decisions of the Code Enforcement Officer regarding the Land Use and Development Code. It is, therefore, a semi-judicial board.
The Economic Development Corporation has nine members with three open positions. It meets on the 2nd or 3rd Wednesday of the month. It fosters, encourages, and assists the physical location, settlement, or resettlement of industrial, manufacturing, commercial, fishing, agricultural, recreational, and other business enterprises within Gorham. It can purchase, lease, or acquire, hold, use, manage, improve, develop and otherwise deal and trade in property of every kind. It can sell or dispose of these properties.
The Historic Preservation Commission has seven members with two open positions. It meets when needed. The Commission reviews applications for historic properties, historic districts, and landmarks. After holding public hearings, it makes recommendations to the Town Council. It issues Historic Preservation Certificates needed before moving or demolishing an historic building. It reviews applications for construction of new residential units in an Historic District. It provides education about historic preservation and maintenance of historic property. It keeps an inventory of property in Historic Districts, landmarks, and historic sites.
The Fair Hearing Board has five members with one open position. It meets when necessary to hear appeals from decisions by the Welfare Director.
The Revolving Loan Fund Committee has seven members with two open positions. It meets when necessary to provide oversite to the commercial loan programs of the town, including the Revolving Loan Fund. It approves or rejects loan applications, makes loan modifications, and oversees loan foreclosure actions.
The Board of Health has three members. One must be a physician and one a woman. One position is open. The Board acts as an advisory body to the local health officer. It makes recommendations on issues such as a proposed state ban on flavored tobacco products, and requests for Federal funds to treat opioid dependency.