REPORT OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GORHAM TOWN COUNCIL
July 5, 2005
Chairman Loveitt opened the meeting at 7:01 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Roll Call: Present: Chairman Loveitt; Councilors Dugas, Justice, Willett, Robinson and Hamblen; Town Manager David Cole and Town Clerk Christina Silberman
Absent: Councilor Phinney
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Willett and VOTED to accept the Minutes of the June 7, 2005 Regular meeting. 6 yeas.
Open Public Communications
There were no open public communications.
Councilor Communications
Councilor Robinson thanked Ted Sharpe, Superintendent of Schools, and the School Committee for reinstating step up day in the Gorham schools.
Chairman’s Report
Chairman Loveitt reported that the Shaw School Municipal Center project is on schedule. Planning Board approval has been received and the plans are going well.
Chairman Loveitt and Councilor Robinson met with Morrill Avenue residents and will discuss this when a related item appears on tonight’s agenda.
Mr. Loveitt made an appeal to residents to mow the grass that grows in front of their houses between the sidewalk and the street.
Town Manager’s Report
Town Manager, David Cole, reported that the Shaw school project received site plan approval from the Planning Board and the D.E.P. permit.
Mr. Cole reported on a court case regarding an airstrip in Gorham. The trial lasted 3.5 days and the judge has visited the site. Final arguments were made last week and we are now waiting for the judge’s decision, which could be by the end of the summer.
New Business
The meeting recessed for a Public Hearing regarding renewal of Victauler’s Licenses for 2005. There was no public comment.
Item #7136 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Willett and Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled authorize renewal of a Victauler’s License for 2005 for Gorham PTA. 6 yeas.
The meeting recessed for a Public Hearing regarding renewal of a liquor license for Angelo G. Sotiropoulos d/b/a Gorham House of Pizza. There was no public comment.
Item # 7137 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Willett and Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled authorize renewal of a liquor license for Angelo G. Sotiropoulos d/b/a Gorham House of Pizza. 6 yeas.
Item #7138 The order as read aloud by the clerk was moved by Councilor Justice and seconded by Councilor Willett. Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Justice and VOTED to amend the proposed order to add the following at the end of the proposed order; “in option A, and: Be It Further Ordered that the council re-appropriate funds from the Portable Building Reserve Account in the amount of $1792.04 with the balance of funding needed to come from the town’s TIF account for the purchase of the signs.” 6 yeas.
The order, as amended, was then VOTED resulting in the following.
Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled authorize the purchase of new Welcome to Gorham signs as proposed in option A, and;
Be It Further Ordered that the council re-appropriate funds from the Portable Building Reserve Account in the amount of $1792.04 with the balance of funding needed to come from the town’s TIF account for the purchase of the signs. 6 yeas
Item #7139 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Dugas and Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled refer the issue of drainage problems on Rackleff Way, a private way located in Morrill Place Subdivision off Morrill Avenue, to the Town’s Economic Development /Capital Improvements Committee for their review and recommendation, and:
Be It Further Ordered that the Town Council requests that the Town Manager direct that no further Street Opening Permits or Building Permits be issued until such time as the Town Council’s review is complete. 0 yeas, 6 nays (Dugas, Justice, Willett, Loveitt, Robinson, & Hamblen), item fails.
Public input was given on the above item by the following: John Bannon, the attorney representing the developers; Walter Stinson, the civil engineer for the developers; Amy Mulkerin and Greg McCormack of Pines of Portland II, LLC, the developers; and ten residents near the development, including one letter written to the council and read aloud by Chairman Loveitt.
The council took a short recess.
Item #7140 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Willett and Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled authorize Councilor Loveitt to develop a proposal for repairing and maintaining the Town Clock that shall be brought back to the Town Council at a subsequent meeting for their review. 6 yeas.
Rev. David Butler of First Parish Church gave public comment regarding this issue.
Item #7141 The council had a general discussion regarding grounds maintenance. Chairman Loveitt suggests that the council should think about what to do for next year’s budget. The Public Works department is inheriting a lot of work without an increase in staff. The town may want to look into contracting out some of the mowing and plowing work next year. Councilor Robinson suggests the council have a workshop in the future to discuss these issues. Chairman Loveitt offered to work with Bob Burns, Public Works Director and David Cole, Town Manager, on a proposal regarding this matter for the early fall.
Item #7142 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Robinson and Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled adopt the proposed policy for collection of delinquent personal property tax accounts as recommended by the Finance Committee. 6 yeas.
COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX ACCOUNTS
Annually, all unpaid personal property tax accounts will receive an initial “courtesy” letter letting the property owner know that the personal property taxes are unpaid. This letter will be sent out in mid-June.
Approximately 30 days after the first letter is mailed, a second letter requesting payment of the outstanding personal property taxes plus interest will be sent. In this letter, however, it will state that unless taxes are paid in full or a payment arrangement is made within 30 days, the account will be turned over to a collection agency.
By the end of August, all outstanding personal property tax accounts that have not made payment arrangements with the Town will be turned over to a collection agency for collection action.
The collection agency, as part of its collections process, reports the delinquency to the three major credit bureaus.
Any funds collected by either the Town of Gorham or the collection agency after accounts have been turned over, will be subject to a collection fee as agreed upon with the collection agency. This fee when paid will leave a remaining balance on the collected personal property tax account and will need to be written off.
The collection fee amount remaining on the personal property tax accounts will be written off as follows:
$100 and under – automatic write off by Finance Director
over $100 to $500 – must be approved by Finance Committee
over $500 – requires approval by Town Council
Moved by Councilor Hamblen, seconded by Councilor Robinson and Ordered that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled adjourn the meeting. 6 yeas.
Time of Adjournment - 10:09 pm.
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING Attest: ____________________________
Christina Silberman
Town Clerk
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