REPORT OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GORHAM TOWN COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 1, 2005
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.
Roll Call: Chairman Loveitt; Councilors Dugas, Justice, Willett, Phinney, Robinson and Hamblen; David Cole, Town Manager and Connie Loughran, Acting Town Clerk.
Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Phinney and VOTED to approve the minutes of the January 4, 2005 meeting.
There were no public comments.
Councilor Justice commended the Chairman on his roll as the master of ceremonies at retired Town Clerk, Brenda Caldwell’s party. Councilor Hamblen reported that it appears that there will be a good turnout of veterans for the Memorial Day Parade. Councilor Hamblen requested that the Town send a letter to Time Warner Cable Company regarding the poor level of phone and cable service in Gorham.
Chairman Loveitt complimented the Council who all attended Brenda Caldwell’s career celebration and he recognized the contribution of David Cole and Jeri Sheldon in organizing the celebration. Chairman Loveitt also recognized Gorham Rescue Service and Terry Deering in particular regarding a professional and well organized rescue that took place recently on Brandy Brook Hill. The Chairman would like to have the Council, School Committee, Superintendent and the Town Manager meet with the Legislators to see what the current tax reform means to them.
David Cole reported that there would be an open house at Scarborough Town Office at 4 p.m. on February 10, 2005 and that the Absentee Ballots are available for the March 8, 2005 Referendum Election.
Councilor Phinney reported that he has been approached by a number of people with the following issues: the condition of the Welcome to Gorham signs at the entrance to Town; disappointment that there are no Annual Reports, and; the desire to see seasonal banners on light posts in the Village Centers. Chairman Loveitt will be checking with Carrabassett Water Company regarding banners.
Unfinished Business
Item #7010 The Order as moved and seconded at a previous meeting was VOTED, that the Town Council approve a Class II Victualer’s License in the name of Susan Duchaine, d/b/a The Fry Guy at Narragansett Street. 6 yeas. 1 nay (Justice)
Item #7031 The Order as moved and seconded at a previous meeting was moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Phinney to Amend the prepared order by inserting the word Concept after Tannery Brook Park in three instances, replacing the words cannot provide significant with may provide limited . 7 yeas. The Order as amended was VOTED resulting in the following:
Whereas, in 1999, the Town of Gorham accepted a donation of approximately 80 +/- acres of land from the Gorham Savings Bank, without any restrictions on the future use of said land, which is located off the Gray Road (Route 202), and
Whereas, the Parks and Conservation Commission has developed a plan for this property, hereafter called the Tannery Brook Park Concept Plan, and
Whereas, the Town Council held a public hearing on the proposed plan on November 9, 2004, and
Whereas the Town Council recognizes that the Town is still growing and may need this property for other uses in the future but wishes to provide guidance for the orderly use and development in the interim period of time, and
Whereas the Town Council recognizes that the Town has many capital needs and therefore may provide limited funding towards the development of this property,
Now, Therefore, Be It Ordered that the Town Council adopts the Tannery Brook Park Concept Plan and specifically reserves the right to amend said plan at any time in the future to accommodate the future needs of the Town of Gorham, and
Be It Furthered Ordered that the Town Council does not authorize the use of any Federal, State or other funding grant for the purpose of developing this property that would restrict the Town’s ability to amend the Tannery Brook Park Concept Plan or change the use of this property in the future. 7 yeas.
The meeting recessed for a public hearing regarding the renewal of Massage Therapist/Establishment Licenses. There was no public comment and the public hearing closed at 7:32 p.m.
Item #7073 Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Justice and ORDERED that the Town Council approve the renewal of the following Massage Therapist/Establishment Licenses:
Bernadette W. Curtis d/b/a Holistic Pathways Yoga & Healing Center
Cynthia Sue Doyle of 7 Clay Road
Marie King Hardman d/b/a ReUnion
Carolyn Parker d/b/a Gorham Pines Massage Therapy 7 yeas.
The meeting recessed for a public hearing on the referendum question to be voted on March 8, 2005 to authorize the issuance of Bonds in an additional amount up to $5,000,000 for the redesign, renovation and equipping of the existing Shaw Middle School for reuse as a Municipal Center.
Brian Curley of PDT Architects and Owens McCullough of Sebago Technics made brief presentations regarding the project. The public meeting space would accommodate 130 chairs; the formal front entry would be maintained and a new entry replicating the front entry would be created in the court yard. The original gym size would be restored and there is a back up generator already in the facility as well as underground fuel storage. There will be cable drops in the public spaces. Mr. McCullough stated there would be a 6 foot wide concrete sidewalk and granite curbing and new surfaces in the parking areas. The front of the building would be dressed up.
Several members of the public spoke regarding cost of the renovation and the additional traffic on Morrill Avenue and could not support the project. Three members of the public spoke in favor of the project. The public hearing closed at 8:30 p.m.
Item #7074 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Phinney and ORDERED that the Town Council appropriate $9,000 from the Contingency account for the development of a Strategic Plan for Fire and Emergency Protection Services. 6 yeas 1 nay (Hamblen)
Item #7075 The motion was moved and seconded, that the Town Council authorize staff to prepare an amendment to the Town’s Charter that would prohibit the Town Council from making recommendations on any future referendum, that is not otherwise required by law FAILED OF PASSAGE. 0 yeas. 7 Nays.
Item #7076 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Justice and ORDERED, that the Town Council refer a proposal to amend Chapter III of the Land Use and Development Code by adding a new Section V, called “Improvements,” that would require all public improvements to be completed by the time that 50% of lots or units are developed, to the Ordinance Committee for their review and recommendation. 7 yeas.
Prior to the above vote a motion to amend the order to send the proposal to the Planning Board FAIL OF PASSAGE. 3 yeas. 4 nays. (Dugas, Loveitt, Phinney and Hamblen)
Item #7077 Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Justice and ORDERED that the Town Council accept the January 10, 2005 letter of resignation from the Town Assessor. 7 yeas.
Item #7078 Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Phinney the prepared order. Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Robinson and VOTED to AMEND the proposed order by adding for collector projects after15%. 7 yeas .
The Order as amended was VOTED resulting in the following:
Ordered that the Town Council endorse the road projects, including amended projects, for the Town of Gorham recently approved by PACTS as included in the attached, and
Be It Further ORDERED, that the Town Council acknowledges the Town’s local share costs, which normally is 15% for collector projects. 7 yeas.
Item #7079 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Robinson and ORDERED that:
Whereas, the Town Council had a traffic study done by Deluca-Hoffman, called the Gorham Industrial Access Study, that identified the need for a traffic circle at Mosher Corner, and
Whereas, the Traffic Study was accepted by the Town Council on October 8, 1999, and
Whereas, the Town Council determined that a traffic circle would help reduce traffic problems, and
Whereas, the Town applied for a project to construct a traffic circle at Mosher’s Corner, and
Whereas, the traffic problems that the traffic circle would address still exist and have grown worse,
Now Therefore Be It Ordered that the Town Council wishes to have this project application remain active.
Item #7080 Moved by Councilor Phinney, seconded by Councilor Willett the prepared order. Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Willett to amend the proposed order by inserting after (6) (A) to discuss the position of Town Clerk and Tax Assessor and pursuant to paragraph (D). 7 yeas.
The Order, as amended, was VOTED resulting in the following:
Ordered that the Town Council go into executive session pursuant to Title 1, M.R.S.A., Section 405 (6)(A) to discuss the position of Town Clerk and Tax Assessor and pursuant to paragraph (D) to discuss contract negotiations. 7 yeas.
Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Justice to adjourn. 7 yeas. Time of adjournment 9:36 p.m.
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING,
__s/Cornelia C. Loughran___________
Acting Town Clerk
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