REPORT OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE GORHAM TOWN COUNCIL February 7, 2006
Chairman Phinney opened the meeting at 7:04 pm with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call: Present: Chairman Phinney; Councilors Dugas, Justice, Willett, Loveitt, Robinson, & Hamblen, Town Manager, David Cole, and Town Clerk, Christina Silberman.
Moved by Councilor Hamblen, seconded by Councilor Willett, and VOTED to accept the minutes of the January 3, 2006 Regular Meeting, the January 17, 2006 Special Meeting as amended, and the February 3, 2006 Special Meeting. 7 yeas
Open Public Communications
There were no communications from the public.
Councilor Communications
Councilor Robinson reported that the Capital Improvements Committee met on January 31, 2006 and there are two items on tonight’s agenda that were discussed.
Councilor Loveitt reported that he has been appointed to the White Rock School Replacement Committee and they have met and plan to meet at least monthly for the next several years.
Councilor Willett reported that the Finance Committee met on January 24, 2006 and there are a couple of items on the agenda. The investment policy was reviewed. She asked the other councilors to please review the policy and get back to the Finance Committee with feedback. The Finance Committee also discussed the use of credit cards for fire/rescue payments and they reviewed fire/rescue fees. The next Finance Committee meeting is February 28, 2006 at 8 am.
Chairman’s Report
There was an ad hoc School Department / Town recreation meeting last night and they discussed recreation needs and the PDT study of the recreation facilities.
The Shaw School Building Committee met today. Things are going well. They specifically discussed technology. They looked at networking, phones, and similar items to make sure bid requests are accurate.
Town Manager’s Report
The Town Manager reported that the investment policy will be distributed to the rest of the Council this week or next. He asked that the councilors please review it and provide feedback.
The School Committee/Town Council budget workshop scheduled for February 13th has been canceled because the scheduled speaker can not attend and they are waiting to reschedule.
The Town Manager recently issued a five-year service pin to Dani Grady and a fifteen-year service pin to Linda Straw. Both of these employees work at the Baxter Memorial Library.
School Committee Report
Jim Hager, School Committee Chair, reported that the White Rock Project Committee had a kick off meeting last week.
He also explained that high school juniors must attend school on a Saturday to take the SAT exam this year instead of the MEA exam, they are trying to work out a plan to have the students take off a day during the regular school week as a trade off.
There is a legislative document, #1968, in process regarding setting a starting salary for Maine teachers at $30,000 per year. The current starting salary for teachers in Gorham is $29,140 per year. The school department anticipates six new teachers starting in Gorham in the upcoming school year and this would have an effect of approximately $6,000 on the budget.
Mr. Hager stated that Item #7236 on tonight’s agenda will have support from the school department.
Neal Allen and Tony Plante from GPCOG (Greater Portland Council of Governments-Gorham is a member) were not able to attend tonight’s meeting. This item will be rescheduled for March.
Old Business
Reconsideration of Item #7204 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Justice, and VOTED to reconsider this item. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Hamblen, Loveitt, and Phinney).
Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Justice and VOTED to look at the proposed new language for the referendum question. 0 yeas, 7 nays.
New Business
Public Hearing #1 Chairman Phinney opened the Public Hearing. Jennifer Lynn Valentine introduced herself. Chairman Phinney closed the public hearing.
Item #7225 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 the issuance of a new Combined Massage Therapist / Establishment License for Jennifer Lynn Valentine to do business at 510 Main Street. 7 yeas.
Public Hearing #2 Chairman Phinney opened the Public Hearing. Matt Mattingly explained his request. Chairman Phinney closed the public hearing.
Item #7226 Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Justice, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve the application for a new Liquor License from Matt Mattingly D/B/A Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast Inn, 91 South Street. 7 yeas.
Public Hearing #3 Chairman Phinney opened the Public Hearing. There was no public comment. Chairman Phinney closed the public hearing.
Item #7227 Moved by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Justice, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve the renewal of a Liquor License for ARAMARK Educational Services, Inc. at the University of Southern Maine, Gorham. 7 yeas.
Public Hearing #4 Chairman Phinney opened the Public Hearing. There was no public comment. Chairman Phinney closed the public hearing.
Item #7228 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Loveitt, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve the rezoning of 3 parcels of land located on Dingley Spring Road (tax map 76, lots 27.002, 29, & 28) from the Suburban Residential Zone to the Roadside Commercial Zone; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED, that the official zoning maps be adjusted to reflect this change in zoning. 7 yeas.
Item #7229 Chairman Phinney recused himself from this item. Councilor Justice took over as Chairman for this item.
Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Loveitt, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled accept Scroggie Way, located off Osborne Road in Gorham Pines Subdivision, as a public way; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that Scroggie Way be classified as an Urban Access Road. 4 yeas, 2 Nays (Willett and Robinson), 1 abstain (Phinney).
Item #7230 The proposed order was moved by Councilor Willett and seconded by Councilor Justice.
Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Justice and VOTED to amend the order to increase the amount from $4,500.00 to $4,700.00, as recommended by the Town Manager. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Loveitt).
The amended order was then VOTED, resulting in the following. ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled appropriate $4,700.00 from the South Street Sidewalk Reserve account for the purpose of providing a limited survey of Morrill Avenue. 6 yeas, 1Nay (Loveitt).
Item #7231 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Willett, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled adopt the Child Safety Policy for Baxter Memorial Library, as proposed and recommended by the Baxter Memorial Library Board of Trustees; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council adopt the Library Card Policies and Borrowing Rules for Baxter Memorial Library, as proposed and recommended by the Baxter Memorial Library Board of Trustees. 7 yeas.
Item #7232 Moved by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Willett, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled approve the Municipal/State agreement for the proposed improvements to Route 114 under Maine Department of Transportation PIN #10213.01. 7 yeas.
Item #7233 Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Loveitt, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled ask the Ordinance Committee to review the current process for Major and Minor Site Plan Reviews and to recommend any appropriate change to the Town Council for enhancing the review process. 7 yeas.
Item #7234 Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Loveitt, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled ask their Capital Improvements Committee to review a quit claim deed from Central Maine Power Company to the Town of Gorham dated November 22, 1976 and located in the Registry of Deeds in Book 3967, Page 302, and make appropriate recommendations to the Town Council. 7 yeas.
Item #7235 The proposed order was moved by Councilor Robinson and seconded by Councilor Willett.
Moved by Councilor Loveitt, seconded by Councilor Robinson and VOTED to amend the order to change the fee required for an outdoor fireplace permit from $15.00 to $0. 4 yeas, 3 nays (Dugas, Willett, and Robinson)
The amended order was then VOTED. ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled formally adopt the schedule of fees currently charged for Fire and Rescue Services after changing the fee required for an outdoor fireplace permit from $15.00 to $0. 5 yeas, 2 nays (Dugas and Willett).
Item #7236 Moved by Councilor Dugas, seconded by Councilor Willett, and ORDERED that the Town Council of the Town of Gorham, Maine, in Town Council assembled accept the proposal from PDT Architects for the development of a limited Community Recreation Master Plan as outlined in their proposal dated January 23, 2006; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council appropriate $14,500.00 from Recreation Impact Fees for the development of a Community Recreation Master Plan; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council authorize the Capital Improvements Committee to supervise this project, with the assistance of town staff; and,
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council authorize the Capital Improvements Committee to meet with appropriate school department personnel to develop a policy on recreation and athletic facility scheduling and use that would be provided for Town Council consideration at a later date. 6 yeas, 1 nay (Hamblen).
Item #7237 The proposed order was moved by Councilor Dugas and seconded by Councilor Willett. Moved by Councilor Hamblen, seconded by Councilor Robinson and VOTED to amend the resolution by changing the word “necessary” in the sixth paragraph to “desirable”. 7 yeas.
The amended resolution was then VOTED.
WHEREAS, Cumberland County, incorporated in 1760, is the most populous county in Maine with over 265,000 persons; and,
WHEREAS, the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners provides legislative and executive leadership of the County; and,
WHEREAS, the number of members of the County Board of Commissioners is currently limited to three; and,
WHEREAS, this number is the same today as it was in 1790 when the County population was only 25,563; and,
WHEREAS, Cumberland County is the 106th largest county in the United States of America, and that it now represents a population greater than ninety-six percent that of all other counties in the united States of America; and,
WHEREAS, it is now desirable to expand the number of Commissioners to better serve the people, to provide more representative democracy, and to enable greater diversity in the election of the Commissioners; and,
WHEREAS, The Cumberland County Redistricting Committee has recommended that the number of Commissioners increase the representation to no more than seven Commissioners,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Gorham Town Council endorses and supports legislative, county and municipal initiatives that expands the number of County Commissioners. 7 yeas.
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to adjourn at 9:05 pm.
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING Attest: Christina Silberman, Town Clerk
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