The Gorham Town Council met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9. This meeting was rescheduled due to snow on Dec. 2. Chairperson Suzanne Phillips called the meeting to order and all seven members were present. Their first action was to approve the minutes of the Nov. 18 meeting. (7-0)

Three members of the public addressed the board. The first expressed concerns regarding increased development in town and his desire to maintain the character and open spaces found in Gorham. The other two speakers were members of the Cemetery Advisory Committee who requested a future meeting with the council as well as updated and accurate information and maps.

Each council member was provided the opportunity to provide updates. Councilor Hamblen thanked the large number of community members who attended the recent planning board meeting, while Councilor Willis recognized the 1972 GHS Soccer Team, which was just inducted into the Maine Soccer Hall of Fame. He also thanked the town recreation department and the GHS hockey team for a successful tree lighting parade and event. Councilor Seigel thanked the Public Works Department for the cleaning of the roads during the recent snowstorm and wished everyone a Happy Hanukkah.

Town Manager Ephram Paraschak reminded community members that changes in curbside collection due to snow would be found on the town website. He also warned about the increased phishing attempts for information by scammers and that the town would never ask for wire transfers over the phone. He thanked public works for the holiday decorating done throughout the town spaces.

Nicole Yeo-Fisher, the chair of the Gorham School Committee, reported on recent school news. She provided historical data on the school population that had been requested by the council. She thanked the almost 300 parents and community members who responded to the AI survey, and reported that the stakeholder committee will produce a student and staff handbook. She provided a calendar for the budget process, and highlighted the GHS Aspire Math X Event, the schedule of numerous holiday concerts, and a winter athletics update.

The Town Council approved (7-0) to accept the resignation of Geraldine Day from the Baxter Library Board of Trustees. They thanked Gerry for her 30 years of service on this board, as well as all of the other ways that she serves the Gorham community. They voted (7-0) to appoint Camille Seo to the Board of Trustees of the Baxter Memorial Library.

The council voted to authorize the Town Manager to accept $1,913 in court-ordered restitution and allocate it to the Gorham Police Department reserve account as required by court order.

The council voted (7-0) to forward to the Planning Board for review and public hearing, standardizing all abutter notification requirements for projects to 500’.

The council voted (7-0) to forward to the Planning Board for review and public hearing, amending the land use and development code to allow for less paper and more digital submissions, as recommended by staff.

The council voted (7-0) to instruct town staff to work with Gorham’s Affordable Housing Committee to convene a meeting with the Town Council Subcommittee on Capital Improvements and Economic Development to discuss how affordable housing goals can drive economic development and generate net-positive property tax revenues.

The council voted (7-0) to forward to the Ordinance Committee, for review and recommendation, examining possible impact fees for public safety and the maintenance and improvement of Gorham’s roads and streets infrastructure.

Finally, the council also formally accepted the report of the Fiscal Sustainability Committee and discussed ways of continuing this work with the School Committee. They discussed ways of continuing to work with the School Committee, perhaps with a smaller group of members.

For a complete account of the meeting, a copy of the minutes and a recorded video of the meeting may be found on the Gorham Town Council website.