Phil Gagnon, a Revolving Loan Fund Committee member, reminded local businesses of the forgivable SBA 7A loan that is offered to businesses, non-profits, and religious organizations during the COVID-19 crisis.
Councilor Pratt extended his gratitude to all Town Staff for going above and beyond during the current crisis and also thanked the public for being patient and coming together as a community.
Councilor Shepard reported that the Ordinance Committee is scheduled to meet via Zoom on April 21.
Councilor Kuech expressed her appreciation of how the Town and schools have come together during this time to help feed Gorham residents in need.
Chairman McCallister mentioned that the Gorham School Committee approved of the distance learning plan two weeks ago and the schools will not have to make up the days that are being missed. The district is trying to keep the calendar as consistent as possible and plans to have the usual April break and last day of school on June 16.
The schools have been offering food service programs to help provide breakfast and lunches to families in need across Gorham since the second week of closure. Anyone interested in participating in “Operation Feed Gorham” should reach out to either Superintendent Perry or our School Nutrition Director, Michael Sanborn.
McCallister reported that work continues on the Narragansett Modular Expansion Project. There was a slight delay with sprinkler systems but that issue has been corrected and the project remains on schedule.
The schools have also worked with the town to assist in providing medical supplies to Gorham’s first responders from nurses who had stockpiled for pandemic planning purposes.
The school’s technology department has been working closely with the Town to assist in strengthening the Town’s emergency communications systems.
The Town Council issued a renewal liquor license to MK Kitchen and the Gorham Country Club.
The Town Council did not authorize a referendum question for June 9 to expend up to $750,000 to install and construct a new kitchen area at the Narragansett Elementary School utilizing funds previously approved in the School Department operating budget, as well as funds from a previously approved referendum bond package. (See: Town Council Votes No on Narragansett Kitchen Referendum)
The Town Council transferred $5,000 from the Town Council Contingency account to be used by the Gorham Food Pantry during the current State of Emergency.
All existing lenders with the Gorham Loan Fund Committee were offered the option of deferring payment on existing loans effective April 1, 2020, and lasting through June 30, 2020; all new loans issued on or after April 1, 2020 would be subject to the same deferment option under the same timeframe.
The following people have been appointed as election workers with terms to expire April 1, 2022:
Democratic Workers:
Sherrie Benner, Elizabeth Bischof, Diane Caswell, Wendy Clark, Patricia Clay, Katharine Corbett, Laurie Corbett, Thomas Corbett, Nancy Craig, Nicoleta Dalton, Geraldine Day, Melissa Deering, Renee Deering, Anne Dunbar, John Ersek, Sheri Faber, Mary Fagerson, Rachel Flynn, Mary Franklin, Mary Fraser, Katherine Garrard, Yvonne Graffam, Barbara Guimond, Joanne Hachey, Colleen Hoyt, Carole Jordan, Jennifer Laflin, Kandy Lefebvre, Donna Libby, Connie Loughran, Linda Maclean, Carol Marshburn, Michelle McCaffrey, Elizabeth McDonagh, Barbara McGarvey, Janet Miliano, Susan Parsons, Denise Quint, Judith Ringo, Regina Rofe, Kimberly Ross, Robin Sanford, Susan Searle Sato, Melinda Shain, Paula Smeltzer, Mary Snell, Craig Stirling, Deb Stirling, Judith Stevens, Mary Sturtevent, Sheryl Towle, Gail Trudeau, Kathleen Walsh, Debra Winch
Republican Workers:
Marilyn Amoroso, Elizabeth Axselson, Sandra Bailey, Merideth Bickford, Kathy Bruni, Donna Carll, Nancy Connolly, Rebecca Curtis, George Deering, Linda Deering, Rhonda Desrochers, Jane Dube, Susan Emerson, James Falk, Judith Falk, Linda Frinsko, Sharon Geer, Diane Godfrey, Mary Golden, Maynard Hincks, Carolyn Hodgkins, Thomas Hodgkins, Nancy Kenty, Elizabeth Labrecque, John Labrecque, Marjory Macleod, Joann Means, Carlene Petersen, John Petersen, Jenifer McCullough, Rosamond Phinney, Heidi Pratt, Marlene Scholl, Nancy Shaw, Laurel Smith, Marth Towle, Janice Weed, Norman Weed, Carol Wyman
The Town Council granted an abatement of taxes to a Small Pond Road resident in the amount of $282.36 for the 2019-2020 tax year due to an acreage discrepancy.