Dan Bouchard, of Winding Brook Way voiced his opinion regarding the recent vote of street acceptance of Winding Brook Way and Cotton Drive.
Councilor Hager reported that the Finance Committee met and set up their meeting schedule for 2022. The next meeting will be January 24, 2022 and they hope to have Dick Ranaghan attend to discuss the Town’s debt ratio.
Councilor Kuech attended the latest Little Rams Early Childhood Project meeting — the group focuses on opportunities for early learning, nurturing care and healthy development for Gorham children from birth to age five. They have administered parent surveys, a discussion of Municipal and State data, and a presentation on State licensing rules. For more information contact Superintendent Perry.
Councilor Wilder Cross thanked everyone involved in the Thanksgiving events of the Town — she competed in the Turkey Trot and attended the light parade and tree lighting.
Councilor Phillips attended the latest meeting with the Turnpike Authority on the turnpike connector plan. She also attended the last joint Town Council Capital Improvement Projects Committee & School Facilities Committee meeting where they discussed the on-going facilities study. Councilor Phillips thanked the Gorham Village Alliance for the wonderful job they did with the Christmas lights in the Village.
Councilor Shepard reported that the Ordinance Committee met November 16 and discussed when to refund zoning Board of Appeals application fees, performance standards for multifamily housing and amending the LUDC South Gorham Crossroads District. Their next meeting will be January 18, 2022. He also attended the ribbon cutting of No Repeats Fiberworks, a new gallery celebrating color and fiber works by Jo Eaton.
Chairman Pratt attended the latest GEDC meeting where they discussed the upcoming conference on key real estate that towns have available. He also attended the ribbon cutting of No Repeats Fiberworks at 2 School Street.
Town Manager Paraschak thanked the Recreation Department, Public Works and the Gorham Village Alliance for the beautiful light displays throughout the Village. He reminded citizens of the winter parking ban in effect from midnight to 6 a.m. through spring. He pointed out that sand is available at Public Works on Huston Road. Paraschak also noted that there will be a special election on January 11, 2022 for voters in Ward 1-1 and 1-2 to fill a seat in House District 27.
Town Council approved a renewal Special Amusement License for JBN1, LLC, DBA Junction Bowl, located at 7 Railroad Avenue. (6 yeas)
513 feet of Grove Street was accepted as an urban access road; and the associated easements for recreation access were also accepted. (6 yeas)
Town Council accepted 609 feet of Dogwood Lane as an urban access road as well as all associated easements for recreation access. (6 yeas)
113 feet of Water Street was also accepted as an urban access road along with the associated easements for recreation access. (6 yeas)
Town Council set a Town Council workshop on Recreation Impact Fees, and a discussion on the Turnpike Resolution for January 18, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. (6 yeas)
A Memorandum of Agreement with the Maine Turnpike Authority in support of the Gorham Connector was tabled until a later meeting. (6 yeas)
Staff was instructed to propose revisions to the Town’s voting ward district map in order to address outlier voter issues on Wescott Road. They will also look for travel distance inequities. Town Council will approve the revisions before submission to the state of Maine. (6 yeas)
Town Council instructed the Town Manager to appoint a staff member and/or department to be the point of contact for information relating to PFAS contamination in the Town of Gorham. (6 yeas)
The Town Manager was authorized to enter into a contract with Pillar Design Studios for the Gorham Skate Park if the funding sources and in-kind matches are fully established and available. (6 yeas)
The full minutes can be found here.