Councilor Shepard acknowledged the passing of longtime school nurse, Claire Drew, and offered his condolences.
Councilor Siegal noted both the Planning Board and the Economic Development Corporation have openings and urged residents to apply.
Councilor Wilder Cross reported the goal of the Rapid Transit Study is to provide service to all the Metro lines, including the Husky line. The study recommended combining the #4 line with the Husky Line so the Husky Line would extend to the Old Port and to Maine Medical Center. She thanked GoCAM for the amazing documentary about the history of the Gorham Windham Gunpowder Mills that aired on Maine Public Television.
Councilor Gagnon reminded the public that school is back in session and to drive carefully, leaving time in the morning and evening to get where you are going safely.
Councilor Lavoie announced the Finance Committee met on Sept. 7. Councilor Phillips reported the Capital Improvements Committee will meet on the third Thursday of the month to discuss the discontinuance of roads, the Master Plan and the plans for the Public Works area.
Chairman Pratt reminded residents to donate blood if possible.
Town Manager Paraschak reminded residents that the State Program LD290, Senior Property Tax Stabilization Program will only be active for this year.
The new mil rate should be set soon, and tax bills will be going out before the end of the month.
Paraschak also reported that the South Street/Main Street Crosswalk Improvement project will start this month. He thanked the VIPS program for assisting schools with crossing duties in the Village.
Work is continuing on the Wescott Street project and the road should reopen soon. The Council voted 7-0 to issue renewal medical marijuana licenses to: Chris Terison, Terpy Seas, LLC, Tim Nickerson, Deep Sun, LLC. Nicholas Wilson, Forest City Organics application was tabled as it was incomplete.
The Council voted 7-0 to issue new medical marijuana license to Mercy Mwanchingwala, Carl Binette, Sourced Craft Cannabis, 44 Sanford Drive.
The Council voted 7-0 to renew liquor license for Sidecar, 7 Railroad Avenue.
The Council voted 7-0 to issue a large outdoor event license to Jason Tanguay for an event at Narragansett School on September 16.
A public hearing on a proposal to amend the streets and sidewalks ordinance was held and the Council voted 7-0 not to allow parking on South Street within the right turn lane and turn lane taper as well as the southerly side of Pine Street, continuing west to the compact zone line from the driveway of 45 State Street continuing westerly to the compact zone line.
The Council voted 7 yeas not to allow through trucks on Middle Jam Road from North Gorham Road to the Standish town line.
The Council voted to amend the storm water ordinance and to add a new chapter on Erosion and Sedimentation Control at construction sites.
Two members of the public voiced their concern with the proposal to adopt new boundaries for the South Gorham Crossroads District. (Details are available in the Town Clerk’s report on the meeting).
A hearing was held on amending the adult use and medical marijuana licensing ordinance to reduce the distance from 750 feet to 500 feet between the location of a marijuana establishment or medical marijuana business and a public or private school was approved 6-1 (Gagnon).
The Council forwarded to the Planning Board a proposed contract zone for a development off Robie Street for review. The development will pay fees as required by the Land Use and Development Code as well as a $1,000 fee for single family homes and a $500 fee for a dwelling unit in a multi-family building with the money to be utilized for improvements to Robie Park. The Council further directed development to protect the character of existing neighborhoods, existing tree canopy, to provide varied lot sizes and house design styles in the development. The number of single-family homes allowed to be constructed in one calendar year will be capped at 15. Multi-family phased development shall occur separately and take two years to construct. The developer has the right to commercial uses on the first floor, that are consistent with Chapter 1, subsection 3 of the Gorham Village Center District. Six residents voiced their concerns with the project. The Council opted to have impact fees go towards the schools instead of Robie Park. The Council voted that the developer consider traffic calming solutions within the design plan to alleviate traffic from New Portland Road to South Street.
The Council voted 4-3 (Pratt, Gagnon, Phillips) to move from a grid pattern to a more neighborhood approach that reflects the character of the abutting neighborhoods.
The Council voted 7-0 to approve all qualifying applications for the Senior Property Tax relief program, as recommended by staff.
The Council voted 7-0 to accept Ichabod Lane extension as a public way.
An order to accept the 600-foot Hessian Drive as a public way had no motion and failed.
The Council voted 7-0 to instruct the Ordinance Committee to review and update road standards and report back to the Town Council with their recommendations.
The Council authorized the Town Manager to list the former Gorham Historical Society building at 28 State Street for sale.
The Council voted 7-0 to authorize $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for approved projects in Robie Park.
The Council voted 6-1 (Siegal) to authorize up to $265,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding to install baseball field lighting at the Little Falls Recreation complex.
The Council voted 7-0 to enter into a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Maine Association of Police.
The Council voted 7-0 to accept the resignation of Jim Anderson from the Planning Board and the resignation of Erin Flett from the Gorham Economic Development Council.