The Town Council has scheduled a number of issues for discussion this upcoming September and October. All of the issues are among the council's goals for 2010.

Land-use regulations review

The Town Council will meet in a workshop session with the Planning Board on Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the Land Use section of the Comprehensive Plan. With the recent slowdown in growth, and with two major approved subdivisions having been delayed for two years due to the economy, there is interest in reexamining some of the assumptions which led to the growth projections and recommended actions in the Comprehensive Plan.

Town Council considering new method
to pay for trash-disposal costs

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the "pay-per-throw" concept of trash disposal on Monday, Sept. 13, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.

Trash thrown into the hopper at the Recycling Center costs about $500,000 per year to transport and deposit at the ecomaine trash-to-energy plant in Portland. This expense is entirely borne by the property tax. Many communities have adopted a “pay per bag” or “pay per throw” approach whereby the cost of the waste disposal is transferred from the property tax to user fees based on the number of bags used. The communities sell both small and large bags through local stores with the bag fees set at an amount to recover the cost of disposal. When communities adopt such a system, it customarily increases recycling and reduces overall costs for waste disposal.

Fort Williams Park issues remain at the forefront

The Town Council continues to review issues relating to Fort Williams Park, including capital needs and potential revenue sources to pay for needs at the park.

The council has scheduled a workshop meeting on Fort Williams Park issues for Monday, Oct. 4, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall. At the workshop, Town Manager Michael McGovern will present specific recommendations, following up on the recent capital needs report of the Fort Williams Advisory Commission. The commission will also update the council on their review of potential revenues to assist with park needs. The meeting will also discuss a recommendation made in 2006 by the Comprehensive Planning Committee that the Fort Williams Park master plan be reviewed every seven years. The current master plan was approved in 2003.

Previous and related stories:

• Planning Board begins work on amendments to land-use policies (06/30/10)
• Advisory commission submits list of capital needs for Fort Williams Park (05/27/10)
• Economy guides Town Council goals for 2010 (01/15/10)
• Proposed reduction in recycling-center hours set for Jan. 12 public hearing (12/10/08 )
• Survey shows residents happy with present methods of waste disposal (05/05/03)