City Council July 2 Meeting Summary

Bridget Salantri gave a presentation to the council showcasing efforts to beautify the Main Street Marketplace.

Photo: City of Sanford

By Renée Morin

The City Council got an update on the Heritage Crossing encampment cleanup, discussed rebranding for the Fire Department and heard several presentations at its July 2 meeting. All council members were present.

Homelessness Update

City Manager Steve Buck said a review showed that 19 strategies used by the city were successful in cleaning up the homeless encampment at Heritage Crossing. The city has had issues with tampering of “No Trespassing” signs and barricades in the vicinity. Sanford Police continue to monitor the area and have had to secure the International Woolen Mill building after barriers to entry were removed. Mayor Becky Brink reminded the public that the building does not have a working sprinkler system and is unsafe.

Buck said the city needs to work on preventing homelessness. He said the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness would like to review the city’s implementation of the Interagency Council’s 19 strategies as an “outstanding example of the work.” The task force plans to continue collaborating with the Interagency Council, and to implement its anticipated new action items in the future.

The York County Shelter Program is working on increasing the availability of beds and other temporary shelter options. It is not yet known if funds for the Lafeyette School warming center will be available for this upcoming winter. The city is seeking funding for more outreach staff. The goal is to continue the momentum that the Resource Hub has accomplished in promoting services for unhoused residents. The city is also looking into a possible Maine State Housing funding source for necessary equipment.

Buck gave an update on the efforts of the Resource Hub over the two weeks preceding the meeting. Over that period hub staffers met with 71 individuals.

He said the city has coordinated efforts with the state to secure funding for additional shelter beds and outreach workers. Another area requires establishing a coordinated message regarding future actions to combat homelessness and communicating to the legislature the deficiencies in past actions taken. Finally, the city needs to obtain clarifications on the effects of the recent US Supreme Court decision, Grants Pass v. Johnson, which said that cities can prohibit camping in public places.

Brink commented at the conclusion of Buck’s report that the members of the unhoused population who aren’t accepting services has gone from around 200 individuals to around 15-20 individuals. Brink also clarified that the city cannot force individuals to accept services, nor can it make an ordinance targeting a person’s status. An ordinance must apply to everyone in Sanford-Springvale. Brink also brought up that other communities are interested in utilizing the same strategies as Sanford. Finally, Brink praised Buck for his leadership on this issue.

City Manager’s report

The first Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day was held on June 30. Buck said 106 units of waste were collected over three hours. Each unit is five gallons, or 20 pounds. The event came in below budget and will be reviewed by the Solid Waste Subcommittee.

Habitat for Humanity held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a redeveloped duplex at 7 Allen St.

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, whose goal is to advise city officials on the comprehensive plan update for Sanford-Springvale, met to review a market analysis of the city by RKG. Buck explained that this analysis will “lend to strategies and land use planning within the Comprehensive Plan as the city seeks to design for its future within the pending plan.”

Work continues on the city’s Community Paramedic Program. State funds for equipment have been approved by the council, and the state has licensed the program. The city is working to set up billing services for the program with MaineCare or Medicare.

The cable company Breezeline has responded to feedback it received at the franchise renewal agreement public hearing held April 30. Out of the 131 Facebook comments it received, 53 were identified as coming from Breezeline customers by the company. Breezeline reached out to 48 of these customers and was able to “fully resolve” issues raised by 14 of them. The company was unsuccessful in reaching the other 5 customers. According to Buck, “This demonstrates an exceptional response to address concerns that were expressed stemming from the public hearing.” 

Mayor’s Report

Brink went over the details surrounding the proposal for two new fire stations in Sanford-Springvale. Brink said that a “Yes” vote on the referendum in November will be a “smarter financial decision.”

Communications/Presentations

Bridget Salantri updated the council on the beautification project at the Main Street Marketplace, formerly called the Midtown Mall. Salantri shared photos with the council showing the new planters that have been added to the two red maple tree islands. The property owners have agreed to water them. The plants are not expected to survive the winter, so Salantri is interested in having seasonal displays of plants. Councilors Ayn Hanselmann and Jonathan Martell complimented the project members’ efforts.

Public Participation

Dianne Connolly from Springvale thanked Fire Chief Scott Susi for putting out a fire near her house. Connolly is concerned about the state of guardrails in Sanford-Springvale. She pointed specifically to ones along Stebbins Road, Jagger Mill Road, and a section between Main Street and Renaissance Way. She said she also wants the stop sign coming out of Renaissance Way to be fixed.

State Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio updated the council on a working group that is looking into how to pay for paramedical services. The hope is to be able to recoup the money currently spent on services during the next legislative session.

Mastraccio said the Department of Motor Vehicles in Springvale will not be shut down. The office might have to temporarily close next year for repairs. In that event, a mobile station will be set up to provide services a few days a week.

Finally, Mastraccio expressed her happiness that the Springvale courthouse is being repurposed for housing. She said the courthouse will most likely be the first of several courthouses in the state to be repurposed.

Consent Agenda

A medical marijuana grower/cultivation license was approved for Kind Farms LLC, at 81 Industrial Ave, Unit C.

An off-premises catering permit was approved for Above & Beyond Catering for the July 24 Sanford Mainers baseball game.

New Business

The third annual Cruising with Friends Car Show will be held on Main Street downtown, from 5 to 8 pm on Friday, July 26. During the show, the portion of Main Street between Washington and Lebanon streets will be closed. This year the show will have one entrance at the intersection of Main and Washington streets. The council approved a road closure for that purpose. The rain date for the event is Aug. 2.

A lengthy discussion was had regarding a proposed rebranding of the Sanford Fire Department, to Sanford Fire/EMS. Topics discussed included the significant role EMS (emergency medical services) plays in the department. Also discussed was the cost of rebranding all the equipment, which would be less than $30,000 over four years according to Chief Susi, who voiced his support for the rebranding. Whether the decision should be made before or after the fire station referendum is held was also brought up. In the end, the council voted 5-1, with Martell dissenting, to change the wording on the concept images for the new fire stations, and to plan to put the rebranding on the new buildings.

Communication Coordinator Jordan Wilson shared promotional videos for the upcoming fire station referendum with the council and received feedback from councilors.

Council Member Comments

Counciler Pete Tranchemontagne wished his son a happy birthday. These sentiments were echoed by Martell and Brink. Martell said he hoped everyone could make it to the block party, fireworks, and parade on July 4. Councilor Nathan Hitchcock congratulated Guerrero Maya, Sanford’s new Mexican restaurant at the former Backstreet Grill location, for their opening day. Deputy Mayor Maura Herlihy advised citizens to wear sunscreen on July 4, and that it was forecasted to be hot. Herlihy also discussed the issue of weeds and plant overgrowth on the sidewalk in Westside Village.

Brink expressed her appreciation that council members were able to disagree with each other while remaining civil and liking each other.

Future Agenda Items

Herlihy would like to investigate what can be done about panhandling. She would also like to address the issue of weeds in Westside Village. Martell said he would like to revisit the city’s flag policy.