City Council August 6 Meeting Summary

Councilor Robert Stackpole (top middle) asks Fire Chief Scott Susi (bottom far left) and Communications Coordinator Jordan Wilson a question following a presentation on the upcoming fire station referendum.

Photo: City of Sanford

By Renée Morin

The City Council heard updates on homelessness, transportation and other issues at its Aug. 6 meeting. All councilors were present.

City Manager Steve Buck told councilors that the York County Shelter Program (YCSP) will take the lead in applying for funds from the Maine State Housing Authority for a warming center and community outreach workers, which have been identified as a top priority in addressing homelessness. The warming center will be set up this winter at the YCSP Alfred campus since no location in Sanford was found to host it again this year. The Homelessness Task Force has been discussing using the Memorial Gym during extreme cold weather.

Nichele Carver, senior regional advisor for the US Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), met with the task force and Sanford Housing Authority on Aug. 12 to better understand the city’s unique approach to implementing the Interagency Council’s 19 strategies to address encampments. The task force will continue to seek guidance from the USICH. It will also continue working on the syringe exchange program to try to combat the spread of blood-borne diseases and the risk posed to the public by discarded syringes. If a mutually beneficial course of action can be found, the city will advocate for it legislatively. Otherwise, city staff will advocate for the return of the 1:1 syringe exchange program.

Buck said the city and Sanford Housing Authority are currently tracking 44 chronically unhoused individuals. Sanford has seen an influx of new people in part due to the closure of a Biddeford encampment, and the desire of individuals to be near the warming shelter at the Alfred Campus come winter. The overwhelming majority of these individuals are experiencing substance abuse disorder and/or other mental health issues and have refused assistance.

Buck provided an update on the 30 proposed Housing First units to be built on Heritage Drive. Amendments are being made to address environmental and zoning issues as well as access and parking. According to Buck, the Housing First model will provide no-barrier housing to those who need 24/7 case management to transition back to self-sufficiency and permanent housing. An application to construct the units is pending for this fall with the Maine State Housing Authority.

Buck also updated the council on an $18 million statewide rent relief program administered by the Maine State Housing Authority. The city and York County Community Action Corp. (YCCC) will inform the public when the plan is finalized.

Legislation and advocacy that are of interest to the city this legislative session include: amendments to Attorney General’s homeless protocols for state, support for outreach workers, funding for SUD and mental health beds, and funds for the operation of current low and no barrier shelter. The task force hopes to host another regional homelessness summit after the November election to discuss the issues with lawmakers. Mayor Becky Brink said the summit, to be held at the Sanford Performing Arts Center, is a good meeting for those concerned with homelessness to consider attending. She noted that since the Homelessness Task Force was established over a year ago, the unhoused population has decreased from over 200 individuals to 44. She commended the Police Department and its mental health unit for the compassion shown to the unhoused population.

City manager’s report

Buck also briefed the council on the following:

• Because Covid relief funds have run out, York County Community Action Corp. (YCCC) will no longer offer free rides beginning Sept. 9. Federal aid will still cover half of eligible operating expenses for rides, he said. Riders will be able to buy tickets using cash, paper passes, or through the Token Transit mobile app. Discounted monthly passes and reduced fares will be available.
• The license level of The Sanford Fire and EMS Department has been upgraded from “Basic Permitted to Paramedic” to “Advanced EMS Permitted to Paramedic” because the city now has enough trained paramedics to have them on all ambulance runs. This will result in an increased level of reimbursement from governmental payers, which will provide increased net revenue for the service.
• Concerns have been raised about the location of a large traffic light control cabinet at the Main Street-Washington Street intersection. The cabinet is next to the traffic light on the west sidewalk. Its installation is part of an effort to upgrade and install 12 traffic lights throughout the city. When questioned about the placement, the design engineer said there are limited options for relocation and noted that several public meetings had been held before the cabinet was installed. The topic could be discussed at the next council meeting.
• The city has received a stipulated judgment from York County Superior Court in its legal challenge against the town of Alfred. The challenge stems from the closures of the Hay Brook Bridge and the Alfred side of Stone Road, as well as the two communities’ shared responsibility for the bridge. Alfred has agreed to pay the awarded $32,088 and to remove the bridge. Sanford has agreed to cover half of the estimated $10,000 removal cost.

Communications/Presentations

• City staff offered more information about the upcoming fire station referendum. Fire Chief Scott Susi said the close quarters of the stations result in firefighters being forced to repeatedly pass through areas with equipment contaminated with carcinogens. Not only firefighters but their families end up being exposed. He said the current downtown station needs an estimated $1 million in repairs to stay functional but would still be substandard. The projected cost for replacing it and the Springvale stations is $42 million. The city is hoping to secure grants but cannot apply for them until voters agree to the project. The Springvale fire station will remain close to its current location, but the central fire station will move south to better cover the city. With the new location all parts of the city will have a response time of no more than four minutes. The council reviewed and approved inserts that will be sent with tax bills, providing information on the fire station referendum.
• Executive Director Keith McBride of the Sanford Regional Growth Council said the past quarter has been good for small business activity, with Knots & Bolts, Guerrero Maya Restaurant and Ted’s Fried Clams all setting up in Sanford. The new owners of Jerry’s Market, Tanya and Steve Davies, say they plan to update and modernize the store, but it will remain mostly the same. The Sanford Industrial Development Corp. purchased 40 acres on Eagle Drive, with plans to expand the existing industrial park area. The corporation plans to attract high-skill jobs to the area. The city has seen a decrease in the amount of time commercial real estate is on the market before it is purchased. McBride also reported that 40,000 square feet of space at the Center for Shopping is expected to be filled in the next three to six months.

Public Hearings

Public hearings were held for the approval of a Medical Marijuana Grower/Cultivator license and a Marijuana Manufacturing Tier 1 for Fifo Cultivation at 72 Emery St., Unit 407. Director of Code Enforcement Jamie Cole explained that requests for multiple licenses from the same business will become more common as smaller and more specialized marijuana businesses are overtaken by larger ones with a wider range of products. The requested licenses were approved by the council.

For information about the polling place consolidation or the new ordinance that was passed regarding use of public property, see the stories in the 8/10 edition of the Sanford Springvale News. You can sign up for the E-Newsletter here. sign-up