Augusta: Mayor Roger Katz cast the tie-breaking vote this week to approve a zoning change to allow construction of a new hotel on Western Avenue in Maine’s capital city. The vote followed months of debate since the hotel would replace the last residential structure in that area of the city’s main artery. The proposal must still get Planning Board approval.
Kittery: A York County Superior Court justice has ordered the town’s planning board to deny an application by the town to build a community center at a disputed location known as Emery Field. The judge agreed with a grassroots group, which brought the suit and argued that the two votes on the town’s application did not meet the minimum four votes required under the town charter to pass.
Lewiston: Three percent of registered voters in Maine’s second largest city endorsed a new $45.7 million school budget by referendum vote, 560-142, on Tuesday. The new budget increases spending by $1.5 million, but does not require new property taxes because of higher state school aid and other revenue, according to city officials. Across the Androscoggin River, 5.5 percent of registered Auburn voters approved a $34.2 million budget, but by a closer margin, 480 to 305. Auburn’s budget increases spending by $480,000, but also eliminates 16 jobs to help offset rising costs. Increased state aid will allow the city to lower property taxes for education.
Lincoln: Town firefighters are being hailed as heroes for their team effort to save two boys, ages 7 and 9, from the flooding Penobscot River last week. Police also helped in the rescue, as did nature – a small thicket of trees apparently held back the boys’ paddle boat long enough for firefighters to make the rescue.
Pittsfield: A federal magistrate has recommended a lawsuit against the town’s police department be dismissed for lack of merit. The suit charged defamation of character, police brutality and false arrest stemming from a February 2005 arrest. A U.S. district judge must still review the case, but Magistrate Judge Margaret Kravchuk said the plaintiff had “utterly failed” to defend his claims.
Portland: Police Sgt. Robert Johnsey died Monday when he accidentally shot himself in the leg while putting on his gear for his late-night shift. The bullet from Johnsey’s .45-caliber pistol severed his femoral artery, causing a catastrophic loss of blood. Johnsey, 37, was the father of two young children and was remembered as a cheerful and cool-under-stress veteran cop. He had worked for the Portland department for nine years. He was promoted to sergeant in January 2007. Members of the department are staying with Johnsey’s family in Westbrook, where the accident occurred as Johnsey was getting his gear ready for another shift.
Rockland: Verizon forgot to include most of the phone numbers for city government in the new directory, except for the city manager’s office, which actually rings in at the landfill gatehouse. The city changed phone carriers last year from Verizon to Mid-Maine Communications and officials are unsure why the city numbers were dropped from the white pages.
Rumford: Selectmen will seek voter approval on June 10 to change the town charter to allow Mexico Town Manager John Madigan to become manager of both towns. Mexico’s town charter has no restriction on sharing a town manager and selectmen from both towns now agree they hope Madigan can start on July 1. Selectmen also hope the unprecedented action by two such large and economically important communities could serve as an example for other municipalities in Maine. Madigan is a former Rumford town manager.
Tremont: A businessman has filed suit against the town after the Board of Appeals reversed the planning board’s decision to allow transient lodging at the Up Harbor marina. The initial decision was appealed by four neighbors, who argued that transient housing was not allowed within the waterfront zoning district.
Waterville: Councilors this week endorsed a total municipal and school budget of $37.9 million that would lower property taxes for the fourth straight year. The unanimous vote was the first of three. City residents will vote on the school budget by referendum on June 10 as part of the June primary election.
Camden’s public library directors hired away neighboring Rockland’s librarian last month when they named Nikki Maounis the new library director. Maounis, who has worked for Rockland for the past eight years, succeeds Elizabeth Moran, Camden Public Librarian for 20 years.
Brunswick city planner Anna Breinich has received an award for excellence from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where she worked for the state’s environmental council before joining the city staff in late 2007. Breinich has about 30 years of experience in municipal and private planning. The city council recognized her award during its meeting Monday.
The Waterville Fire Department recently honored Anthony Brown and Marshall King for their outstanding service to the community. Brown was named career firefighter of the year and King was honored as call firefighter of the year.
Eddington Fire Chief Gene Kelso has resigned as chief, saying unrest in the department made the job too difficult. He credited with the town manager and selectmen with trying to resolve the issues and said he would remain as a volunteer firefighter for the town. Kelso has 26 years of experience in the town department and 47 years in all as a firefighter.
Hundreds of people raised $10,000 in a benefit breakfast on Sunday for injured Eastbrook Fire Chief Rick McNeil, whose 12-year-old son, Tommy, perished in a fire that destroyed the chief’s home on April 19. Family members told the Portland Press Herald this week that McNeil continues to slowly recover at Maine Medical Center in Portland and only learned this Tuesday that his son died in the fire.
