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Sheriff moving from Gray substation

Gray-Monday, Sheriffs deputies from the Cumberland County Sheriffs office were busy moving furniture from the substation they occupy at Gray Fire house on Seagull Drive. The substation is used by Deputies who interview witnesses, complete paperwork, make follow-up calls, and dispense with other tasks while on patrol.

Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion said that "it's an issue of space allocation, our space was reduced. We have an office in North Yarmouth, too, and some county furniture was moved to that location on Monday."

Asked whether the sheriffs were still going to use the Gray substation, Dion said, "Between the growth in inmates at the jail, the increased costs of health care, contrasted with what may or may not happen with the Palesky initiative, County government will be hurt as much as municipal government. We will be taking a hard look at where and how to allocate our deputies."

Gray Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz said, "This is the first I have heard of it. I do not know if in fact the Chief [Barton] has made a decision about space or if it is a decision the Sheriff has made but I will be calling both of them first thing in the morning."

Dion was not clear as to whether the substation will be used at all or if it will now be used infrequently.

Council accepts original Gravel Pit ordinance draft

Gray--The Council was presented with the results of their request for the Ordinance Review Committee to update the gravel pit ordinance. They did so, gathering input from the Department of Environmental Protection, pit owners, and other experts, and created a draft that the ORC felt balanced the needs of gravel pit owners and also protected the townspeople.

The draft was not worked on for many months as other council business needed tending. When the draft reappeared for discussion, it contained language that the ORC had not included in their recommendation, that the existing pits be constrained from expansion and that there be no new pits allowed.

Last Tuesday's meeting drew angry gravel pit owners as well as private citizens who decried the limits on their right to do business in areas zoned appropriate for their industry. The Council voted down the new language, and decided to discuss the draft again at their Monday night workshop meeting.

At Monday's meeting, the Council decided to accept the ORC's original recommendation so the 'no new pits' and 'no expansion' language has been removed. The Council will vote on Tuesday, August 3 to send the ordinance draft to the Planning Board for the statutorily required public hearing.