Proposed Changes to the Shoreland Zone Statutes-
The State DEP is recommending several changes to
the statutes that relate to the Shoreland Zoning
Ordinances. If approved, the Town will be required
to amend our Ordinance to comply. The changes are
summarized in the handout provided the Council this
evening. These should be reviewed in detail by the
Council since some actually are addressing issues
that have been raised recently. I also believe that
if the Council wants to send written comment to
the DEP this would be the time.
County Reports on the Regional Communications
Center-
County Manager Peter Crighton has passed on to Cumberland
County communities, the report completed by Director
William Holmes about the progress of this major
effort. The report sets forth the activities, actions
and goals of the County as a key player in the centralization
of communication services. Council should review
this report which was distributed in your packages
this evening. There still remains the question of
whether Gray should be part of a sub regional or
county level operation.
Repairs to Rescue Vehicle-
A few months ago I reported that we were repairing
the doors to the rescue unit and had a local ford
dealer do the basic work. Since that time, we suffered
a small fender bender when the rescue unit was backed
into by our front loader at the sand and salt shed.
The accident was reported to MMA and the repair
work is being done by the factory. Our deductible
is $1,000 of the $7,676 cost of repair. We also
found out that the tack weld work done locally would
not hold up and therefore that work is being redone
and is folded into this expense. Chief Barton is
in contact with the local company to seek the appropriate
consideration in light of what the factory informed
us of.
Nuclear bunker still ready for
emergencies
By Mark Grover
Buried in the side of a hill in Windham lies a nuclear
bunker which houses the Cumberland County emergency
operations center. During a regional emergency,
officials and disaster response leaders coordinate
efforts in managing such difficult situations as
the Ice Storm of 1998. The concrete underground
center was built in 1960 during the height of the
Cold War. The American nuclear weapons stockpile
reached its peak in 1967 and has now been reduced
by about half.
Today, "the Bunker" houses the communications
center of the Sheriff's Department, and the offices
of the county Emergency Management Agency. On Friday,
March 11 at 6:30 PM, there will be free tour at
the center (22 High Street, Windham), sponsored
by the volunteers of the Gray Region Citizen Corps.
The public is welcome, but because of limited space,
is encouraged to register in advance by leaving
a message with Gray Public Safety at 657-3931.
The non-profit Gray Region Citizen Corps (GRCC)
volunteers provide monthly safety and emergency
preparedness seminars on the second Friday of the
month to residents from Yarmouth to Casco. Past
monthly seminar topics have included chainsaw safety,
home fire extinguisher practice, pet first aid,
and cooking without electricity.
Future seminars are scheduled on identity theft
and on family preparedness. More information about
the federal Citizen Corps program may be found at
www.citizencorps.gov. Their motto is "Uniting
Communities -- Preparing the Nation". The local
group publishes a monthly electronic newsletter.
Messages for the GRCC may be left with Gray Public
Safety at 657-3931.
