News Briefs

Bryant Brothers testify in support of ban on alcohol without liquid devices

News from the Bryant Brothers: Senator Bruce Bryant, D-Oxford County, Representative Mark Bryant, D-Windham, Maine State Legislature

AUGUSTA-The Bryant Brothers passed the first hurdle Monday in their effort to ban the sale and use of vaporized alcohol, commonly called Alcohol Without Liquid, or AWOL. At the public hearing held today before the Legal and Veterans' Affairs' Committee at the State House, the siblings presented their proposal and listened to comments from public health and alcohol industry representatives supporting the bill.

Rep. Mark Bryant, D-Windham, the bill's sponsor, said that no group or individual testified against this bill at the hearing, Alcohol Without Liquid is alcohol processed into vapor through a machine resembling a nebulizer. Since alcohol is directly inhaled into the blood stream, marketers claim that it results in a more intense "buzz," and eliminates carbohydrates and the likelihood of hangovers. Substance abuse professionals are concerned about the addictive properties of vaporized alcohol, as well as it measuring accurately on a breathalyzer or blood test of blood alcohol content.

Despite only being available in the United States since August 2004, 12 other states and the U.S. Congress are considering legislation to ban the sale, use, or offering for use of AWOL devices. Since the machines are a device rather than an alcohol product, they do not currently fall within the jurisdiction of oversight by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

The bill proposed by the Bryant Brothers would create a civil violation with a graduated fine schedule. Repeated offenses would result in a Class E crime that, at the discretion of the court, could have the consequence of loss of license for up to one year. This is consistent with Maine law on similar drug and alcohol offenses.

About the Bryant Brothers

The Bryant Brothers are one of two sibling-legislator teams in the Maine State Legislature. Sen. Bruce Bryant is serving his second term in the Maine Senate, and previously served three terms in the Maine House of Representatives. He is the Chair of the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Committee. Rep. Mark Bryant is a first-term state representative, and serves on the Inland Fisheries & Wildlife Committee as well as the Judiciary Committee. The Bryant Brothers grew up in Canton, Maine with eight siblings. Together, the Bryant Brothers have proposed legislation on topics ranging from substance abuse, veterans' affairs, insurance, and hunting and other outdoor recreation.

Gray Region Citizen Corps appeals for more volunteers

The Gray Region Citizen Corps database of disaster volunteers is inadequate to meet regional needs, according to its director, Mark D. Grover, Ph.D. Gray Region Citizen Corps Director Mark Grover. Though Cumberland County has thousands of residents, the Citizen corps has been able to attract only 50 volunteers so far.

The GRCC concept has been to ask citizens to fill out a short form describing what skills, interests or equipment a citizen might be willing to contribute during a major regional disaster such as the Ice Storm of 1998 or the Floods of 1987. The registration form is available in the lobby of the Gray Fire-Rescue dispatch twenty-four hours a day and may be left there.
Dr. Grover, who also volunteers his free time to Gray Fire-Rescue, the American Red Cross, and the Maine Wilderness K-9 Search and Rescue team, believes that citizens are supportive of emergency workers in general but that the public has not demonstrated much willingness to provide their list of skills for the local database.

During a regional emergency, it is slow, unpredictable and distracting for public safety departments to search for volunteers or provide sudden training. There are dozens of ways for volunteers to help in a disaster. Examples are delivering groceries to shut-ins, pet-sitting, traffic control, filling sandbags, or working a backhoe. The GRCC leadership would staff a volunteer center in a crisis to match local needs with local skills.

Its monthly seminar is generally held at 6:30pm on the second Friday of each month in Stimson Hall. The April 8th seminar is on Identity
Theft. The GRCC invites participants from Yarmouth to Casco.
Volunteers are encouraged to apply.

Gray Town Manager Monthly report

Fire Department goes through ISO Rating Review:

Periodically, the Insurance Services Office will review the public protection classifications of a community's fire and water departments to establish a rating that ultimately affects property insurance both commercial and residential. On March 14 of this year, Gray Town Manager received the results of the review that was favorable to the Town of Gray.

As a result of improved equipment, policies, personnel and water supplies, the ISO provided the Town of Gray with a Class 4/8B rating which is up from the Class 6/9 rating prior. This will take effect on July 1, 2005.

Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz thanks Chief Barton and all of the personnel at the Public Safety operations. He also thanks the tax payers who continue to support these core services and equipment that ultimately become the basis for such a review and benefit each property tax payer as well. The full report will be available through the Public Safety Department.

Cumberland County Sheriff Testifies on Bill:

The Gray Town Manager received a written copy of Sheriff Dion's testimony regarding a bill that dealt with the calculation of annual county tax assessments. Though the Sheriff never took a side, he took the opportunity to note that rural patrol costs were an inherent part of the county tax for municipalities to pay. If the amendment was approved allowing for the re-allocation of those costs to only those communities that did not have their own law enforcement services, it would likely be close to a 100% increase in their county tax bill, Manager Berkowitz reported Tuesday night. Sheriff Dion further indicated that such a move would force the discussion of charging for the county jails based upon the community's direct use, Berkowitz continued. In this scenario, Gray would have -0- costs since there was no one from Gray incarcerated at the time.

Time Warner Cable Annual Franchise Fee:

The Town of Gray has received the Company's annual statement of subscriber revenues and made the annual payment at the 4% franchise fee of $55,899.26. According to their letter, they had total receipts of $1,397,481.47 for the calendar year 2004 just for their services in the Town of Gray.

Boynton Property Sold:

On March 31, 2005 the Town completed the closing transaction in the sale of the Boynton Property off Rt. 115- Yarmouth Road. The bid price of $10,000 was received in addition to the $10,000 performance guarantee which would be returned within 150 days to assessor proper clean up of the property. Mr. Scott Dugas was the buyer and he had already commenced clean up efforts last fall. This property is paying taxes as of April 1, 2005.

Personnel Transition:

The Manager's Office received a letter of resignation from Mark Stambach, Gray's Code Enforcement Officer, effective the close of the business day, April 8, 2005. Mark has taken a position of CEO with the City of Auburn. Manager Berkowitz wished him the best of luck as he continues his career.
In the interim the Town has begun the advertising process for a full time replacement as well as attempting to have some part time coverage. Once the part time coverage is arranged the public will be notified of the schedule to try to meet the pressing needs of inspections.