Although a majority of voters opposed a council vote that merged Gorham’s emergency dispatching services, the referendum fell 487 votes short Monday of the number required for a valid election.

Gorham voters cast 959 “yes” votes to 796 “no” votes, but the 1,758 vote total didn’t meet the required 2,245 votes for a valid referendum. The yes voters won in the three voting districts and central.

A yes vote was to overturn the Town Council’s decision to merge its dispatching with Cumberland County. The town’s charter requires 20 percent of registered voters to cast ballots for an election initiated by a citizens petition to be valid. The referendum drew 15.6 percent of registered voters.

The Town Council approved a deal in August consolidating the town’s dispatching with that of Cumberland County. A citizens’ petition forced the referendum.

Burleigh Loveitt, chairman of the Town Council, and Steve Morin, who helped spearhead the citizens’ attempt to overturn the council’s decision, shook hands in town hall after the tally became official Monday night.

Loveitt congratulated the organizers for carrying out “an excellent democratic process” and the townspeople who spoke at the polls. “We’re all neighbors and friends, and we intend to work for the betterment of the community,” Loveitt said.

“I would be surprised if there is future business on this subject,” Loveitt said.

Morin said organizers of the citizens’ group that opposed consolidation were proud of everyone who gave so much to the effort. “We fought an uphill battle all the way. We respect the process and the voters,” Morin said. “We lose with grace and dignity.”

Many of those who wanted dispatching to stay worried about public safety if the service moved. Donna Green, who voted in District 1 while carrying her 15-month-old granddaughter, Shanie Rose, liked the personal service of local dispatching and voted yes. “I just think we feel safer that they are in town,” Green said.

Catherine Stanwood in District 1 also favored overturning the council’s decision to consolidate dispatching. “I like the idea of them being in our town,” she said.

But also at District 1, Ashley Pike cast a no vote. “I think this is the biggest cost that ever came down the pike,” he said of keeping dispatching. “A half dozen employees want to rule the roost.”

Town Councilor Jane Willett, who was absent from meeting at which councilors voted on the consolidation, also voted at District 1. Willett declined to disclose which way she voted.

In District 3, Corrinne Feeney was first to cast a ballot at 7 a.m. and she voted yes, hoping dispatching would stay in Gorham. On a scale of 1 to 10, she rated Gorham dispatching as a 10. “They can’t do enough for you,” Feeney said.

Jean Astwood also voted yes in District 3. She liked the personal touch of local dispatching, and she worried about the elderly care program. “I voted yes, absolutely,” she said.

Hans Hansen, who voted at District 3, declined to reveal how he voted, but he said he felt taxes would never be lowered whether the referendum passed or not. “If they want to consolidate, consolidate everybody,” Hansen said.

“If they can save $200,000 consolidating (six people), what would they save if they consolidated hundreds of people? Think about it,” he said. “We only need one manager to manage Cumberland County. We don’t need 20 others.”

In District 2, Linda Ford liked the town’s local dispatching and voted yes. She felt the council should have sent it to the townspeople.

Stephen MacDonald, however, agreed with the council’s decision and he voted no. “I don’t see how we can complain about taxes if we’re unwilling to make moves to save on town expenses,” he said.

Al Johnson voted yes at District 2. “I want to keep them here. It’s a safety issue, it’s an emergency issue. We don’t pay taxes to sub it out,” Johnson said.

Morin’s wife, Trixi Morin, a former Gorham dispatcher who didn’t apply for a job with the county, praised those who turned out for a single item referendum vote on a Monday. “I’m very proud of the voters who got out there and voted,” she said.

Another organizer of the citizens’ drive, Julie Poland, now a dispatcher for the county, echoed Morin’s comments. “We gave the town a voice. We put it out to the public,” she said.

Steve Morin said the referendum process had the town talking. He wants to explore changing the town’s charter to prevent implementation of a council decision to allow citizens an opportunity to petition for a people’s referendum vote. Cumberland County relocated Gorham’s dispatching to the county bunker in Windham last week.

The election was the first for Town Clerk Christina Silberman in Gorham. “It’s working pretty smoothly,” said Silberman, as she made her rounds to the polling places during the day.

The election came 21 days after organizers filed a petition forcing the council’s decision to a vote by townspeople. The Town Council set the election date in accord with the town’s charter, which required the referendum to come within 21 days of when the citizens filed their petition on Monday, Aug. 22.

Brenda Caldwell, the former town clerk who retired earlier this year, said the election was unique in Gorham. “It’s the first time the town has ever held an election on a Monday,” she said.

Former Gorham dispatcher Trixi Morin holds up a sign Monday urging residents to vote yes in the referendum to overturn the Town Council’s decision to merge its dispatching services with the county’sAshley Pike votes no, favoring Gorham’s consolidation of dispatch with Cumberland County.Steve Morin urges citizens to vote on Monday in Gorham.Shanie Rose, 15 months old, accompanies her grandmother, Donna Green, to vote on Monday in District 1 at Little Falls School.

Copy the Story Link