A computer technology student has developed an online burn permit service for Gorham, but the state is preventing him from marketing it to other communities.
Matthew Scott developed a program that enables Gorham to issue outside burning permits online. Scott developed the program at the request of Gorham Fire Chief Robert Lefebvre, who talked with the state about the proposal four years ago.
Now, Gorham is the only town in the state allowed to issue burning permits to its residents online. Maine charges $7 to residents of other communities for what Gorham does free for its people.
“Our system offers a local solution to the administration of issuing burning permits,” Scott said.
Scott, who designed the program with Olivier Mai of Baldwin, would like to market it to other communities. He’s talked with a few fire chiefs in surrounding communities about subscribing to their service but was told the state wouldn’t allow them to use it.
Bill Williams of the Maine Forest Service said that issuing burning permits is a state function. Williams said the state issues online burn permits under a pilot program authorized by state Legislature. “We’re bound by what the Legislature determines,” Williams said.
A private contractor developed the forest service’s two-year pilot program, which began last July. The state ruled Gorham could issue online burn permits because the development of the town’s service had been approved prior to the state’s pilot program going into effect.
The state, after granting initial approval to work on design and development of the online service, asked Gorham to hold off. Before being granted final permission to utilize Scott’s online service, Gorham faced hurdles to clear with the state. Gorham Town Manager David Cole, Rep. Chris Barstow and Lefebvre met with state officials in Augusta to acquire startup permission.
Scott had begun working on his project for Gorham in 2003, investing “thousands of hours” in developing the concept. Gorham pays Scott an annual fee of $300. “I consider it to be a low cost service,” Scott said.
The Gorham dispatch center previously issued burning permits. However, Gorham launched its online service just before the town consolidated its dispatch services with Cumberland County last fall.
Gorham residents but no longer have to drive to the town’s public safety building to apply for a burning permit free of charge. “It works very well, a couple of bugs here and there but no major problems,” Scott said.
Lefebvre is happy with the results of the online service. “It’s working great,” Lefebvre said and added that Scott continues to monitor it. “Matt has worked diligently to make improvements to it.”
Besides saving the online fee, Lefebvre, who is also the town’s fire warden, said Gorham doesn’t restrict the time of day for burning like the state does.
Lefebvre said Scott also maintains the fire department’s Web site. “He’s very talented with computers,” Lefebvre said.
Scott hopes the state would allow him in the future to market his service to other Maine communities. “I would support him in his effort to that,” Lefebvre said.
Scott said the state has “outright” refused to work with him. When the state’s pilot program ends in July next year, Williams said he could talk with Scott about his service.
While he could offer a customized online burning permit program for other communities, he’s not working on proposals now. “One might consider it a waste of my efforts under the current situation,” Scott said.
A graduate of Gorham High School in 1994, Scott will graduate in May from Southern Maine Community College. He works for emergency medical services in Scarborough, Westbrook and Gorham.
Scott and his wife, Stephene, and their two children live in Westbrook.
The state is blocking Matthew Scott from marketing the on line burning permit service he developed.
(Scott 1) – Matthew Scott is frustrated that he can’t market in Maine the on line service that he developed.
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