December 1981
City Engineer Edward Reidman presented the Westbrook City Council with an ultimatum from the Portland Water District Monday: raise the Westbrook sewer-users fee 16 percent, effective Jan. 1. Aldermen balked at the orders, but as a concession voted to table action until they met with Russell Day, Westbrook’s Water District trustee, and other water district representatives. The new fee would be $1.80 for each 100 cubic feet of water used, up from $1.55.
When the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency learned from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection that Maine Metal Finishing Co, Inc., in Gorham was violating state groundwater quality standards, EPA administrator Anne M. Gorsuch sounded the alarm to U. S. Secretary of Labor Raymond Donovan that the plant might have to close, putting 35 people out of work.
Westbrook tried to collect $135.43 interest from William Kelson because he failed to sign his tax check – until the city council voted to forget about it. Kelson, a Main Street real estate agent, paid his taxes on the day due and the city treasurer’s office accepted his unsigned check and gave him a receipt, “paid in full.” When his check got to the bank, the bank noticed that it was unsigned and returned it to the city. It was agreed there was no fault by either party.
Bruce Doughty. Westbrook’s recreation director the past 11 years, submitted his resignation. Doughty said he will go into the insurance business in Westbrook.
The Westbrook Post Office took out three street collection boxes, basically due to lack of use, Postmaster Leo Pinette said.
The Gorham Town Council recently amended the Land Use and Development Code by creating a new subsection, which requires that unrecorded subdivision plans be withdrawn if not recorded in the Cumberland Count Registry of Deeds by Aug. 1.The town currently requires that subdivision plans be recorded within 30 days of approval.
The Gorham Town Council passed up a last chance to accept state funding for the village square traffic reconstruction project, when they stood firm against accepting the state’s proposed traffic changes, which are a condition of the grant.
December 1991
What the Gorham Regional Federal Credit Union couldn’t get, Peoples Heritage Bank wants – a curb cut onto Gorham’s Main Street. The credit union moved out of its 10-year-old headquarters four years ago and the building has been empty ever since. Peoples would move in if it could get the curb cut. The credit union’s president, Roy Hagerman, won’t be happy if the own allows the cut, but the idle building is a concern to Town Planner Jay Grande. Peoples Heritage would be the fourth bank at that intersection.
At a hearing on the proposed Buxton special waste landfill, Lynn Reese of the anti-dump coalition Stand Now presented detailed testimony on the traffic hazards that would result from placing such a dump in Buxton Center, at Groveville Road and Route 22. She said 18-wheeled dump tucks hauling special waste to the site over narrow roads would pose a threat to all other traffic, especially school buses.
Officials at the University of Southern Maine are investigating an early morning incident in which 20 to 30 members of the Phi Mu Delta fraternity attacked a party on Mighty Street in Gorham with “bats, sticks and hammers.” The Judicial Affairs Department at the school expects to bring charges against an unspecified number of students involved in the brawl, said Carl Hill, USM student conduct officer. Those charged with violating the student conduct code may be expelled from the school, said Hill.
Rebelling at the Scott Paper Co.’s lack of faith in its S.D. Warren paper mill in Westbrook, Warren workers are organizing try to buy the mill. “First, we want to know if it’s feasible – if the mill can make money,” said William Carver, president of local 1069, United Papermakers and Paperworkers. “We’ll get to the finances later.”
A new, locally produced Santa Claus troupe wowed the crowd at Westbrook’s annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. An estimated 500 children surrounded “Santa and Friends” after the song-and-story performance. A Westbrook school chorus also joined in the community carol sing, as Mayor Fred Wescot threw the switch lighting the tree.
Idexx Laboratories (say it “Eye-Decks”), which has been on its way to Westbrook since early this year, arrived for good with the transfer of the executive offices from Portland. Idexx has a 10-year lease on 134,000 square feet. It took a building permit earlier this year for $45 million in renovations and reportedly has invested $6,5 million total in its new Westbrook plant. Westbrook’s newest industry employs about 200 people and leases from Data General about a third of the sprawling plant D-G vacated two years ago, on Eisenhower Drive.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
