Thumbs up to the Town of Sanford for choosing Jeffrey H. Rowe, Sanford’s assistant chief since 2003, as the new full time fire chief. It’s hard to conceive of a more qualified candidate to lead Sanford’s fire service, considering Rowe’s 28 years with the department and his considerable related experience.
The town made a sound decision not to waste time and resources with a fire chief search, as Rowe is able to seamlessly step into this position.
Thumbs down to Biddeford city councilors for placing restrictions on ice cream trucks that will allow only one truck per business to operate in the city at any given time and ban them entirely from certain major thoroughfares. Certainly, the trucks’ constant blaring of looped jingles can be an annoyance, but that issue has been addressed separately by requiring the trucks to turn off the tunes when they stop. Have we grown so jaded as to be widely irritated by such a happy summertime sound even as it simply passes by? The city’s restrictions are not friendly to the business people who are trying to peddle their frozen sweets and will also deprive children who are playing at Clifford Park or hanging out on Routes 1 or 111 downtown of a time-honored tradition.
Thumbs up to the newly-formed York County Renewable Energy Initiative, a group that seeks to promote energy conservation with a focus on improving efficiencies at peoples’ homes. Members volunteer to help each other install solar water heaters and other such improvements, while also offering energy audits of homes and sharing ideas. The initiative should help homeowners in this area to save money by learning how to improve their homes.
Thumbs up to the Biddeford Solid Waste Management Commission for its decision to leave well enough alone with the transfer station fees. Some residents had raised concerns that the system could be abused because residents are not limited in the amounts of certain types of waste they can bring to the transfer station. As it turns out, the level of abuse is low and thanks to the commission’s clear thinking, the town won’t be spending thousands on a plan to institute a new set of waste disposal fees.
Thumbs up to all the Public Works crews for their dedication in keeping the streets of York County clear during this busy winter. Snowfall has been heavy this year, which tight budgets for cities, but the plowing seems to have been properly managed to keep the roads safe and meter out the budget as more storms loom. That said, most residents of the Northeast are hoping the famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, is right in his prediction of an early spring this year. Though we know spring won’t officially be here until March 20, let’s hope Phil is right ”“ at least that it will feel like spring sooner.
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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you would like to respond, please write the Reader’s Forum via e-mail at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.
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