Thumbs up to the Biddeford City Council for voting to put two bonds on the November ballot – a $2.27 million bond for repairs at City Hall, including its bell tower, and a $3.925 million bond for sewer work. The bell tower has been neglected for far too long and is in need of significant work. Sewer and storm water separation is required by the state and federal government. If the work is not conducted as scheduled the city could be subject to significant fines.
Thumbs down to some Arundel Planning Board members, who called the ecological benefits of dam removal “questionable” and continually cast doubt on the science presented by the Wells Reserve, as well as the intentions of the property owner seeking to remove the dam at Goff Mill brook. There is a certain brand of conservatism that keeps progress in check by framing science as being “unsettled” and this is no exception. However, the science supporting dam removal is strong and therefore approving the request to remove the dam should be supported.
Thumbs up to the decision by the former Sanford Teen Center Committee members who last week asked the City Council to transfer funds raised through raffles and bake sales, car washes and more, to the Sanford Police Department cadet program. And thumbs up to the City Council for agreeing to the plan. The estimated $7,200, raised mostly in the 1990s and held in a special account since that time, will help the program that exists to instill in young people confidence, self-esteem, the importance of physical fitness and more.
Thumbnails is a Friday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via e-mail (jtcommunity@journaltribune.com) or by dropping your letter off at our office.
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