Thumbs up to local state Rep. Linda Valentino, D-Saco, and Sen. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, for co-sponsoring Rep. Jarrod Crockett’s bill, introduced last Wednesday, to require a one-year waiting period between leaving the Legislature and working as a lobbyist. This bill is in line with another ethics bill, LD 69, referred to as the “revolving door” bill, which bars high-level executive branch employees from directly taking jobs with industries they regulated.
Both of these provisions will help improve Maine government’s credibility as being ethical and above board. It’s hard to say that those in power would not be swayed in their decisions by the prospect of a cushy job once they’re out of office, and we’d like to see these bills instated to remove that possibility for conflict of interest ”“ or even the appearance thereof.
Thumbs up to the anticipated spring opening of the new York County Community Health Center, which is expected to see more than 6,000 patients each year. This clinic will be open to all, insured and uninsured, with billing on a sliding scale. It will offer not only medical care, but dental and behavioral health care as well. The new, improved center is being made possible in part by a $600,000 boost through the federal Affordable Care Act. It will replace the York County Community Action health center in south Sanford, which has offered health care to low-income and homeless Mainers since the mid-2000s.
Thumbs down to the sloppy communication that led to permission being granted to a Saco landowner to build a barn that is too high for city standards. The planning board approved the site plan for Beth Austin’s barn proposal and approved a foundation permit, but when it came time for the building permit itself, the code enforcement officer found the planned 41-foot building to be in violation. Now the city has left it up to Austin and her neighbors ”“ who are unhappy with the proposed barn’s proximity to their property ”“ to come up with an agreeable compromise. Meanwhile, the city is set to consider an ordinance change that would allow higher barns. We feel that this fiasco is the city’s fault, for neglecting to enforce its own rules when the plans were put forth, and Austin should not be penalized for their failure to properly vet her plans. The barn was approved as proposed, and the foundation has been laid. The city should allow her to build the barn as planned and, if necessary, award damages to the neighbors for their error. The financial burden of fixing the issue should most certainly not fall on Austin, who appears to have followed proper procedure.
Thumbs up to the Sanford City Council for its decision to move forward with the Waste Zero contract process, leading to several public forums this month and next. Signing the contract with this waste removal company may have raised some residents’ hackles, but it’s important to note that the program cannot move forward until the city passes an ordinance to implement it. By signing the contract for the More-In-Return program, the city is getting the ball rolling to inform the public and institute this cost-saving effort. Residents will have to purchase special trash bags for their waste, but will be reimbursed for those bags each year. Such programs are proven to increase recycling ”“ which decreases waste disposal costs ”“ and this one is designed specifically with Sanford in mind. We hope residents attend these forums to learn more about the Waste Zero proposal and let their councilors know whether they think it’s a good idea, before the council begins to consider the enabling ordinance for it on April 16. To us, it sounds like an improvement over the pay-as-you-throw program that voters repealed only three months after it began in 2010. More-In-Return addresses some of the concerns of that program and also addresses the need to save money on waste disposal.
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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 email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford office.
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