May 18, 1983

Fueled by falling city revenues and a rash of overdrafts, a

developing budget crisis came to an end in Westbrook this week. Mayor William B. O’Gara told the City Council Monday that he’s not going to cut his $8.1 million city budget $450,000 the council asked, or even a dime. City Council President Charles Malcolm Roma responded with a

call for the councilors to order an immediate hiring freeze (both

replacement and new jobs) and set a tax rate ceiling. Roma said he has five or six (of seven) aldermen’s votes for the

freeze. “We tried to take the path of least resistance and let the mayor have the decision on what should be cut,” Roma said. “If he doesn’t want to do that, we’ll act. The Council isn’t interested in going through every department, item by item, this year.”

Maine Meal Finishing Co. Inc., which has pollution problems in

Gorham, plans to resolve them by moving to the Col. Westbrook Executive Park in Westbrook. The decision rests on “approval of a financial package,” said company president Richard Atkinson on Friday. “We’re very close, within a couple of weeks of a decision,” he said. Westbrook’s Planning Board gave its OK to the plans last week after it was assured by Mayor William O’Gara, as well as his assistant, Jonathan Carter,

City Engineer Edward Reidman and Code Enforcement Office Thomas Wakefield that it will be a good thing for the city.

The Westbrook Planning Board last week voted against rezoning the southwest corner at Spring Street and the County Road for a variety store. Mayor William O’Gara and several other neighbors spoke against the store, while another neighbo,r Sheila Sty, was in favor. The City Council will make the decision on the rezoning request, which comes from Gene

Cohen, owner of the land. Cohen owns Portland Glass Co. and its GlassWorld factory warehouse offices and retail store next to the corner. He wants to build on the corner land not only the variety store, but also a new building for his retail glass business. O’Gara assured him that “I don’t think you can compare the kind of retail business you have and anticipate the business going in and out of a grocery store.”

A motion by the town of Gorham to dismiss as plaintiffs the four citizens who brought suit against the town for alleged mismanagement of the Huston trust fund was denied Friday in Cumberland County Superior Court by Judge Steven Perkins. No reasons were given for denial. One of the plaintiffs, Jerry Larrivee Jr., said the decision has implications for other communities. “This will hold their noses to the grindstone if they know they can be sued by citizens,” he said.

May 19, 1993

Despite pending $8 million in preparation work, building a regional recycling center and accessory landfill in Gorham is no sure thing. Portland City Manager Robert Ganley, a Regional Waste System board member, was the most outspoken critic of the Gorham plan during a workshop discussion last

week. If built, Portland would be hit with an expected $246,775 bill for annual operating and maintenance costs, and that money likely would come from property taxpayers. Some officials connected with the project from the beginning are now openly questioning whether the complex is needed, and saying less costly options should be explored.

There is increasing evidence that students who drop out of school stay in their hometown while making less money than their graduating counterparts, says Gorham teacher Bob Bond. And that’s reason enough for the community to help them, he said. Bond is a member of the Dropout Prevention Advisory Committee. He also told the School Committee last week that those who graduated and attend schools like Harvard are the ones likely to leave their hometown after getting the degree. “From the community standpoint, it makes a lot of

sense to make sure kids don’t drop out, and do go on to become productive members of society,” Bond said.

Westbrook police notes: A small animal ran across Brook Street, Westbrook, and the car that stopped for it was it by the one behind. Robert Lord, 42, of 202 Middle Road, Falmouth, drove the first car. His 1986 Subaru had $900 damage. The car behind was driven Kelly Irving, 29, of Valley Road, Cumberland. It had $1,200 damage. No one was hurt.

Mr. Randall’s cattle were loose on Stroudwater Street at 11 p.m. He rounded them up. People who brought liquor to Pockets, 1 Chabot St., were warned they could be charged with criminal trespass.

Colonial Road neighbors whose houses back up to the Lee auto

dealership at 200 Main St., Westbrook, won a delay last week in Planning Board approval of Lee’s $3,885,000, three-year expansion plans. Board members tabled the site plan for more answers. For decades, the land was farmland. Shaw’s Supermarkets bought it for a new store, but after it built at Pine Tree Shopping Center, Portland, instead, it sold the land. In 1987, Lee put up a 13,682 square-foot building and put about four of the site’s 14 acres to use for car display.