At Tuesday’s Standish Town Council meeting, South Portland Community Television Director Tony Vigue was honored by representatives from six communities including Standish, Buxton, Hollis and Limerick, for his work on negotiating Time Warner Cable contracts with the towns.

“Tony has been instrumental in these negotiations,” said Standish Town Manager Gordon Billington while awarding Vigue a certificate of appreciation. “Congratulations on everything you have done for the town of Standish and the state. You have really enhanced the quality of television in Maine.”

Buxton Selectman Cliff Emery also praised Vigue.

“What he does for all of the communities is just enormous,” said Emery. “We wanted to meet and express our gratitude and recognize all of his hard work.”

Vigue humbly thanked the town administrators.

“You don’t get things done by yourself, you need a team,” said Vigue. “I had the best team. Working with six towns at a time is usually like herding cats, but this has been very easy. Thank you.”

SAD 6 pullout

On Oct. 8, Standish councilors voted unanimously to allow Town Manager Gordon Billington to hire a consultant to study the costs and benefits of withdrawing from the Bonny Eagle school district.

After receiving no bids on a request for proposals to consult on withdrawal from School Administrative District 6, the Town Council unanimously voted to table the agenda item on Tuesday night.

The firms that the town directly solicited turned down the RFP based on lack of subject knowledge, as well as funds. While the town suspected the consultation would cost $2,500-$7,500, the actual cost would average closer to $10,000.

Billington requested the council allow him to meet with other consulting firms for advice before sending out a new RFP.

Standish was the founding member of the district in 1961.

Road closure

In other business Tuesday night, the Town Council approved an emergency amendment to town code regarding vehicles and traffic. The emergency amendment allowed for temporary closures to a town road that the council finds “unsafe for vehicular traffic.”

“If we left the ordinance the way it was we would have to close the road permanently,” said Councilor John Sargent. “This allows us to temporarily close it and see if it affects traffic.”

The amendment covers all Standish roadways but was specifically passed to temporarily close Emery Road.

“This applies to all roads, but the first would be Emery Road,” said Town Manager Gordon Billington.

The section of Emery Road that will be closed immediately connects Route 25 to Blake Road on the eastern side of Colonial Market Place toward Gorham. Although there is no history of accidents there, the town has received many complaints regarding vehicles running the stop sign in an effort to beat traffic heading west on Route 25.

Standish resident Wayne Newbegin supported the amendment and the road closure.

“I think it’s a great idea to close Emery Road,” said Newbegin.

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