On the city’s agenda (Printed Feb. 29, 2008)
Anti-Graffiti Ordinance
The South Portland City Council is expected to vote on a revised anti-graffiti ordinance at its March 3 meeting. The ordinance would become effective with passage by the council.
Resident and attorney David Canarie researched municipal anti-graffiti ordinances across the country and has proposed several changes to the city’s current ordinance, which was enacted last spring.
One of Canarie’s proposed changes includes a provision to promote the rapid removal of graffiti. Owners of vandalized properties will receive a written notice informing them it is the city’s policy to remove graffiti from private or public property within 48 hours of notice unless a correction plan has been approved by the city manager. If the owner does not remove the graffiti within 10 days of notice, the city will move forward with nuisance enforcement.
Economic Development Committee
The city council is scheduled to vote on the creation of a seven-member advisory economic development committee that would develop incentive programs such as low-interest loan programs, on March 3.
If approved, the new assistant city manager and economic development director would likely oversee the committee.
Residents who are interested in a volunteer position on the board are encouraged to submit an application to the city clerk. More information is available at www.southportland.org.
At the request of the conservation commission, the city council will vote on March 3 on whether to allow the seven associate or non-voting members of the commission to play a more active role.
As proposed, an associate member would be allowed to vote “in the absence of his or her respective district or at-large primary conservation commission member.”
Legal Counsel
The city council will review a request for proposal (RFP) for legal services prepared by city manager James Gailey and provide input about the document at its next workshop, which is scheduled for March 10.
Councilors, however, were still debating about whether they want to use outside counsel after the current in-house city attorney, Mary Kahl, resigns on March 7. Some councilors said using outside counsel would be costly, while others favored the broad range of expertise that a firm could provide.
The majority of councilors agreed the RFP process would give them a better idea of what their options are.
New Assistant City Manager
After several rounds of interviews and deliberations, the city council’s offer to one candidate for the assistant city manager position has been accepted, Gailey said. However, Gailey declined to name the person “to allow him to announce it in his community first.” Gailey said he plans to make the announcement March 3. The position has been only sporadically filled since it was created in January 2006. Gailey served in that capacity until April 2006 when he was named interim city manager following the departure of former City Manager Jeffrey Jordan. Gailey served as assistant city manager again during the eight-month tenure of former City Manager Ted Jankowski, which ended in May 2007. The assistant city manager position has been vacant since Jankowski’s resignation.
–Compiled by Amanda Estes
Categories: Amanda Estes, Council Wrap-up, Environment, So Po News, Budget
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