Staff Writer 

There was no public comment on Monday when the South Portland City Council unanimously passed subdivision and zoning ordinances concerning the creation of a Local Freshwater Wetlands Management Program. 

The ordinances will stipulate penalties for building on or near coastal and freshwater wetlands, which are not necessarily protected by current federal standards. 

“If people absolutely have to build they can, but they’re going to have to pay a price,” said planning director Tex Haeuser. 

Landowners wishing to build will have to investigate the locations and proximity of wetlands on their properties before obtaining a building permit in the future, Haeuser said. Although the ordinances will not entirely prevent landowners from building on or near protected areas, they may be discouraged by the extra funding required to do so.

“I like that,” councilor Tom Blake said.

Grant funding

The council also unanimously approved the formal acceptance of a grant totaling nearly $300,000 as part of a 2007 Homeland Security grant from the Maine Emergency Management Agency.

“Five of the top 10 terrorist threats in the state are located in South Portland,” councilor Tom Blake said. 

City Manager James Gailey assured the council of the effectiveness of the emergency plan for South Portland, including Mayor Jim Soule, who could remember a time when the plan wasn’t a high priority for the city. Soule said he arrived at the South Portland High School during a hurricane in 1994, and the building was locked despite it being listed as the emergency evacuation point for the city. Firemen broke down the front doors in order to allow shelter for residents who had traveled there, Soule said.

“It is advantageous for us to make sure the systems are in place,” Soule said.

Councilor Blake encouraged residents to contact the local fire department if they had any questions concerning the emergency plan.

 “A lot has changed since hurricane Bob,” Gailey said.

Per the grant Memorandum of Understanding, $666,522.73 will be used to provide a fulltime Director of Emergency Management for the city, $50,000 will fund training related costs including hazmat and medical technicians, $72,000 will enhance emergency communications projects including television and radio outlets and $104,000 will help purchase various public safety equipment for the city, including a new generator for the Community Center.