By Nate Jones

Staff Writer 

Obstructed view?

On Sunday, April 20, the day before Earth Day, South Portland resident Jeff Ingalls noticed a pile of freshly cut logs on Willard Beach. The 10-inch diameter pieces were the remains of a formerly large tree that appeared to have been cut down with a chainsaw sometime during the night of April 19. Ingalls notified police and eventually John Switzer, South Portland’s arborist, of the vandalism. 

Since the tree was on public property, Ingalls said only the Parks and Recreation department may file a complaint with the police. 

“It was one of those things where the cops didn’t know what was going on,” he said. 

At an April 23 meeting, Ingalls requested that the city council direct the parks and recreation department to make a formal complaint so police could begin an investigation. 

“If this was a tree in Mill Creek Park you’d already be asking for answers,” he said. 

The council declared May 23 Arbor Day later in the meeting.

Goodbye Gorham Road Extension?

A purchase and sale agreement for approximately 1.5 acres on Western Avenue was unanimously approved by the council on April 23. A portion of the Gorham Road extension will have to be abandoned and related utilities must be moved before Vincent Maietta, owner of Maietta Construction and Western Avenue, LLC, may begin constructing a proposed retail shopping outlet on the property. 

“I know you’re going to do what you want to do,” resident Kathy Latendris said. “But maybe make it a little park, at least it’s open land.”

City Manager Jim Gailey said the council will discuss possible uses for nearly $600,000 in revenue and subsequent taxes generated by the sale as the council proceeds with conditions for the sale.

Paper streets erased

The council also unanimously approved discontinuing a 250-foot portion of Park Avenue and a 270-foot section of Chambers Avenue to allow Hannaford Brothers to use the space for storage. In addition to discontinuing the existing roads, the council agreed to vacate a “paper street” portion of Park Avenue and all of Evergreen Avenue. Although the streets had not been built or accepted by the city, they were included on a subdivision plan for the area.

“It’s funny how six months ago we vacated streets to “go green,” Councilor Tom Blake said. “Now we’re abandoning them for just the opposite reason.”