Council rejects dumpster ordinance

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — An ordinance designed to require commercial garbage dumpsters in the town to be covered failed to gain a majority vote of the Houlton Town Council Monday evening.
    By a vote of 2-4, the board rejected the new ordinance after councilor Sue Tortello stated she felt the matter was already covered by existing language.
    “I really believe the idea behind this ordinance was well-intentioned, but I have some serious reservations about it,” Tortello said. “I don’t think this will address the problem of debris from construction sites blowing on to adjacent properties. If the debris that is blowing is not in a container, merely covering a dumpster will not solve the problem.”
    She added, in her opinion, construction debris was by nature too heavy to be strewn about by the wind. Tortello also stated the town already has an ordinance on record that should cover any issues with solid waste disposal.
    “If somebody allows construction debris to fly off to somebody else’s property, that is improper disposal and this ordinance we have in place already addresses that,” she said.”
    Councilor Rob Hannigan disagreed.
    “I made several phone calls to a local business to address a problem, and it did not get addressed,” he said. “According to the code enforcement officer, there was nothing that could be done. My neighbor and myself spent just about every weekend this past summer dealing with this (debris). From my personal perspective, something needs to change in the way construction companies are doing their business.”
    During the public comments portion of the meeting, three residents urged the council not to grant a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) request from the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The Maliseets were requesting the PILOT based on work the tribe did to repair the Currier Road last year. A similar request was granted to the Maliseets last year in the amount of $38,380, in which the tribe cited work on the Currier Road as a reason for the request.
    “It’s boggling here,” said resident Phil Bernaiche. “Why should you vote to waive any money in taxes? Nobody came to my house and gave me a break. It’s not Christmas yet.”
    Resident Mike Jenkins also stated his opposition to the request.
    “I understand the town manager has been working with (tribal chief) Brenda Commander to come to some sort of agreement, which I think is good,” he said. “We need to have good relations with the Maliseets. The only concern I have with this year’s PILOT is that it’s increased up to about $53,000.”
    Jenkins, who was a member of the town council during last year’s budget process, said the tribe used the same projects for requesting a tax break this year as it did the previous year.
    “I do believe we made it fairly clear the PILOT should be based on a year-to-year basis,” he said. “What have they done in the past year to improve (the town)? I don’t think it should be waived this year.”
    Resident Carl Lord Jr., who served on the town’s Board of Budget Review, said he was opposed to the request.
    “The bottom line is this is revenue and it’s money we need to run our town,” he said. “Instead of raising taxes, collect your revenue.”
    Town Manager Eugene Conlogue informed the council that he met with Commander on Monday and was working to come up with a figure to place for the PILOT, but was unable to give a figure at Monday’s meeting. He requested the matter be tabled until the next regular meeting, slated for Monday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. Councilors agreed and voted to table the matter.
    In other agenda items, the council:
    • Accepted $3,185 from fundraisers and donations for the Just for Kids playground new equipment project.
    • Granted a permit for dancing and entertainment to the Houlton Lodge of Elks at 86 Main St.
    • Approved a liquor renewal license for Richard Kelly, doing business as O’Kelly’s Irish Pub on 241 North St.
    • Granted a request from Pioneer Broadband to extend  the temporary tower attachment on Garrison Hill to provide Internet service to clients at the Houlton International Airport.