Westbrook Rep. Proposes $100M Transportation Bond

PPH:

The bill, sponsored by Democratic Rep. Ann Peoples, would allocate $65 million to road and bridge repairs, $20 million to improve rail lines, $10 million for public transportation and $5 million for pedestrian trails. It is too early in the process to determine the specific projects that would receive funding.

- John C.L. Morgan

Maine Hindus Look Forward to Opening of Westbrook Temple

PPH:

Having a temple in Maine has been a hope of Hindus here for decades, said Deven Bhatt, president of Maine Hindu Temple, the nonprofit organization that orchestrated the purchase of the former Unitarian Universalist Church on Westbrook's Main Street.

- John C.L. Morgan

First Winter Festival Receives Positive Reviews

AJ:

Whether bundled in heavy jackets, wetsuits or running gear, everyone was wearing a smile at last weekend’s first Westbrook Winter West Fest. The festival, which officials estimate drew a few thousand people, included events such as dog sled races, hockey tournaments, kayaking on the Presumpscot River, a 5K run, snow sculpturing and even a few impromptu snowball fights.

- John C.L. Morgan

City Looks to Expand Recreational Access to Presumpscot

PPH:

On Monday, the City Council will vote on whether to spend as much as $25,000 for the ramps and docks, which Baker is proposing to install near the end of Ash Street, near Cottage Place and in the northwest corner of Riverbank Park, where he also wants the city to rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards.

- John C.L. Morgan

State to Reduce Funding to Westbrook Schools

AJ:

According to information released by the state Department of Education, the $12.6 million in state aid to the Westbrook School Department will be reduced by slightly less than $205,000, a cut of 0.7 percent. The cut is a small percentage of the $30.9 million 2012-2013 school budget passed by voters in June.

- John C.L. Morgan

Full disclosure: I am an employee of the Westbrook School Department.

Local Entrepreneur Looks to Develop Water Park on Presumpscot

PPH:

Rob Mitchell's commute has taken him over the
Presumpscot River in Westbrook for the past 15 years. But when he took up
kayaking about 10 years ago, the river started to look different to him.In it,
Mitchell saw the potential for a recreational water park -- a project he thought
he'd take on once his kids graduate from high school.

- John C.L. Morgan

Group Promoting Lower Taxes Forms in City

AJ:

An organized group of Westbrook residents is
looking over the shoulders of city and school officials throughout this year’s
budget season.Westbrook Taxpayers United, boasting about 30 members, has been a
vocal presence during the budget process.

- John C.L. Morgan

City's Surplus Could Offset School Department's Deficits

PPH:

The school department ended fiscal 2011 more than
$760,000 in debt. But because the city finished the fiscal year ending last June
with a $9 million surplus the school department could get a bailout. The city
administration is recommending that the City Council use some of that surplus to
erase the school department's debt, which has accumulated over a couple years,
said City Administrator Jerre Bryant.

- John C.L. Morgan

Next Stop for School Budget: City Council

AJ:

The council is scheduled to hold its first
discussion and a preliminary vote on the combined city and school budget at a
meeting in Westbrook High School’s room 114 on May 7 at 7 p.m. If the budget
passes the preliminary vote, the council will hold a final budget vote on May
14.

- John C.L. Morgan

Public Comment Kerfuffle Leads to Critical Ad, Review of Policy

AJ:

The debate started at an April 2 City Council meeting, when James
Tranchemontagne, who owns The Frog and Turtle and is a member of the group
Westbrook Taxpayers United, attempted to give a speech during the first of two
public comment periods on the council’s agenda on his frustration with the
city’s tax burden on home and business owners. Tranchemontagne initially spoke
for six minutes, twice the allotted time allowed for residents to speak during
the open comment period, before City Council President Brendan Rielly
interrupted him to remind him about the time limit (which is announced before
each public comment period at council meetings) and asked him to wrap up his
comments.

Video footage from the April 2 City Council meeting can be seen here. Tranchemontagne begins his comments at the 10:35 mark, and the testy exchange between he and Rielly described in the article begins at the 15:35 mark.

- John C.L. Morgan

News Fit to Post: April 12

City Council to take another look at home fire sprinkler ordinance. (April 12)

City celebrates completed renovations to the exterior of Walker Memorial Library. (April 12)

School Board and City agree to a revamped policy regarding school resource officers. (April 12)

- John C.L. Morgan

School Board Restores Some Positions in School Budget

PPH:

Westbrook school officials have put nine positions
back into the department's 2012-13 budget, which initially called for a net
reduction of 21 full- and part-time jobs. Three high school teachers, a school
resource officer and a guidance counselor are among the positions that are no
longer targeted for cuts in the $31 million budget, which the School Committee
unanimously supported Wednesday night. The committee will take its final vote
April 11 on the budget, which now calls for the elimination of 26 positions,
including 10 full-time teachers, and the addition of 14 positions, including two
assistant principals.

- John C.L. Morgan

Full disclosure: I teach at Westbrook High School.

Casella Closure in Biddeford Could Impact Westbrook

AJ:

A newly revealed plan to finally close the
controversial Maine Energy Recovery Co. trash incinerator in Biddeford could
have big repercussions in Westbrook--construction of a long-delayed transfer
facility on land owned by Casella Waste Systems.

- John C.L. Morgan

Idexx Breaks Ground on New Headquarters

PPH:

The 108,000-square-foot administrative building,
which will hold offices for 300 employees, is the first half of a planned $60
million expansion, announced in July.The timing of the second phase, a
100,000-square-foot building for 400 employees, will depend on the continued
growth of the company, said facilities manager Dick Daigle."If we continue to
grow at the rate we're growing now, it's going to be fairly quickly," he
said.

- John C.L. Morgan

Mayor Hilton Joins Group of Maine Mayors Focusing on Economic Matters

Morning Sentinel:

The group, Mayors Coalition on Jobs and Economic
Development, includes mayors from Auburn, Augusta, Bangor, Biddeford, Lewiston,
Portland, Saco, South Portland, Waterville and Westbrook. Its first targets are
changes to the state General Assistance program proposed by Gov. Paul
LePage.

- John C.L. Morgan

Idexx to Break Ground on New Headquarters

AJ:

After waiting for nearly three years, Idexx
Laboratories is breaking ground in two weeks on a $35 million expansion of its
corporate headquarters on Eisenhower Drive in Westbrook.Code Enforcement Officer
Rick Gouzie said Idexx this week submitted an application for foundation work at
the site.

- John C.L. Morgan

Mayor Hilton Joins Effort to Legalize Same-Sex Marriage

PPH:

More than 160 mayors [in the U.S.] have signed a
statement advocating for the freedom to marry. Two other Maine mayors have
joined the group, Charlotte Warren of Hallowell and Colleen Hilton of Westbrook.
[Portland mayor Michael] Brennan said in a prepared statement that he will work
to bring marriage equality to all Maine families, and he invited municipal
leaders to join the coalition.

- John C.L. Morgan

City Officials: Expect a Tax Increase

AJ:

Despite a proposed 2013 Westbrook municipal budget
of $23.25 million--a decrease of nearly $46,000 compared to this year--a drop in
the city’s property valuation of nearly $20 million may force a tax hike.And
that doesn’t include the school department’s proposed $31.6 million budget,
which could push the tax rate even higher.

- John C.L. Morgan

School Board Decides to Shut Down Prides Corner School

PPH:

Prides Corner School will close. The Westbrook
School Committee took a final vote Wednesday in favor of closing the elementary
school for kindergarten through second grade.The committee voted 6-1, with Jim
Violette opposed. Closing the school will allow the district to move forward
with a plan to restructure all elementary grades next school year.

- John C.L. Morgan

Westbrook Joins Cities in Political Fight Over General Assistance Funding

PPH:

[Gov. Paul LePage's] plan calls for the most
far-reaching change to Maine’s General Assistance funding in 20 years, said
Portland Mayor Michael Brennan."It will increase local property taxes and make
hundreds of people homeless in Portland," he said. Portland is joining with nine
other cities--Biddeford, Bangor, Lewiston, Auburn, Waterville, Augusta, Saco,
Westbrook and South Portland--to pressure lawmakers to reject LePage’s
proposal.

- John C.L. Morgan