York Town News
Selectmen discuss amendment to state growth law, beach parking and more
By Larry Favinger
YORK - The draft of an amendment to Legislative Document 1535 that would lower the minimum number of residential building permits the new state law will require York to issue will be introduced at the next session of the legislature.Town Manager Rob Yandow has been working with Jeff Austin of the Maine Municipal Association to write the amendment, the final draft of which will probably be presented to the selectmen at their Dec. 11 meeting.
Under the law that goes into effect in July, York's number of building permits would jump from its current level of 84 to more than 130 per year. The proposed amendment would remove from the calculations leading to that number all those permits for exempted construction such as low income and senior housing.
This amendment would be specific to York and would not impact any other town or city in the state.
Yandow told the selectmen Monday night, Nov. 27, that neither the state law nor the amendment locks in a specific number of permits, as that would be based on the number of permits issued over the last 10 years, but for the first year the legislation is in effect York's minimum number of permits would probably be set between 96 and 100.
While setting a minimum, the statute does not limit the number of permits that can be issued.
"You have to issue the smaller number," Yandow said.
Yandow said Austin sees no opposition to the passage of the amendment, as it would affect only York.
COMMITTEE CHANGES
Windol Weaver, who was elected to the state legislature from District 150 in November, has resigned from the town of York and York County Budget Committees.
"I regret that I must resign from these committees but I feel there is no way to do them all properly," he said in his letter to the Board of Selectmen. "I would like to thank all the members of these committees I worked with for their dedication, assistance and service to York."
After accepting the resignation with great regret, the selectmen appointed former Budget Committee Chairman Greg Orso to replace Weaver on the town's committee.
Orso will serve until the upcoming May Budget Referendum when a permanent replacement will be elected. Under provisions of the town's charter, Orso will not be able to seek the office in that election.
Selectman Len Dorrian asked if the board might be moving too quickly on the appointment, wondering if anyone else had expressed interest in the post.
"It's our obligation to get that committee up and running as soon as possible," Selectman Mike Estes said.
The selectmen also praised both Weaver and Orso for their past work on the committee and willingness to serve. The appointment was by unanimous vote.
TASK FORCE GETS NOD
The selectmen have accepted the recommendations of the town's Tax Task Force to put a voluntary limit on operational budget proposal increases and, for the first time, limit the proposals of spending on capital projects.
The two-cap system was accepted by a unanimous vote.
"This is a logical way to look at it," Estes said of the limits.
Dorrian said that over the last two years the cap on operational spending has been respected with the proposals coming in under the maximum figure established by a formula.
Vice Chairman Dwight Bardwell said the proposed caps are for proposed budgets only, as the voters will approve the final spending figures.
A Capital Planning Committee has been established to oversee and prioritize the capital spending proposals from the town and schools. The committee, which will be chaired and managed by Yandow, is to include two selectmen, two members of the School Committee, two members of the Budget Committee and three members of the public at large.
Dorrian and Estes will served on the group from the Board of Selectmen and volunteers are being sought to fill the openings from the public at large.
PARKING PLANS
Joe Lipton, chairman of the York Beach Parking Committee, reported on that group's activities at the start of Monday's meeting.
The recommendations from the committee include more metered parking on Ridge Road, change machines placed around York Beach, designated parking for buses and trolleys, racks for bicycles, bringing all parking ordinances and policies into conformity, a study of the one-way in the summer, two-way the rest of the year traffic pattern and improved signage directing people to York Beach and to parking areas.
"Obviously we're not done yet," Board of Selectmen Chairman David Marshall said of dealing with the parking issues, adding he will plan a workshop on parking in the near future as, "It needs to be as soon as we can."
He said some things may be done quickly, while others will have to be worked out.
