Government Spotlight

Fire Rescue guidelines and command vehicle, liquor licenses, proposed Village Path on June 5 agenda

Another “Welcome to New Gloucester” sign, a Fire Rescue command vehicle, two liquor license requests, proposed guidelines and fees for Fire Rescue activities, and a possible walking path between the Town Hall complex and Church Road are among items on the Select Board’s June 5 agenda.

Also on tap: guidance for the Public Safety Committee on next steps regarding fire suppression and on possible traffic safety ordinances, and guidance for the Economic Development Committee regarding a business directory and that “Welcome to New Gloucester” sign, which would be placed near Pineland.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the Meetinghouse and will be broadcast on local cable and live-streamed on Castus at this link.

Norumbega Cidery and Black Tie catering liquor licenses. The board will hold public hearings and consider on-premises liquor license applications for Norumbega Cidery on Woodman Road and for Black Tie at Pineland Farms. The hearings will take place at the start of the June 5 meeting.

Norumbega Cidery is returning to the Meetinghouse, with owner Noah Fralich having confirmed with the State that the type of license Norumbega is requesting is the appropriate one. The board had raised the question at Fralich’s previous visit. Find Norumbega Cidery’s application and relevant correspondence at pp. 11-28 of the meeting agenda packet.

Black Tie requests a renewal of its catering liquor license (beer, wine, spirits) for its operation at Pineland Farms. Black Tie caters events, indoors and under the tent, year-round. Find its application at pp. 29-38.

Fire Rescue command vehicle. In May, Town Meeting voters approved using $60,000 from Fire Rescue’s reserve account to purchase a command vehicle. Now Autotronics, the vendor building the town’s new ambulance, proposed to also supply a 2023 Ford Explorer command vehicle, with September 2023 delivery at a cost of $61,828 after trade-in of the town’s aging Squad 1 vehicle. Survey the specs and a memo from Interim Chief Craig Bouchard at pp. 8-10.

Guidelines for Fire Rescue special events coverage and recovery of incident costs. The board is slated to consider two sets of guidelines and fees for Fire Rescue personnel and apparatus: one for when the Department covers special events, and the other to pursue reimbursement for costs associated with responding to accidents and emergencies within town.

The proposed event coverage guidelines and fees distinguish between municipal special events and “outside” special events and also address assignment of personnel. Read the events-related proposal at pp. 6-7 of the agenda packet.

The cost recovery guidelines would authorize the town to bill insurers (or to contract with a third-party billing service) to recoup Fire Rescue’s incident costs. They include providing traffic safety at accident scenes, assisting with vehicle extrications or vehicle fires, and cleaning up hazardous materials. Details, including proposed charges, are at pp. 44-47.

Parks & Rec Committee proposal for Village Path. The board is slated to consider a proposal from the Parks and Recreation Committee for a walking path between the Town Hall Complex, through First Congregational Church property, and onto Church Road.

According to the Parks & Rec Committee memorandum to the Select Board, the proposed “Village Path” is intended to allow residents to avoid the busy intersection at Route 231 and Gloucester Hill Road. No cost to the town is anticipated. Brush-clearing and any needed tree-cutting for the path would be done by volunteers and costs of signs donated. Find the memo, a letter of support from the Congregational Church, site sketch and other details at pp. 40-43.

Next steps on fire suppression and traffic safety measures. The Public Safety Committee is seeking board guidance regarding next steps regarding review of the town’s fire suppression resources. The packet includes a 2022 assessment of the condition of the town’s dry hydrants and fire ponds by then-Chair of the Public Safety Committee Richard Maguire (pp. 48-49).

The committee is also seeking board input concerning traffic control measures. Residents have proposed an ordinance for seasonal traffic control measures on Outlet Road, near Sabbathday Lake, including signage and placement of three speed bumps (p. 50). It appears the Public Safety Committee is recommending the Town develop a more general, town-wide ordinance.

Welcome to New Gloucester sign; business directory. The Economic Development Committee wants the board to approve a Welcome to New Gloucester sign on Route 231 near the Pineland campus. The EDC is also seeking guidance regarding placement of a business directory on the town website or on NGXchange.

Public comments can be submitted by email before 10 am on Monday, June 5, to townmanager@newgloucester.com and smyers@newgloucester.com. If you want your comment read aloud, please indicate that in the subject line.

Find Select Board agendas, related documents and meeting minutes at this link.

Joanne Cole