Radio purchase approved

The Windham Town Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $180,600 lease purchase of a radio system that will allow police and fire personnel to make and receive portable radio calls from anywhere in Windham.

Previously, according to officials, radio coverage inside stores in North Windham was spotty since the existing antenna system, based at the Windham Public Safety Building in Windham Center, was weak especially where hills blocked the signal.

The new system will be paid for over a three-to-five year period at an interest rate of 1.8 percent. Councilors opted not to buy the system outright since the interest rate was historically low and the council wanted to keep cash on hand should more capital purchases be required.

–John Balentine

Tar sands meeting set

After multiple requests from townspeople concerned about a proposal that would reverse the flow of the Portland to Montreal Pipeline to accommodate transport of heavy crude oil from Canada, the Windham Town Council set a special meeting to receive public comment and discuss the matter for Tuesday, Jan. 29.

Councilors briefly discussed the matter Tuesday night with Scott Hayman saying the project exceeds the authority of the council.

“I do feel we need to become educated on it, but at the same time that is a state and federal issue. Locally I don’t believe we’ll have any say in what happens,” he said.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Vice Chairman Kevin Call said about holding the meeting. “And I think it’s a very important issue.” – John Balentine

Puppy mills ordinance proposed

Lynne Fracassi, founder of the Maine Citizens Against Puppy Mills, was at the Windham Town Council meeting to propose an ordinance to prohibit the retail sales of cats and dogs in stores.

During public participation, Fracassi said animals sold in pet stores come from large breeders she described as puppy mills and are often not vaccinated and have shortened life spans due to generations of inbreeding.

She claimed, “every Maine pet store is selling puppy mill puppies.”

Fracassi, a former pet store employee who lives in Gorham, left a copy of her proposed ordinance with the town manager. Her request was not discussed by councilors. –John Balentine