Gorham

Public safety fix past due

It’s past time the voters of Gorham support a needed upgrade to the police and fire departments on Main Street.

On Nov. 4, voters will be faced with a $4.99 million bond to build separate police and fire stations in place of the public safety building at 270 Main St. With interest of $1.7 million factored over the length of a 20-year bond, the total project would cost taxpayers about $6.7 million, or about 30 cents on the tax rate. Two structures would be built, one to house the police and the other for fire operations. Supporters say the proposal to create a public safety campus of sorts would provide better operational space for the growing departments.

Gorham voters soundly defeated a proposal last year that would have built a new combined public safety building at the former Little Falls School on Little Falls. The 2014 proposal is scaled back in terms of cost – by about $1 million – and would be located at the current Main Street location, something Gorham voters cited as a reason why they rejected the 2013 bond.

We feel officials are justified in their call for the new buildings. Their arguments regarding a cramped workspace seem authentic, especially given the rapid population growth of the town. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, which indicated Gorham had grown 16 percent, from 14,141 to 16,381 residents, Gorham is one of the fastest growing towns in Maine, and public safety needs to keep up with the trend.

In recent years we’ve noticed serious crimes and fires have unfortunately become a way of life in the once sleepy town. A disturbing string of arsons, a human trafficking case and a fugitive from justice were some of the more disturbing reports coming out of Gorham as of late, not to mention the day-to-day incidents that fill the log. And don’t forget the university system, which provides its fair share of calls for local police and fire crews. It’s imperative the town is prepared and equipped to handle whatever comes its way.

Standish

Sidewalks a good idea

Standish voters will once again see a referendum regarding the installation of sidewalks in the center of town, near the routes 25 and 35 intersection. Despite voters’ rejection of the measure three times within the last year, we feel it’s a worthy investment they should consider.

While the project would install sidewalks on significant sections of Standish Corner, extending along Route 25 from Oak Hill Road to near the Colonial Marketplace, the best thing about the project is that Standish voters would be on the hook for a fifth of the total cost, or about $116,000, when debt service is calculated. The state Department of Transportation is waiting in the wings to provide a grant covering the remaining $416,000 to engineer and construct the sidewalks. We think that sounds like a good deal for residents, who might enjoy having a sidewalk tie their downtown area together in a way that town planners – eyeing sidewalks as a traffic calming device and enabling a more walkable downtown atmosphere – have been envisioning for years.

The other important factor voters should consider is the stubborn fact that if voters don’t approve the sidewalks, they’ll be hit with a $60,000 penalty from the state, which has already spent money designing the project. We not sure about the wisdom of town officials who agreed to such an expenditure before getting the voters’ approval, but that is a discussion for another day. It seems to make sense that the town takes it fourth opportunity to approve the sidewalks and get something for the money they’ve already spent.