Not since a utility pole broke about a year ago on U.S. Route 1, near Independence Drive, have Freeport’s nonprofits been able to hang banners across the road to promote their events.

The Town Council was scheduled to address that issue this week, deciding if a proposed amendment to the zoning ordinance on temporary banners should go to public hearing July 21. The council, at its meeting Tuesday night, was also scheduled to approve a town match to a grant that would improve energy efficiency for low- and moderate-income homeowners.

Tuesday night’s meeting was held after the Tri-Town Weekly publication deadline.

Fred Reeder, the town code enforcement officer, said Monday that the proposed amendment to chapter 23 of the town ordinance, on temporary banners, stems from problems where banners had been hung across U.S. Route 1, near Independence Drive. Reeder said that the fire department had been hanging the banners for the nonprofits, but none have been displayed since a windstorm damaged one of the poles last year.

Reeder said that the amendment would change the location of where the banners would be allowed, probably to a site near Desert Road.

Reeder said that it was at least 10 years ago when Central Maine Power agreed to erect the two poles on which to hang banners, at no cost to the town.

“They used to put banners across Main Street maybe 10 or 15 years ago, but people wanted restrictions because they crossed the town right of way and were attached to buildings,” Reeder said. “CMP put them up and we came up with an ordinance for banners. The rigging was cable, but it broke a few years ago and several cars were damaged. The rigging got put back up, then last year a big wind storm snapped one of the poles.”

Reeder said that CMP has declined to put up a new pole at its own expense, and that town officials decided that it would be too expensive.

“They’ve been pretty much looking into ideas since then,” he said. “There is land near Desert Road. They’re talking about small posts that people can use themselves, not crossing the road and visible perpendicular to the roadway.”

The Town Council also will decide if the town should contribute a $4,000 match toward a $100,000 Cumberland County Community Development Block Grant that will provide energy assessment and air sealing for low- to moderate-income homeowners. Freeport Housing Trust could put up $4,000, as well, said Donna Larson, town planner.

Last year, the town secured a $17,700 Community Development Block Grant, and Efficiency Maine provided funding for 80 percent of the services, which included the repair of leaks in homes. There were no income guidelines for that service, and the town had money to service 75 homes, at a cap of $600 a home.

“This a follow-up to that, for assessment and air sealing,” Larson said.

The $4,000 would come from the Energy Savings Reserve Fund.