PORTLAND — Mayor Michael Brennan and seven other city leaders in the state are proposing crime diversion programs to deal with substance abuse and seeking $2 million in state funding. Patterned after the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion, or LEAD, programs now used in Seattle, Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Albany, New York, the pilot projects were proposed […]
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Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland landlord registration fee discounts headed to City Council
PORTLAND — City landlords will begin paying an annual registration fee of as much as $35 per housing unit on Jan. 1, 2016. But discounts to the fee, part of an ordinance requiring landlords to register with the new Housing Safety Office, are expected to have a first reading at the Sept. 21 City Council meeting, and a public […]
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Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Out of the ashes, on to the plates: 'Phoenix Fare' celebrates Portland's East Bayside
PORTLAND — Working knuckle deep in rising dough on Sept. 3, Paul Farrell stopped to think about doing business in East Bayside. “I have grown to love this neighborhood more than I ever thought I would,” said the owner of Union Bagel Co. at 147 Cumberland Ave. In that spirit, Farrell will take part in “Phoenix Fare” […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland cruise ship season opens with high hopes
PORTLAND — The city’s ship is coming in. Again, and again, and again, through early November. Portland is expecting a very successful year for cruise ship visits, with 84 arrivals bringing as many as 97,000 passengers, according to City Hall spokeswoman Jessica Grondin. In 2014, 74 visits brought 82,000 passengers to the city. Fifty-one of this […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland City Council to reconsider tax break for West End housing project
PORTLAND — City Council approval of a West End tax increment financing district faces a new vote Sept. 21 after councilors review an independent analysis of the zone. The TIF was approved Aug. 3 for a 37-unit Avesta Housing project planned for 17 Carleton St., and then reconsidered Sept. 9 by councilors after a request from […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
What’s in a name? Plenty for Scarborough farm family upset by land trust decision
SCARBOROUGH — The Benjamin family was expecting to celebrate the sale of their homestead farm to the Scarborough Land Trust in two weeks. But instead, some family members now openly regret the sale because the trust plans to rename their father’s property. The land trust purchased the farm late last year. It is changing the name […]
Posted inPortland Forecaster, The Forecaster
Portland City Council sets minimum wage, adjusts tipped wage
PORTLAND — A citywide minimum wage of $10.10 per hour will go into effect Jan. 1, 2016, after the City Council approved the ordinance by a 7-2 vote Wednesday night. The ordinance will increase the minimum wage to $10.68 per hour on Jan. 1, 2017, and future increases will be pegged to the rate of inflation […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
South Portland council takes 1st step toward bag fee, foam packaging ban
SOUTH PORTLAND — City councilors gave preliminary approval Wednesday to a 5-cent fee on single-use shopping bags and a ban on the use of polystyrene food containers. The fee would apply to paper and plastic bags at any retail store that primarily sells food products. Only retailers whose sales of food or drink items are less than 2 percent of […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Cape Elizabeth residents invited to brainstorm on town goals
CAPE ELIZABETH — The Town Council on Sept. 17 will hold a citizens’ round table to gain feedback on council and community goals. The discussion will take place from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Cape Elizabeth Middle School cafetorium. Councilor Molly MacAuslan, chairwoman of the council’s appointments committee, said last year’s goal for the council was […]
Posted inSouthern Forecaster, The Forecaster
Hearing set on zoning change needed for Cape Elizabeth village green
CAPE ELIZABETH — A public hearing will be held next week on a proposed zoning amendment for a village green. The green and development of four mixed-use buildings is proposed at 326 Ocean House Road, south of Town Hall. The Planning Board will hold a public hearing Sept. 15 to modify the maximum front-yard setback […]