Warming center

(Continued from Page 4A) tures across Maine dropped as low as minus 40 degrees.

Witonis called the Cumberland County EMA to find out that the Casco Public Library was listed as the warming center for Casco.

She recommended that the town and volunteers dedicate one building as the warming site, and put a plan in place for different types of weather-related emergencies.

“A group of people needs to sit down and have a plan . . . There would be a handful of people who would come and run the site,” she said.

When it gets down to 22 below, we need to have a plan.”

Witonis took off her commissioner’s hat, and spoke as a resident, saying the library should not have been listed as a warming site because it is not safe for large numbers of people until construction work is done.

Selectman Grant Plummer requested that warming centers be on the agenda for next week with the objective of selecting an official warming site for the town at that time. The next meeting is Feb. 21.

Short-term rentals

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At this moment in time, “the Business License Ordinance states that a business shall not engage in any of the following activities unless they have a valid license. Under the lodging section, we list bed and breakfasts and innkeepers. Because our ordinance doesn’t specifically define a business other than those specifically listed as lodging, it has been questioned whether or not short-term rentals are considered businesses in regard to this ordinance,” he said.

There have been concerns about fairness to other businesses.

“It has been stated that these rentals do directly compete with lodging establishments that we currently require licenses,” Hawley said.

“We need to know if the ordinance should be amended to reflect these shortterm rentals as businesses that requires licenses,” he said. “Should we add shortterm rentals?” Chairman Jim Grattelo, who joined via Zoom asked if the State of Maine is working on a law to help town deal with short-term rentals.

“We have to do something. God forbid, if one of these places doesn’t get inspected and someone dies in a fire because it didn’t have a second-floor egress. It is on our watch,” he said.

“Requiring them to pay $10 for business license is not unreasonable,” Grattelo said.

Vice chair Ted Shane said, “After they get the license, the Code Enforcement Officer goes and inspects these.”

Nothing changes unless the ordinance is amended, Hawley said. “It has to be defined as business to fall under the requirement,” he said. The board did not vote on the matter, and no final decision was made.

Q. How has sports changed you as a person? It made me more social with others and helped me make new friends.

Q. What is the biggest reward you get from competing in sports? I’ve learned many skills in sports just from playing them.

South tournament or stay home. Game 18 pitted the Lakers (7-10) at Cape Elizabeth yesterday. A win over the 10-7 Capers would likely push the Lakers past Leavitt (5-12) for the final tourney spot. The Hornets currently hold a 3-tourney point lead, but will face lowly Belfast (1-15) in their season finale. LR has the Capers ranked eighth. LR lost to Cape at home 56-52. Redemption could be even sweeter with a tourney berth at stake.

After a 10-10 opening quarter, Yarmouth took control with a 14-4 run. LR rallied in the fourth, but outscored the Clippers by just six points to fall short in a comeback bid. Jackson Libby was the game’s high scorer with 19 points. Jacob Chadbourne netted 15, Jacoby Bardsley 4, Evan Duprey 3, Brock Gibbons 2, Aiden Roberts 2.