THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN, Saturday, September 17, 2011— Page 7
Council due to vote on fireworks ban, Peaks sewer extension BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN
Portland City Councilors on Monday are expected to vote on a proposal that would ban the sale and use of fireworks within city limits. The proposal also outlines a series of penalties for persons caught with fireworks or anyone caught trying to sell fireworks. City councilors have been debating the ordinance for several months in response to a new law passed by the Legislature earlier this year that reversed a longstanding state ban on consumer grade fireworks. That law, however, gave cities and towns the right to enact local fireworks bans or regulations. Fire Chief Fred LaMontagne told the council’s Public Safety Subcommittee last month that he supported the ordinance banning fireworks out of concern that the devices could hurt someone or start a fire, the Press Herald reported. The committee endorsed the measure 2-0, with one member absent. Councilor Kevin Donoghue, who represents most of the Peninsula, including dense neighborhoods Downtown and in the East End, said he supports the ban. “I support the recommendation of Chief LaMontagne,” he said yesterday in an email. Under the law legalizing fireworks, Mainers 21 and older are allowed to possess and shoot off consumer grade fireworks, which include things like morning glories, bottle rockets and other explosives, according to the Associated Press. The law does not allow industrial grade fireworks like those used during July 4 celebrations, AP reported. The new state law takes effect Jan. 1, 2012. As written, Portland’s ordinance would ban sale, use and possession of fireworks. It would also allow the city to seize any fireworks that violate city regulations. Anyone found with fireworks would be fined between $200 and $400 for a first offense and up to $600 for subsequent offenses. Persons found selling fireworks can be issued fines of between $500 and $1,000 per violation. Councilors are also expected to take action Monday night on a sewer line extension project on Peaks Island and a set of rules and guidelines for use with the Nov. 8 mayoral election. Those rules, which were drafted by city staff, outline how much time the city has to count ballots after election (five days), when write-in candidates
Cruise ships scheduled to arrive Next week, more than 12,000 passengers and 5,178 crew will call to port as cruise ships arrive in Portland Harbor, the city reported. This Sunday, Sept. 18, the Jewel of the Seas, a Royal Caribbean International cruise ship carrying 2,100 passengers and 869 crew, will arrive and then travel north for Bar Harbor. On Wednesday, the Carnival Glory, carrying approximately 2,974 passengers, will arrive at port and at the end of the day, will head north for New Brunswick. On Thursday, the Norwegian Jewel, carrying 3,000 passengers, will arrive for her maiden call to Portland. After a day in port, the Norwegian Cruise Line ship will head south for New York City for the last stop of her seven night cruise. On Friday, the Independence, an American Cruise Line ship, returns to port for the end of her Maine Coast and Harbors itinerary. Also on Friday, Cunard’s MS Queen Elizabeth will call to port for her maiden call. On Saturday, the Enchantment of the Seas will visit the port carrying approximately 2,250 passengers and 870 crew members. The 990-foot long Royal Caribbean International ship will head north for Bar Harbor at the end of her visit and will conclude her nine-day itinerary in Baltimore, the city reported. — Staff Report
must declare their intent to run (45 days before election), and how and under what circumstances the clerk will re-tabulate ballots with the instant runoff process (if no candidate gets a majority in initial voting). But the rules also determine how certain ballots will be interpreted if voters don’t fill their ballots out correctly. Common ballot problems addressed in the rules include “overvotes” (when a voter ranks one candidate in one ranking column), skipped rankings, and multiple rankings, which occur when voters rank the same candidate more than one time. The rules also create procedures if two or more candidates are tied at the end of a round. The rules need to be adopted by the city council to take effect. The proposed sewer expansion project on Peaks Island would extend the sewer to 28 households and 23 vacant lots on Island Avenue and 32 households
and 25 vacant lots on Seashore Avenue. The project, which city officials began after some island residents requested it, is expected to cost about $3.1 million and require a 1.5 percent increase in the sewer rate, according to city documents. The council is also expected to conduct the first of two readings on a proposal to reduce setbacks required for residents to receive a permit to keep chickens under the city’s domesticated chickens ordinance. As proposed, hen houses would be allowed within 10 feet of the nearest residence, down from 25 feet under the current rules. A second reading on this measure will likely occur next month. Councilors cannot vote on a measure until it’s been read twice and given a public hearing. The council will meet Monday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
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