East Millinocket considers new ordinances

EAST MILLINOCKET – Selectmen Tuesday considered a proposed amendment to the parking ordinance aimed at keeping town streets passable as well as a proposed ordinance requiring certain upkeep at residences in town.

The board discussed the amendment and ordinance Tuesday but took no action on either draft proposal.

As it was drafted, the parking amendment would prevent vehicles weighing more than 3,000 pounds or measuring more than 18 feet in length from parking on public streets overnight. Violators would face a $15 fine.

The town has received complaints from some residents about tractor-trailer trucks parking on residential streets and causing some safety concerns, according to Code Enforcement Officer Charles Gulesian.

The amendment also called for a 10-foot buffer zone for parking on either side of a driveway, which caused some concern among selectmen.

“I think one problem is when we have a basketball game,” Selectmen James Jamo said, referring to the numbers of cars that are parked near the high school on game nights.

Gulesian said the buffer zone could be changed before the final proposal is drafted.

The proposed public nuisance code would be aimed at holding property owners accountable for keeping their yards maintained and free from fire hazards or dangers to neighborhood children.

The ordinance would also require owners to keep their homes in good repair and keep no more than one unregistered car on the property.

Under the ordinance, a person would receive written notification about an infraction such as an unsafe shed or excavation area or excessive rubbish on their lawn and have 30-60 days to attend to the problem.

If the problem wasn’t corrected, the code enforcement officer could cause the premises to be closed or have the public nuisance abated at the cost of the property owner.

The code enforcement officer would have discretion over possible violations, and the ordinance would give the town some legal ground to bring about change in the town’s handful of problem areas, Gulesian said.

Abandoned properties and foreclosures present a problem to the current proposal, according to Selectmen Chair Clint Linscott.

An abandoned property could sit untended for a number of months and a possible foreclosure also could take a number of months, allowing the property to become dilapidated, Linscott said.

“Who is responsible when no one comes during that six-month period?” Linscott asked.

Gulesian said the property owner would still be responsible, although if the foreclosure process had begun, it would likely be the responsibility of the bank.

The selectmen decided to have Police Chief Gerold Cramp review the parking amendment for any possible changes and both proposals will be discussed again at an upcoming meeting.

If approved by the selectmen, voters would consider both issues in May at the town meeting.