There will be a public hearing on LD 905, “Resolve, Requiring the State to Consult with the City of Hallowell Prior to the Sale of Certain Real Property” sponsored by Rep. Sharon Treat on Monday March 23, room 216 of the Cross State Office Building (directly behind the State House) before the State & Local Government Committee. The hearing starts at 1 pm but LD 905 is currently scheduled last of 4 bills. To contact the committee clerk for directions or hearing information, call 287-1330.
The bill is very simple, and I have copied the entire text below. Hallowell citizens are welcome to come and testify for or against and to offer amendments. If written testimony is provided, please make 20 copies for the committee. I would also appreciate it if anyone testifying could also provide me with a copy (repsharon.treat@legislature.
I have offered this legislation as a way to insure that there is local input before this property is sold by the State to a private party. Anyone interested in discussing the legislation with me, or finding out more about how to testify, is welcome to email me or call me at the Legislature during the week (287-1400) or at home on weekends and evenings (623-7161). – Sharon Treat, Page Street, Hallowell.
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Resolve, To Require the State To Consult with the City of Hallowell prior to the Sale of Certain Real Property
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, due to the State's severe budget shortfall, there is a strong incentive to sell property in the City of Hallowell to help balance the budget; and
Whereas, negotiations have been underway to reach an agreed upon sale price; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore, be it
Sec. 1 Consult. Resolved: That the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall, prior to the sale of the property known as the Stevens/Reed Campus in the City of Hallowell, consult with the City of Hallowell to discuss options as to the sale and use of the property; and be it further
Sec. 2 Hearing. Resolved: That the Department of Administrative and Financial Services shall schedule a public hearing in the City of Hallowell to review the intended use of the property and whether the use is consistent with the City of Hallowell's comprehensive plan and open space plan.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This resolve requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to meet and consult with the City of Hallowell prior to selling the property known as the Stevens/Reed Campus in Hallowell. The department shall also schedule a public hearing to discuss the use of the property and whether the use is consistent with the City of Hallowell's comprehensive plan and open space plan.
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Representative Sharon Treated presented her proposed bill to the State and Local Government Committee on March 23, 2009. Attending from Hallowell were Dawn Gallagher, Alan Stearns, Mayor Anthony Masciadri, Stephen Thompson, Jill Lectka, and Sybil Baker. Chip Gavin from the Bureau of General Services attended and gave testimony in support of the bill. Gallagher, Stearns and Baker also gave testimony in support of the bill. The bill will now go to committee. It was suggested that the committee work on LD 905 and LD 1098 be combined.
ReplyDeleteExcerpts from the testimony of Chip Gavin, Director, Bureau of Administrative Services, Department of Administrative and Financial Services --
ReplyDelete"Consultation, in fact, is part of our normal practice in such circumstances and has been ongoing, and we would gladly hod a public meeting as called for in the Resolve.
The sale of some or all of this property has been authorized by the Legislature since 2001 and comprehensive authority for the entire site has been in effect since 2003. The key actions were 2001 Resolve, Chapter 60; Resolve, Chapter 13; and, 2003 Resolve, Chapter 92, Part A."