By Renee Worthing
Register Reporter
   Permission to host fundraising tollbooths took its toll on the patience of Sanford Town Councilors during the Oct. 16 town council meeting.
   The council voted 4-2 to phase out tollbooths by Dec. 31, 2009, but chose to make one exception to the rule. After the designated phase-out date, one or two fundraising toll booths a year may be held, if necessary, to raise money for a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina that occurs in the United States.
   Until the phase out date, only organizations who have previously hosted an approved tollbooth fundraiser may apply for others.
   The topic of tolls, which has been on the agenda several times during the past several months, was brought to the forefront after councilors said “a group had their own unapproved” tollbooth during the Columbus Day weekend.
   Chairman Ann Marie Mastraccio said the illegal toll collection was “very disruptive” to traffic and Councilor Maura Herlihy concurred.
   “It was a very dangerous location at the intersection of River/Winter/Cottage Street and they literally stood on the yellow line at each of the roads and had buckets and were collecting (money). They did not have permission to do this,” Herlihy said.
    Rolling Thunder, Maine Chapter 2  President Joe Armstrong said Rolling Thunder was not aware a permit was needed.
     “I realize ignorance is no excuse for breaking the law,” Armstrong said. “But I want the council to know that 100 percent of the money we raised goes to Christmas toys for the veterans children. Not one penny goes to our operating expenses.”
    He said an off-duty officer came by the fundraising event and said Rolling Thunder may be out of compliance with town ordinances, but returned later and said because Rolling Thunder is a non-profit they were “OK.”  
   Armstrong said he sent letters of apology to each of the councilors and Town Manager Mark Green and received responses from Councilor Maura Herlihy and Green.
   “They were very gracious and understanding and I look forward to dealing with those two in the future. The others that did not respond, it saddens me that they didn’t have the courtesy to responded to my email,” Armstrong said.
   He said cars were not stopped during the fundraiser. He said they waited until the light turned red and held out the can.
    “A lot of wonderful people that traveled through that intersection realized what we were doing and how important it was. Children will have a wonderful Christmas. We would like to thank the generous people that donated,” Armstrong said.  
    He said Rolling Thunder will not apply for a permit in the future because of the council’s ruling that only previously permitted organizations may apply for permits until Dec. 31, 2009.
   In the past, the council has permitted organizations to host tollbooths that allow drivers to bypass the collection area if they do not wish to donate. However, the fundraiser on Columbus Day weekend did not offer a bypass lane.
   Councilors cited concerns about safety, the town’s liability in the event someone is hurt during a tollbooth fundraiser and the “begging” nature of the tollbooths.
   While some councilors were adamant about prohibiting the tollbooths all together, others sought special conditions for operating the tolls.
   Councilor Brad Littlefield said he was not in favor of eliminating all tollbooths and said there were times that toll booths were appropriate, such as catastrophic events.
   There are ways to safely operate fundraising tollbooths, Councilor Kevin Chabot said.
   But, Councilor Gordon Paul said he was not a “big fan” of the tolls, citing liability for the town if someone was injured.
   “There are many, many, many (other) ways for organizations to raise money,” he said. “Some of the ways toll booths are set up, they are not conducive to safety and egress and regress. I’m really afraid someone is going to get hit someday. I think the town will be liable.”
   He also said did not like that some residents felt obligated to pay every time they passed a tollbooth on their way through town running weekend errands.
   “There should be a safe way for motorists to go around who choose not to pay,” he said.
   Councilor Joseph Hanslip suggested phasing out tollbooths over the course of a year to allow organizations an opportunity to find other ways to raise money.
   “The reason they like to do them is they get $3,000 to $4,000 with little effort,” Councilor Ann Marie Mastraccio said. “I don’t like begging.”
   She said the tollbooths set a bad example for children and suggested alternative ways for organizations to raise money such as car washes and bottle drives.
    Herlihy suggested allowing tollbooths only for catastrophic events such as Hurricane Katrina.
   “(Catastrophic events) happen rarely so we could have one a year or none for five years,” she said. “I would consider that.”
   Also on the agenda that evening was a request to authorize the board of directors of the Louis B. Goodall Memorial Library to hold a tollbooth fundraiser on Oct. 20 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.
   “A toll booth is entirely not the way we want to raise money for libraries,” Mastraccio said. “The library receives property tax dollars. I don’t think begging is a good example. I think it’s indicative of what’s wrong with America.”
   Littlefield said it was not within the scope of the council to decide what was appropriate for a fundraiser, but rather it was the town’s responsibility to ensure safety.
   “It is entirely our responsibility when we think it is inappropriate for our town and our image,” Mastraccio said.
    Louis Goodall Library Director Jackie McDougal said she thought the council’s discussion should have been limited to safety concerns.
   “I don’t think personal opinions about whether it’s appropriate should be made in a public forum.  It was insulting to the library and the directors,” she said.
   McDougal said the fundraising tollbooth exceeded expectations, bringing in $686.84.  
   “We were very overwhelmed by the generosity of the town,” she said.
   The council voted 4-2 to approve the library fundraiser, but under the condition that “no children under the age of 18 could stand in the road or on the sidewalk adjacent to the event. If the condition is violated, the toll booth would be shut down.”