By Renee Worthing 

Staff Writer

Brainstorming, large sheets of paper, an oversized marker and colored stickers were the tools used during Sanford Town Council’s annual goal setting workshop July 22.

Councilors began the session by reviewing goals outlined during last year’s workshop and determining which goals were met and which ones are still a work in progress.

Goals accomplished from last year included determining an appropriate location for a new police station and beginning the design process, establishing a charter advisory committee to determine if changes to the town charter were necessary and improving the appearance of Sanford and Springvale through design standards.

Town officials reviewed Sanford’s methods of handling trash and recyclables and a task force was created to examine the feasibility of automated roadside collection or pay-per-bag. Town Manager Mark Green said the task force should make a recommendation within the next two months.

Councilors kept many goals on the agenda as “ongoing” projects, including the development of the trails systems. The trail connecting Sanford High School to the YMCA was completed this year and additional trails are being created by AmeriCorps.

While little work was accomplished to complete other goals, councilors opted to leave them on the list. Green said the task to develop a strategy for improving the enforcement of drug laws in Sanford envisioned the hiring of additional police officers, but budget constraints prevented the plan from moving forward. However, councilors decided to leave the task on the list of “things to do.”

The group also decided to carry over a goal to meet with the Sanford School Committee on a regular basis.

Green said “some progress” was made in developing an ordinance to encourage good maintenance and management of residential properties. He said the code enforcement office gathered information from other towns and is conducting inspections of suspected unsafe housing.

Garnering suggestions from councilors for what they would like to accomplish this year, Green headed the meeting. As councilors identified possible goals, Executive Assistant to the town manager Sherry Lord wrote the ideas on large sheets of paper, which were tacked to a wall.

  Each councilor, armed with colored stickers, placed a dot next to goals they thought were important. While some goals such as combining town and school department payrolls received several dots of approval, others received little support, such as a splash park and a bike borrowing program.

  Goals that received dots of support included exploring alternative energies to become a “green” community, updating the town’s Web site to make it more user-friendly, exploring the possibility of a park and ride lot and working with the housing authority to encourage owner-occupied housing. Other goals that were supported included continued exploration of a stand alone four-year vocational school and a town council evaluation.

  Other ideas included firming up the special amusement ordinance, creating an ordinance on video poker machines, establishing a town-wide stormwater management plan, finding ways to fund cultural activities, and hiring a lobbyist for Sanford. 

  Because the meeting was a workshop, councilors did not cast any votes. Next month the council will review a work plan based on the preferred suggestions.