Mayor plans joint council workshop (Printed Dec. 13, 2007)
By Amanda Estes
Staff Writer
A week after he proposed creating a 51st state, South Portland Mayor Jim Soule is planning joint council workshops with local communities. But, he said, nobody’s talking secession, yet.
On Monday, Soule said he and Portland Mayor Edward Suslovic have scheduled a joint workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the South Portland Community Center.
“We’re just throwing some ideas back and forth as far as an agenda,” Soule said. “All we really have agreed upon is that we should meet. We should meet on things of common interest whether they be traffic, mutual aid in the form of police and fire, or legislative initiatives that we have in common.”
Secession is not an anticipated item on the agenda, Soule said.
Suslovic said he’s looking forward to the meeting.
“It’s been a long time since the two city councils have had a joint workshop,” said Suslovic. “There are lots of things going on between the two cities. I think it’s a great opportunity for both councils to get updated at the same time in terms of what’s currently going on between the two cities as well as what else should be going on.”
Soule said he also met with Scarborough Town Council Chairman Jeffrey Messer and “we likewise agree that we should put an agenda together to see if there’s some time to have a joint council meeting.”
Messer could not be reached for comment.
In his inauguration speech on Dec. 3, Soule called for York, Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties to secede and unite against the state of Maine, “our common oppressive enemy.” Soule said South Portland is too wealthy property wise. He said there is currently a disincentive for northern Maine communities to bring business and jobs to town and it can be seen in the school funding formula. The average statewide education subsidy is supposed to be 55 percent, but in northern Maine that figure is closer to 80 or 90 percent, Soule said. South Portland receives roughly 10 percent, he said.
Soule said he continues to receive positive feedback about his speech.
“I would say it’s about three to one,” he said. “It’s the kind of discussion that people like to hear. People like to know that someone’s out there fighting for them.”
Staff Writer
A week after he proposed creating a 51st state, South Portland Mayor Jim Soule is planning joint council workshops with local communities. But, he said, nobody’s talking secession, yet.
On Monday, Soule said he and Portland Mayor Edward Suslovic have scheduled a joint workshop from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2 at the South Portland Community Center.
“We’re just throwing some ideas back and forth as far as an agenda,” Soule said. “All we really have agreed upon is that we should meet. We should meet on things of common interest whether they be traffic, mutual aid in the form of police and fire, or legislative initiatives that we have in common.”
Secession is not an anticipated item on the agenda, Soule said.
Suslovic said he’s looking forward to the meeting.
“It’s been a long time since the two city councils have had a joint workshop,” said Suslovic. “There are lots of things going on between the two cities. I think it’s a great opportunity for both councils to get updated at the same time in terms of what’s currently going on between the two cities as well as what else should be going on.”
Soule said he also met with Scarborough Town Council Chairman Jeffrey Messer and “we likewise agree that we should put an agenda together to see if there’s some time to have a joint council meeting.”
Messer could not be reached for comment.
In his inauguration speech on Dec. 3, Soule called for York, Cumberland and Sagadahoc counties to secede and unite against the state of Maine, “our common oppressive enemy.” Soule said South Portland is too wealthy property wise. He said there is currently a disincentive for northern Maine communities to bring business and jobs to town and it can be seen in the school funding formula. The average statewide education subsidy is supposed to be 55 percent, but in northern Maine that figure is closer to 80 or 90 percent, Soule said. South Portland receives roughly 10 percent, he said.
Soule said he continues to receive positive feedback about his speech.
“I would say it’s about three to one,” he said. “It’s the kind of discussion that people like to hear. People like to know that someone’s out there fighting for them.”
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