By Rick Wright

Staff Writer

For the second time since 2006, Cape Elizabeth voters will be asked to decide if they want to charge parking fees for Fort Williams.

The town council made it official Monday night and voted in favor of a referendum after discussing the issue at length during two meetings in January.

Councilors James Walsh and Sara Lennon opposed the measure.

“I question the wisdom of going to referendum,” Walsh said. “We’ve been elected to do the people’s business. The time for us to act is now, it’s not to wait until June.”

The non-binding advisory referendum will most likely be held in conjunction with the annual school budget validation date in the late spring. The council will determine the exact date at another time.

Cape Elizabeth residents defeated a similar referendum in 2006 by a margin of 3,145 to 1,951. Voters were asked if they wanted a pay/display parking system to collect fees from nonresidents. The pay/display system requires visitors to pay for parking tickets from an automated kiosk and display tickets on their dashboards. 

“We sent the same issue out three years ago and I have to respect the history,” said councilor David Sherman. “I’m prepared to send it out for referendum.”

If approved, the ordinance would require Cape Elizabeth residents to pay $10 per year for a season pass. Nonresidents would pay $20 per year. Visitors in passenger vehicles would pay a flat rate of $5 per day if they did not want to buy a season pass.

Fort Williams Advisory Commission member Bill Nickerson last month said the system would raise approximately $309,000 next year. The money would be used to pay for operational expenses and capital improvements at the park.

“What if it is voted down?” Lennon asked. “Then what do we do? It means tax increases or a crumbling fort.”

“This is more than the usual conduct of town business,” said councilor Jessica Sullivan. “I really think the people need to speak on this.”

The pay/display parking system would be effective April 1, 2011. Thereafter, parking fees would be charged every year between April 1 and Nov. 1.

“We all love the fort,” said Council Chairman Anne Swift-Kayatta. “I think the council has had an excellent discussion. I look forward to finding out what’s on everyone’s mind, which they will tell us at the ballot box.”

In a separate motion Monday, the council unanimously approved charging fees for tour buses, camp and recreation buses using the park from April 1 through Nov. 1. This policy will be effective April 1, 2011.

The council directed Town Manager Mike McGovern to meet with bus tour representatives and propose fees to the council by no later than July 15. Those fees will be based on recommendations made by the Fort Williams Advisory Commission.

Rick Wright can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 237.