Lord passed over for zoning post

By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — In one of the shortest meetings in recent memory, the Town Council dispatched its agenda within five minutes on Monday. The final item up for a vote was Carl Lord, Jr.’s reappointment to a three-year term on the Houlton Zoning Board of Appeals. It went down in defeat.
    Council Chairman Walter Goodrich announced that Lord was the only applicant for the position which had been advertised. Following a 3-2 vote, Goodrich announced “the motion fails.” Councilors John White, Brian Donnelly and Michael Jenkins voted in opposition while Councilors Sue Tortello and John Fitzpatrick supported Lord’s re-appointment.
    However, Noreen Foster’s name breezed through the voting process with all councilors supporting her re-appointment to the Houlton Planning Board as a non-resident for a five-year term. Sue Tortello stated that “she has been a really great asset to the planning board.” Goodrich thanked Foster for her interest and said she had been the only applicant responding to the advertisement about the opening. “We thank her for serving again,” stated Goodrich.
    In other business, due to his employment by the Elks, Donnelly abstained from a vote to renew “a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment by the Houlton Lodge of Elks 835 at 86 Main St.” The measure passed.
    Unanimous votes supported other items on the agenda: Richard Kelley’s application for the renewal of his liquor license for O’Kelly’ Irish Pub at 241 North St. and American Legion Post 47’s renewal of “a special amusement permit for dancing and entertainment.”
    Goodrich said a donation of $1,825 to be used for the DARE program “was greatly appreciated and it was good to have sponsors like that.” He added that the list of donors is available at the Town Office.
    Councilors will reconvene on Monday, Jan. 3 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at 21 Water St. for its recap of the proposed town budget.