Council receives donation

By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — Increases to ice rental fees at the John A. Millar Civic Center may soon be on the way.
    Houlton Town Councilors briefly discussed a rate hike during Monday night’s meeting. As presented, the ice rental rate will be increased from $100 per hour during peak time to $130. Peak times are from 3-9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday.
    An “off-peak” fee of $75 per hour will be charged from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and Sunday.
    In the past, a separate non-local and local rate was charged. Those two categories have been consolidated into one fee.
    Interim Town Manager Cathy O’Leary said the change was suggested to clarify peak time vs. off-peak times and to try to encourage more use of the ice, while bringing in additional income.
    Councilors also accepted a donation of a 2012 TaoTao scooter from Geralyn Lynch in memory of her late father Inspector General James Lynch of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.
    According to Houlton Police Chief Butch Asselin, the scooter was donated to the Houlton Police Department because of a provision at the U.S. Customs that prevented the vehicle from entering Canada.
    “The previous owner couldn’t bring it into Canada because the parts were foreign made,” Asselin said. “The scooter was assembled in the U.S. She wanted to donate before Customs destroyed it. HPD worked it out with Customs to pick up the scooter at the port. The owner thought we could donate it to a charitable cause. That would be difficult to do because there are many worthy causes out there.”
    The scooter has an estimated value of about $1,000 and will be sold by the town through a bid process.
    In other agenda items, councilors:
    • Awarded a bid of $75.91 per ton for the town’s winter salt to Cargill Inc. The bid was $1.01 lower than last year.
    • Accepted the resignation of Elizabeth “Betty” Childers from the town’s planning board and Donald Keiser from the town’s board of budget review.
    • Approved a liquor license for the American Legion Post #47 at 184 Military St.
    • Discussed possible resurfacing of the tennis courts located at the Gentle Memorial Building.
    The next regular council meeting is slated for Monday, Aug. 27 at 6:30 p.m.