HOULTON, Maine — Businesses or individuals who wish to advertise their support for youth recreation programs will be able to do so at the Gentle Memorial Building in the coming New Year.
The Houlton Town Council unanimously approved the creation of an advertising banner program during Monday night’s meeting. The program goes into effect on Jan. 1.
Recreation Director Marie Carmichael explained the plan is to offer space for about 25 advertising banners to be fastened to the wall by the stage inside the gymnasium.
“We’re just hoping to generate some new revenue and hopefully some of our local organizations will want to be a part of it,” she said.
Proceeds from the program, which is similar to one at the Millar Civic Center, will go into a new, designated account in the Gentle Memorial Building’s budget. The funds will be used for small maintenance projects or to purchase items such as new basketballs.
Councilors also agreed to increase the amount the town charges to rent the rec center, staring Jan. 1. Currently, the town charges $150 for a full day to rent the Gentle Memorial Building, but that fee will go up to $200. Additionally, use of the gymnasium only is $25 per hour from Oct. 14-April 30, but that fee will go to $30 per hour.
Council also added several new categories to its rental plans for the building with the creation of a game room only fee ($30 per hour); gym/lounge combo ($40 per hour); and game room/downstairs lounge combo ($40 per hour) from Oct. 14-April 30.
The fees for May 1-Oct. 13 will be: gymnasium only ($35 per hour); game room ($35 per hour); gym/lounge combo ($50 per hour); and game room/downstairs lounge ($50 per hour).
The current rental fee structure at the GMB has been in place for about 33 years, Houlton Town Manager Butch Asselin said.
In other business, the council learned that the town’s insurance premiums will see a significant increase in 2015 after a number of incidents caused the town to be viewed in an unfavorable light with insurance companies.
The town purchases several different insurance packages, including property, liability and vehicles; airport liability; airport vehicles; Shiretown Development public officials; Shiretown Development liability; and bond coverage.
Only two bids were received by the town for coverage, but one of those bids was incomplete. Therefore, the town awarded the bid to F.A. Peabody Company in the amount of $98,938. This amount represents an increase of $16,119 (19 percent) over the 2014 plan.
“Because of our loss ratio over the past four years, our policy has increased,” Asselin said.
The town’s loss ratio was listed at 98.7 percent, which led to some insurance companies declining to submit a bid. A “good” loss ratio was stated as below 50 percent. The town currently has a three-year policy, but will be changing to a five-year plan to better match how other municipalities operate, Asselin added.
In other agenda items, councilors:
• Approved a liquor license to Richard Kelley, doing business as O’Kelly’s Irish Pub; dancing permits for the Houlton Lodge of Elks and American Legion Post; and a victualer’s license to Drewco, LLC doing business as Dunkin Donuts.
The next regular meeting of the Houlton Town Council will be Monday, Dec. 22, at 6 p.m.. A special budget meeting is scheduled for Monday, Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
