March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Houlton panel supports mental health suit

HOULTON — The Houlton Town Council on Monday gave its moral support to a lawsuit that might be filed by Portland against the state regarding the state’s handling of mental health clients. The councilors made no monetary contribution.

In a letter to Houlton Town Manager Lewis Bone, Gary C. Wood, corporation counsel for Portland, said the city planned to file the suit to stop the state from what the city claims is the improper discharge of some mental health patients from state-run facilities and its tightening of admissions requirements to those facilities.

Wood said the state’s actions had resulted in problems at Portland’s jails, shelters and on the streets because people who should have been in the state mental health facilities had nowhere to go. He said similar problems could probably be expected in other communities, although on a smaller scale.

In addition to seeking the cooperation of Houlton as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, Wood also asked for some financial assistance to help defray legal costs, which he estimated could run as much as $30,000. On a per capita basis, Houlton’s share would have been $1,653.

Houlton officials, noting that the town had experienced very few problems with mental health patients, agreed to lend “moral support” for the lawsuit, but could not afford to make any financial contribution to the effort.

In other business the council:

Unanimously approved an amendment to a local parking ordinance that would prohibit parking on the west side of North Street and North Road, which are part of U.S. Route 1, from the bridge over the Meduxnekeag River north to a point about three tenths of a mile beyond B Road.

Heard the introduction of an order to purchase a 3.68-acre parcel of land adjacent to the town’s landfill for $1 from the Roman Catholic bishop of Portland. The town must purchase the land to comply with Department of Environmental Protection requirements that the town own any land adjacent to its landfill that might be affected by the landfill, in order to proceed with its landfill closure plans.

Heard the first reading of an amendment to an ordinance to reduce from $120 to $50 per year the service fee assessed for alarm systems that are connected with the town’s Police and Fire Departments. A public hearing on the amendment will be held Jan. 25.


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