This week's letters
Kudos to Academic Decathlon Team
Editor:
Scarborough’s Academic Decathlon Team really brought home the GOLD last week. They are very honored to be representing Scarborough and the State of Maine at the national championship in Hawaii in just six weeks.
After winning the state title, the team blazed into town with flashing lights and blaring sirens from the amazing fire and police escort into town! I would like to thank the fine citizens from the town of Scarborough for all of the wonderful ongoing support.
If you’d like to help the team reach the $18,000 goal, they will be involved in many fundraising activities- so far we have raised almost $4,000! The team will be selling cinnamon bun dough kits, collecting goods for a yard sale, organizing neighborhood bottle drives, and accepting tax-deductible donations.
For more information, please contact Bethany Whittemore at 883-1609 or Heather Sirocki at hsirocki@maine.rr.com, or 883-5609.
Heather Sirocki
Scarborough
A Tax on Yard Sales
Editor:
We often hear, “there are always a few who ruin it for everyone else!” It doesn’t always have to happen but the yard sale on Rte. 114 has now dictated a new policy. Most of us know the place in question here. It does not seem fair or in the best interest of the majority to impose this ordinance because of one person. Sales like this are really small businesses and should be regulated as such, subject to specific requirements and controls. The owner should have to apply to run a home based business and go before the zoning board for approval.
Scarborough residents will now be burdened with another tax. It will also cost them extra time, effort and fuel to visit the town hall to acquire permits. Our town offices will now have to maintain records. A database of registered yard sales will be created and checked to see where you are and that you haven’t applied for too many permits within the allotted time.
All this requires new forms, computer software and support. Our already too busy police department will now police yard sales, stopping by each one to see if a permit is posted or how many items are for sale. Will communities who have a neighborhood-wide yard sale have to ante up $5.00 per participant? If the kids try selling a few things on Saturday morning will they be in violation of the town ordinance? What if someone is moving and wants to have three or four weekend sales before they leave?
Permits cost $5.00 now but the price will go up very soon and just like E-Bay, we’ll soon be cutting the town in on more of the profit. After all, micromanagement is expensive and taxes need to cover services rendered.
There must be a better solution than more government. Penalizing the majority for the activities of a few does not indicate common sense or a fair and clearly thought out plan. This is a case of using a hammer to kill a bug. At the very least, for the benefit of the majority, we could have put up with it for a while longer. We should not be so quick to compromise a long-standing Maine tradition and our freedom. The owner won’t be there forever but we will stand in line at the town hall and pay long after the Rte. 114 yard sale is gone.
Stephen Randall
Scarborough
Editor:
Scarborough’s Academic Decathlon Team really brought home the GOLD last week. They are very honored to be representing Scarborough and the State of Maine at the national championship in Hawaii in just six weeks.
After winning the state title, the team blazed into town with flashing lights and blaring sirens from the amazing fire and police escort into town! I would like to thank the fine citizens from the town of Scarborough for all of the wonderful ongoing support.
If you’d like to help the team reach the $18,000 goal, they will be involved in many fundraising activities- so far we have raised almost $4,000! The team will be selling cinnamon bun dough kits, collecting goods for a yard sale, organizing neighborhood bottle drives, and accepting tax-deductible donations.
For more information, please contact Bethany Whittemore at 883-1609 or Heather Sirocki at hsirocki@maine.rr.com, or 883-5609.
Heather Sirocki
Scarborough
A Tax on Yard Sales
Editor:
We often hear, “there are always a few who ruin it for everyone else!” It doesn’t always have to happen but the yard sale on Rte. 114 has now dictated a new policy. Most of us know the place in question here. It does not seem fair or in the best interest of the majority to impose this ordinance because of one person. Sales like this are really small businesses and should be regulated as such, subject to specific requirements and controls. The owner should have to apply to run a home based business and go before the zoning board for approval.
Scarborough residents will now be burdened with another tax. It will also cost them extra time, effort and fuel to visit the town hall to acquire permits. Our town offices will now have to maintain records. A database of registered yard sales will be created and checked to see where you are and that you haven’t applied for too many permits within the allotted time.
All this requires new forms, computer software and support. Our already too busy police department will now police yard sales, stopping by each one to see if a permit is posted or how many items are for sale. Will communities who have a neighborhood-wide yard sale have to ante up $5.00 per participant? If the kids try selling a few things on Saturday morning will they be in violation of the town ordinance? What if someone is moving and wants to have three or four weekend sales before they leave?
Permits cost $5.00 now but the price will go up very soon and just like E-Bay, we’ll soon be cutting the town in on more of the profit. After all, micromanagement is expensive and taxes need to cover services rendered.
There must be a better solution than more government. Penalizing the majority for the activities of a few does not indicate common sense or a fair and clearly thought out plan. This is a case of using a hammer to kill a bug. At the very least, for the benefit of the majority, we could have put up with it for a while longer. We should not be so quick to compromise a long-standing Maine tradition and our freedom. The owner won’t be there forever but we will stand in line at the town hall and pay long after the Rte. 114 yard sale is gone.
Stephen Randall
Scarborough
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