[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6367377,"mediaKeyId","2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d","parentId",2158819,"title","Portland committee authorizes lobbying to remove residency requirement so city can run police academy; vote 2–1 after concerns over fiscal note","audioSeconds",419,"startMs",1795000,"endMs",2214000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d&start=1795&end=2214","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d/thumbnail_1795000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6367377/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Portland-committee-authorizes-lobbying-to-remove-residency-requirement-so-city-can-run-police-academy-vote-21-after-concerns-over-fiscal-note","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367377-8e681b1b74478daa2f053cb4cc0ad81e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191087&Signature=iQJoUZVWri3dqMGHNabfkrQRMHEjfeZ4-H6956jqPySlorNpFpX~5mNKqTdRg60BAf9fQsOVQgUP3K30MafbCQ1qvzMKWPZqiMJm4nZ4~NsfQIaeyu-wWsV8bCOxccGfpvlUwROr0PK~TEeQehkdzMYcHT6MNV4N-qKsbAu0P6gHt~MPXfhL12be0-e5dh5j9vOoIFwW103nlNh5RHJO-qZu7GXBVo2QpD9b4-8du19Lcnjpil73mu8VGjvZVJQAJxkhrV1~qtxdBqLgP9pvOjrcdMEZcu1ONRvkfbaKTPKGT~coxkN2gukLoul4j~wWFAOiKJgQZizm5jI~m~QROw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council Portland of Maine","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","Portland’s Legislative and Nomination Committee voted to authorize the city’s lobbying team to seek a modification to Title 25 that would remove a residency requirement and permit the Portland Police Department to operate a local training academy. The authorization passed 2–1.

Staff said the change would allow the city to run a local academy to address a statewide backlog in training slots at the State Academy. Members noted the State Academy currently runs 18‑week classes and that demand is high — staff cited approximately 350 pending applications statewide — while a typical class size is about 40 recruits. The committee discussed a regional, day‑academy model and said Portland already supplies many instructors to the State Academy and has experience providing training in the past.

Councilor Sykes opposed moving the proposal forward without a clearer fiscal note and operational plan. She told the committee she would vote against authorization because she was not prepared to support additional police funding without a fuller analysis. Mayor Mark Dion and Councilor Grant supported authorizing the lobbying effort; the motion carried 2–1.

Members asked staff for more detailed fiscal estimates and information about facility space and recurring costs. Staff said the expected marginal cost would likely be small but that they did not have a firm fiscal note at the time of the vote; the city manager committed to getting a specific cost estimate from the police chief and returning that information to the committee.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to authorize lobbying staff to pursue Title 25 modification to permit a Portland-run police academy: moved and seconded; outcome: approved 2–1 (Mayor Mark Dion and Councilor Grant voted yes; Councilor Sykes voted no).

The committee directed the city manager and police chief to provide a follow-up report with a fiscal analysis, proposed space plan and an estimate of class capacity before further legislative or budget decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle"," Legislative/Nominating Committee Meeting - January 7, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee authorized the lobbying team to pursue a change to Title 25 that would remove a residency requirement and allow the Portland Police Department to run its own academy. The measure advanced on a 2–1 vote after a councilor said she would oppose the authorization without more fiscal detail.","taxTitle","Portland, Cumberland County, Maine","taxId",2582,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6367381,"Portland committee backs forwarding model bill (Mass. 40T) to Legislature to protect affordable housing tenants",198,1556000,1754000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d&start=1556&end=1754","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d/thumbnail_1556000.jpg","/articles/6367381/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Portland-committee-backs-forwarding-model-bill-Mass-40T-to-Legislature-to-protect-affordable-housing-tenants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367381-c17fe4846c537e7b2facfbb8ab49efd9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191087&Signature=ejJgeA8lI~nkQLeOPYps2Je~aqQ8SuYW3uLEkKFCpTRVJiI0GW2nBrDY0EJO3bsWYRZxy0Ou8eBm0GKRvJTxGFE8k1qY94hsttqg6HJLu4QSnnBPj0vLRNHZ59iYWmndnDvBsT1synz3rBzd7mk4iV8eEAXYkwH8C~FzX~tlEYDVgXHgccOOypW5gWJq6BTq2nvRxObR1vNoth8L5hCB1gmoiei4uZbNJxYYi1Q3xhH7dfu7faeTMI-5lNU83JTKoVTW9a90L4mWTbBWi7RHpjjCCyQcjZDNRIZy1W0hs8EQRoFR3pKkHHtlDyii~BWBctpGglgsdjwoxwh-A0Q9Qg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland’s Legislative and Nomination Committee authorized city staff to forward a proposal modeled on Massachusetts’ so-called '40T' to the Legislature as a potential tool to preserve affordable housing and protect tenants from displacement when affordability restrictions expire.

Staff described the measure as a technical, preservation-focused bill designed to give municipalities and state housing entities the ability to preserve affordable units and provide tenants notice and protections when an affordable development’s restrictions end. Director Watson and economic development staff have discussed the model with members of the city’s delegation, and staff said a representative in the Legislature has already met with the director to work on specifics.

Committee members acknowledged the bill is technical and somewhat 'geeky' but said it could create an important safety net if enacted. They emphasized the need for municipal flexibility when affordability terms expire and noted that the proposal could allow local governments or state housing authorities to step in to renew protections and preserve tenant stability.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to forward the Massachusetts 40T–style affordable-housing preservation proposal to the Legislature: moved by Councilor Grama, seconded by Councilor Sykes; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Staff will coordinate with the city’s delegation and Director Watson to refine the proposal, identify potential sponsors, and present legislative language to the committee for review as the session proceeds.","The committee authorized staff to forward a proposal modeled on Massachusetts' '40T' to help preserve affordability and tenant protections when deed-restricted affordable housing approaches the end of affordability terms.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6367386,"Committee authorizes Portland lobbying push to raise general assistance reimbursement and to seek separate bill to cover shelter food costs",1148,378000,1526000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d&start=378&end=1526","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2158819-e3cf274f8bd73ef056d2bcb6bd4f929d/thumbnail_378000.jpg","/articles/6367386/Portland/Cumberland-County/Maine/Committee-authorizes-Portland-lobbying-push-to-raise-general-assistance-reimbursement-and-to-seek-separate-bill-to-cover-shelter-food-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6367386-b3e241c91d7b9af425efc3fc262b506c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191087&Signature=MuP6Ho1Pis-IUMfhec2ty3pg8w6Tbz7KNVy~HAIOzOpz8di0Jtesuv6KyeT1W3ErheSEDiobvZZN3o1RvF6bbirF~DzWaUBArJjEqiU~MWHDTeAsNl8nH8FvFGZzDDa1GwzKY8WhYm~wTytyVPS~G2VOATPBx9APRRpwEVGNQcTgMlimohOwuQUCNuhB4zadQvDIpKwIIeL~Rnt0wqf6F~chYH26qvi3LTLH8y98iuEaLBfEdWkLPfVNk7w8FX-HRydCAZ1IBhofmSLqUXsKupJFV10w~DbIcKkImuEiHb6-0WDp71Oeoi0xC4Rpt0Q3Zp9ISE-IMs-2UoMK3sRHxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Portland’s Legislative and Nomination Committee on an authorization vote directed the city’s lobbying team to pursue LD 1732, a bill that would raise state reimbursement for municipal general assistance (GA) from the current 70% level toward 90%. The committee also authorized staff to draft and pursue a separate, narrower bill to allow state reimbursement for food provided at city shelters.

The measure known as LD 1732 was described by committee members as part of a multi-year effort to restore higher state support for GA. Committee members and staff said municipalities previously received higher reimbursement rates, that the rate fell during an earlier administration and was later restored to 70 percent, and that the city has repeatedly pressed the legislature to assume a larger share of GA costs. The committee voted to authorize the lobbying team to advance the city’s position on LD 1732.

Committee members stressed the bill contains several structural changes beyond the reimbursement percentage, including provisions that relate to municipality responsibility, culturally and linguistically appropriate services, and limits on motel use. Staff said earlier versions had broad support from welfare directors and municipal stakeholders but stalled in the prior session, in part because of budget constraints.

Members discussed the political and fiscal limits for an immediate jump to 90 percent. Several members said a tiered or phased approach over multiple years is more likely to gain traction with the Legislature. The lobbying team said the session’s cloture deadline for bill titles was imminent and that staff would work to secure sponsors and a title before drafting final language.

On the narrower food-reimbursement proposal, committee members endorsed isolating reimbursement for shelter food as a politically pragmatic way to expand what the state pays. Staff described ambiguity in existing state law about what counts as “operating costs” and said food costs tied to shelter operations currently are not reimbursed. Committee discussion included concerns about competition for state funds with nonprofit food providers and whether providers such as Preble Street and Good Shepherd already receive state food funding. Staff said they would inventory existing state funding for providers and work with potential sponsors, including Representative Bridal, to develop language and a sponsor.

Committee members asked for fiscal estimates. Staff offered a rough city-level estimate — describing annual Portland food costs in shelters as potentially “on the order of $1,000,000” — but said they would produce a tighter fiscal note if the committee asked. Members requested that staff prepare cost estimates for LD 1732 and for the proposed food reimbursement tweak to present to the Legislature and the city’s delegation.

Votes at a glance
- Motion to authorize lobbying staff to move forward on LD 1732 (increase GA reimbursement toward 90%): moved by Councilor Grant, seconded by Councilor Sykes; outcome: approved (voice vote).
- Motion to authorize staff to pursue a separate bill to secure state reimbursement for food served at city shelters: moved by Councilor Grant, seconded by Councilor Sykes; outcome: approved (voice vote).

The committee asked the lobbying team to pursue sponsors and titles quickly so staff would have time to draft full bill language and fiscal analyses before hearings. Staff also said they would track the evolving cloture list and keep the committee informed of rule or process changes in the Legislature that could affect timing.","Portland’s Legislative & Nomination Committee authorized staff to pursue LD 1732 — a proposal to increase state reimbursement for municipal general assistance from 70% toward 90% — and separately authorized development of a narrower bill to secure state reimbursement for food served at city shelters.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Portland committee authorizes lobbying to remove residency requirement so city can run police academy; vote 2–1 after concerns over fiscal note

Portland committee backs forwarding model bill (Mass. 40T) to Legislature to protect affordable housing tenants

Committee authorizes Portland lobbying push to raise general assistance reimbursement and to seek separate bill to cover shelter food costs