School Task Force Plans Final Meeting
Draft report due Friday

Under pressure from the Portland City Council to finish its work, the Portland School Committee’s Elementary Facilities Task Force (EFTF) will issue a draft report on Friday, March 24th and make final recommendation on the report on March 29th, at what is likely be the group’s last meeting. Copies of the report, which deals with school consolidation in the city, will be available at the School Department’s Central Office.

The report will be presented to the School Committee and a joint committee with the Portland City Council will study the data in the report.

Task Force member (and City Councilor) Ed Suslovic suggested at the task force’s March 15th meeting that the group’s recommendation to the joint task force should be that they hire an independent party to assemble the data. He said the EFTF was never a decision-making body, but he felt that it was premature to consider consolidation.

Task Force member Liz Holton expressed concerns about which School Committee members and City Councilors will serve on the joint task force, and how the members would be selected. Mayor James Cohen and School Committee Chair Ellen Alcorn would make the selections for the joint committee, which will have either six or eight members.

Michelle Hedrick said that the group did not have enough time to fully finish the work, and if they had had time to review all the data, hold public meetings and weigh their input, she believes they would have been able to come up with a “best” recommendation for reconfiguring city schools.

WHAT’S HAPPENING TODAY:
Wednesday, March 22
Historic Preservation Board to Reconsider West End Intersection
On Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 5:00 p.m., the Portland Historic Preservation Board will meet in Council Chambers of City Hall to review the Request for Reconsideration of Decision; INTERSECTION OF NEAL/BOWDOIN/CLIFFORD STREET.

The board will also hold a Preliminary Review of Proposed New Construction and Exterior and Site Alterations at 1 INDIA STREET; Riverwalk LLC., Applicant.

The board will also consider a Recommendation to City Council Regarding Draft Peninsula Traffic Plan, as it Affects Designated Historic Properties.

It will also hold a workshop on Review of Draft Guidelines for Window Repair and Replacement . Contact the Department of Planning and Development, Planning Division, 874-8726 for further information.

Other Meetings Today at City Hall:
5:00pm
Youth Advisory Committee Planning Department's 4th Floor Conference Room -

5:00pm
Finance Committee Room 209

6:00pm
Appointments/Non-Union Personnel Committee - Room208

______________________________________________________________

HANS’ SOFT SERVE, 648 CONGRESS STREET

Ice Cream, Sandwiches, Burgers, Tacos and More!
FREE DELIVERY! (Ice Cream too!) ($5 minimum)
761- 4444