The purpose of this article is to ensure the safe operation of collegiate Greek system residences, as defined below, for residents who are living in these facilities and to ensure that collegiate Greek system affiliates are good neighbors within the immediate areas in which they are located.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Gorham as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 10-5-2010, eff. 11-4-2010; amended 3-1-2011; 8-5-2025 by Ord. No. 25-82]
This article is enacted pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3001.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any building or structure, and the use thereof, traditionally affiliated with a college or university, regardless of whether any such affiliation is currently recognized formally or not, providing common living, dining, kitchen, study and/or sleeping areas for college or university students as members of the collegiate Greek system affiliate and their guests. The term shall not be deemed to include fraternal organizations, such as the Masons or the Elks.
The period of time from August 1 to July 31 of the following year.
Any event at a collegiate Greek system residence when 15 or more nonresident guests are reasonably expected to attend at the residence.
A.
Each collegiate Greek system residence shall be required to obtain an annual license from the Town by August 1. Said license will be good for the license year that runs from August 1 to July 31, unless revoked pursuant to Subsection D.
B.
In order to obtain a license, a collegiate Greek system residence:
(1)
Must have successfully passed its most recent Life Safety Code fire inspection conducted by the Town of Gorham's Fire Inspector.
(2)
Must have all of the property taxes on the facility fully paid.
(3)
Must pay the annual license fee.
(4)
May not have recorded more than five responses by the Gorham Police Department requiring police action and attributable to violations by the offending collegiate Greek system affiliate in the preceding license year.
C.
The annual license fee shall be established by the Town Council and may be periodically adjusted by Town Council vote.
D.
The Town of Gorham may revoke an annual license for a collegiate Greek system residence when, during the course of its license year, the facility:
(1)
Compiles two or more violations of this article; or
(2)
Records more than five responses by the Gorham Police Department; or
(3)
Fails its most recent Life Safety Code inspection by the Town and has failed to bring the collegiate Greek system residence into compliance within a reasonable period of time, as solely determined by the Gorham Fire Department.
The Fire Department shall conduct regular semi-annual inspections of collegiate Greek system residences to ensure continued compliance with all applicable Life Safety Codes. When violations are found pursuant to an inspection, and after written notice thereof and an order to correct any such violations have been given to the appropriate representative of the collegiate Greek system residence, the Fire Department may conduct as many additional inspections as needed to ensure compliance. The Town Council shall by Council order set a fee for the regular inspections and for follow-up inspections, which fee may be changed periodically by Town Council vote.
A.
At any mass gathering, as defined in § 223-3, the officers of the collegiate Greek system residence shall notify the Gorham Police Department and Fire Department, in advance, of the time and place of the event, and the number of guests that are expected to be attending.
B.
The Fire Department shall inspect the facility where the function is to be held and will determine the allowed occupant load for the function.
C.
At any mass gathering event held at the collegiate Greek system residence, when alcohol is being served or allowed to be consumed, the officers of the local chapter responsible for the collegiate Greek system residence shall require all guests to sign in. The sign-in list shall contain the printed name, signature and a method of contact for each guest. This list shall be available for immediate inspection, at any time, by the Gorham Police Department.
D.
The officers of the local chapter responsible for the collegiate Greek system residence shall designate one of the officers of the local chapter as the event supervisor who shall be in the facility at all times during the event and available to meet with any police officer or emergency response personnel responding to a call.
Except as otherwise provided by law, anyone found to be in violation of any provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for each offense, to be recovered for use by the Town and shall be subject to such other legal and equitable remedies as may be available to the Town, including, without limitation, an award of attorney's fees pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452. Each day any such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.