By David Harry
Staff Writer

Things that bang, bark, blight and are bought could become ordinances for Biddeford residents in the near future.
Before that, regulating the sale and possession of fireworks, muzzling dogs, stopping the spread of graffiti and amending the city procurement policy will be discussed at the 7 p.m. Monday meeting of the Biddeford Policy Committee.
City Council Chairman Bob Mills, who also leads the five-member committee, said the fireworks, procurement and graffiti discussions will resume prior talks. Ward 2 Councilor David Bourque will introduce a draft ordinance designed to prevent attacks by dangerous dogs.
The committee is also comprised of Planning Board member Matt Hight, Ward 4 Councilor Alfred Lamontagne and resident and council candidate Richard Rhames. They will continue discussions on how to amend the procurement policy and prevent graffiti after city councilors voted Sept. 20 to return potential ordinances for more review.
Mills said the fireworks ordinance, drafted by Biddeford Police Chief Roger Beaupre, was first discussed in early September, but the committee consensus has not favored an outright ban on use or possession of fireworks in the city.
The ordinance, drafted in response to a new Maine law that legalized fireworks in the state, must be approved by Jan. 1, 2012, to amend or override the state law.
Portland city councilors this month passed a law that bans fireworks. The Biddeford ordinance puts the city one step ahead of councilors in Saco and Old Orchard Beach in determining local policy.
Saco Police Chief Bradley Paul said he thinks Saco councilors will take a “wait and see” approach to governing fireworks sales, use and possession. Paul said he prefers a consistent approach that would not designate specific areas where fireworks are allowed or prohibited.
Old Orchard Beach councilors discussed fireworks at a workshop earlier this month and asked Code Enforcement Officer Michael Nugent to meet with Police Chief Dana Kelley and Fire Chief John Glass to draft an ordinance.
Nugent said the draft has not been completed but will soon be available on the town website.

Mills asked for the graffiti ordinance to be removed from the Council agenda last week because of public concerns that the measure would make graffiti a crime punishable by a civil fine of $500.
The ordinance passed by a 3-2 policy committee vote Sept. 12 requires property owners to create a removal plan within 10 days after notification by police. Property owners failing to submit a plan could be billed for cleanup costs plus 10 percent by the city.
The ordinance also requires store owners to separate aerosol paint, etching cream and paint sticks from other inventory. If the “graffiti implements” cannot be stored in plain sight of employees or store surveillance cameras, the ordinance requires they to be removed from public view.
The ordinance also prohibits minors from buying graffiti implements without parental permission and holds parents liable for financial damages caused by minors who paint public or private property.

The revision of the procurement ordinance already in city code requires preference be given to local vendors and business owners. The preferences include awarding contracts or sales to local businesses if bids are no more than 10 percent above the lowest bid submitted for items and services costing less than $10,000.
The sliding scale gives preference to local companies that submit bids no more than 5 percent above the lowest bid for items and services that cost between $10,000 and $50,000, and 2 percent for items that cost more than $50,000 if the cost difference does not exceed $5,000.
Other revisions include increasing the amount that can be spent by city officials without seeking bids from $3,000 to $5,000 for supplies or construction items and from $5,000 to $10,000 for services. A City Council vote on items that cost $30,000 or more will be required. That would increase the amount that needs a vote from $20,000 or more.