SCARBOROUGH — At least one large, outdoor country music concert will be coming to Scarborough Downs next summer.

After swearing in Councilors Judy Roy, Richard Sullivan and Michael Wood, and electing Roy as chairwoman and Wood as vice chairman, the Town Council on Wednesday approved a permit for Good Music Productions to hold the first of up to five concerts between June 1 and Oct. 1, 2011.

The concerts will have reserved seats for up to 15,000 fans and will take place rain or shine on property owned by Scarborough Downs.

“I’m excited Scarborough Downs is being utilized,” Councilor Michael Woods said. “This is a great opportunity to utilize this outstanding area.”

Some councilors expressed concerns about traffic and noise.

“I love concerts like everyone else, but not next to my house,” said Councilor Karen D’Andrea, who lives near Scarborough Downs.

Police Chief Robert Moulton said he, the fire chief and the concert promoters are still working out safety details.

“Conceptually, I don’t anticipate we would have problems,” Moulton said.

Jim Goodwin of Good Music Productions said he had “someone you’ll all recognize” lined up for the first concert, but that he couldn’t release the name of the performer until the permit is secured.

The council approved the permit, 6-1, with D’Andrea opposed.

“We do have someone interested,” Goodwin said after the meeting. “But we have to get everything in line first.”

He said he expected to be able to release details next week.

Pawnbrokers

The council also approved an amendment to the Pawnbrokers Ordinance that added previously proposed language from a draft of the Secondhand Dealers Ordinance.

The Secondhand Dealers Ordinance, drafted by the Police Department, required that all businesses that sell used items obtain permits from the town and maintain detailed records about people who sell to them, including names, addresses and dates of birth. 

That same language has been rolled into the previously approved Pawnbrokers Ordinance.

“This is where it should have been in the first place,” D’Andrea said.

Permits for pawnbrokers and secondhand dealers will not be issued to anyone with a criminal conviction. Secondhand dealers, such as used clothing stores and antique shops, will be required to prominently display the permit and reapply every year.

By creating an ordinance, police hope they will be able to better enforce the existing laws. Unlike state law, Scarborough police can prosecute violators of local ordinances with fines. Violation of the Pawnbrokers Ordinance carries a $100 fine and threat of the loss of the business’s permit.

Selling property

The council also unanimously approved a policy on the disposition of town-owned property, as well as a requirement that the Parks and Conservation Land Board review all property the town is looking to sell or trade.

The policy is the same as the review process to purchase property and will require the council to hold a public hearing before any property is sold.

Emily Parkhurst can be reached at 781-3661 ext. 125 or eparkhurst@theforecaster.net