NEWS
(from the March 2008 Maine Townsman)

Andover: Fire Chief Ken Dixon was notified in February that the local fire department will receive a $237,500 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security for a new fire engine. Over the years, the federal agency has awarded smaller grants to the town volunteer fire force for radio and rescue equipment, but until now Dixon’s request for funds for a new fire truck were rejected several times.  The local match is 5 percent, or $12,500.

Bar Harbor: Beginning with the new fiscal year on July 1, companies will be required to pay the entire cost of getting their development plans reviewed in those instances when the proposals are so large and complex the town’s planning board hires an independent consultant. Presently, the cost is shared equally between the town and developer.

Camden: The Select Board have refused to extend a 6-month moratorium on residential construction in the harbor. The moratorium, approved by voters last November, was imposed to give the planning board time to address concerns about residential construction overtaking the working waterfront. The planning board had asked for the extension by a 7-0 vote, arguing they really had only three months to work on the issue.

Cape Elizabeth: The town’s public library has received the Excellence in Small and/or Rural Public Library Service Award for establishing a book club for kids to read the classics. The program, called the Lonely Books Club, was the brainstorm of children’s librarian Rachel Davis, who will accept the award at a national library conference in California this summer, along with a plaque and check for $1,000 for the Thomas Memorial Library.

Caribou: Councilors are considering a closer working relationship between the city’s economic development efforts, now being run by the local Chamber of Commerce, and the city-operated community development office, manager and other city departments.

Cumberland: The town’s fire department will receive a $99,000 grant through a U.S. Homeland Department program, with the town matching the grant by five percent, or $5,000. One of the projects to be funded includes installing an exhaust system at one of the town’s fire stations. Meanwhile, Town Manager Bill Shane is dealing with increased costs plus the loss of revenue from Chebeague Island and cautioned layoffs might be necessary to balance the new budget.

Deer Isle: Voters rejected a ban on night harvesting of clams at the March town meeting.

Hope: A new capital planning committee has recommended their top priorities: rehab of the town office and a possible new septic system for the town’s elementary school. Selectmen named the panel last fall and asked department heads and others to bring proposals to the new board for review.

Kittery: The town would offer residents aged 60 and over a chance to work off up to $750 of their property tax bill by volunteering in the community for $7 an hour. Town Manager Jon Carter suggested the idea. If passed, Kittery is believed to be the first Maine municipality to offer such a program.

Lewiston: The city may put off a full property revaluation for the second straight year because of an uncertain and softening housing market. City officials will collect January and February housing sales information before the council decides whether a sales dip in December becomes a trend. Last year, the council agreed to implement a partial revaluation, bringing values from an estimated 63 percent of market value to 80 percent, to mitigate the impact of a full reassessment.

Lovell: Town officials have moved the annual town meeting from the town hall to the VFW hall because of structural concerns about the town office.

Mercer: At the March town meeting, voters agreed to spend $25,000 to heat and maintain the town’s elementary school when the town takes ownership this year. A tri-town elementary school will open in the fall for Mercer, Norridgewock and Smithfield students.

Minot: Voters ignored a budget committee recommendation at town meeting and raised $15,000 to ensure that all residents have free access to the Auburn Public Library.

Mount Desert: Selectmen decided to table a proposal to allow taxpayers to make 12 monthly “tax club” payments without interest or penalties. The board said it needed more information on the plan before agreeing to put it on the annual town meeting warrant.

Naples: Special town meeting voters approved two tax increment financing proposals last month, both of which will improve the busy and vital Route 302 corridor. Both TIFs are for 25 years and are expected to generate a total of about $21 million in private investment.

Norridgewock: Residents agreed to expend $500,000 to improve the Wilder Hill Road, over the protests from several residents who live on the road who worried paving the road would only increase speeds.

Old Orchard Beach: The police department has asked the town council to reinstate its canine program after a five-year hiatus. Police Chief Dana Kelley estimated the cost of restarting the program at about $7,000 and said part of the cost would come from money netted in drug raids. Police are trying to find other ways to pay the balance.

Pittsfield: The town library will receive a $150,000 Community Development Block Grant to repair the library’s foundation. The grant is part of a larger effort to rehab and improve the library, with $2.1 million raised to date, including large private donations in recent weeks. Another $450,000 needs to be raised for the total project.

Portland: The city-owned Jetport increased passengers by 240,000, or 17 percent, last year, thanks in part to JetBlue and AirTran opening up business in Portland.    

Rockport: Selectmen have asked the town manager and police chief to consider hiring one replacement officer for two positions and making the present administrative assistant a half-time patrol officer. Officer Arthur Smith recently accepted a job with the nearby Camden Police Department, while Sgt. Matt Elwell took a job as deputy sheriff for Knox County.