NEWS
(from the October 2008 Maine Townsman)

Auburn: The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG) has negotiated a deal on road salt for 49 communities at a price of nearly $19 a ton more than last year — $73.43 a ton. AVCOG bids for salt for the tri-county area of Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford. Prices increased $8 per ton last year.

Buxton: Voters will decide whether to change to a manager/selectman form of government next month. The town of about 8,500 residents is the largest Maine community without a municipal manager.

Camden: The town began producing its own electricity in September in a project expected to cut $30,000 off the town’s annual power bill. The town’s wastewater treatment staff will oversee the town-owned Seabright Dam Hydroelectric Facility, which sits on the Megunticook River and was donated to the town last year.

Cape Elizabeth : Town councilors have approved a zoning change to allow residents to erect windmills to power their homes. The changes include banning windmills from properties smaller than 20,000 square feet, which would reduce the possible home sites from 4,400 to 800. Windmills cannot be higher than 100 feet.

Kittery: Councilors in September okayed a 4-day work week for town office workers in an effort to save money and energy. The one-year trial program will expire on October 2, 2009. Employees will work 10-hour days, with the town office closed on Friday at an estimated savings of about $8,000 annually.

Mechanic Falls: The town has postponed buying a truck and trailer for the water department for about $35,000, citing jitters over present economic concerns. Councilors are interested in possibly renting or borrowing a trailer.

Monmouth: Officials are pleased with the response of a new program that collects cell phones which are then repaired for use by the Family Violence Project in Augusta. About 50 phones have been dropped off at the transfer station since the program started on August 20.

New Sharon: Special town meeting voters in September accepted the town’s former elementary school from SAD 9, as well as 4.4 acres of land. The town hopes to move its municipal operations into the school by November. The vote was 87-17. The town presently rents space.

New Vineyard: Special town meeting voters rejected a proposed $222,000 bond for a road project in balloting on September 27. Residents apparently were nervous about borrowing money during such uncertain financial times. The vote was 48-17.

Sanford: The town council is undecided about whether to accept a federal grant of $225,000 to add three police officers to the local department, citing concerns about asking taxpayers for the necessary $60,000 matching funds. The council also is concerned about the ongoing cost after the federal grant runs out in three years to keep the officers on staff.

South Portland: The city is offering improved benefits and better pay to recruit new police officers in an increasingly competitive market for law enforcement personnel in many Maine municipalities. The council will offer better pay rates and retirement benefits, among other incentives, during its annual recruitment event in late October.

Sumner: The fire department has cut the wood and cleared an area behind the town office as a landing pad for the LifeFlight medical helicopter service. The site still must be paved. The project was paid for by the fire auxiliary.

Waterville: City councilors have approved spending $412,900 for a new fleet maintenance garage as an annex to the public works facility. The addition will be built by an Augusta firm. The total project is expected to cost $650,000 and the plan is to have city staff do some of the work to reduce the overall cost.

Wayne: The town hopes to contract with nearby Winthrop for police and emergency dispatch services and team up with Manchester for assessing work as the small towns around Augusta look to partner for cost savings and efficiency.

Winthrop : Town and school officials have agreed to share maintenance duties, with the school providing janitorial services in exchange for the town plowing school roads and keeping school property mowed. The pact takes effect in October.