Corridor moratorium extended
Dover-Foxcroft gives measure another 180 days
By Stuart Hedstrom
Staff Writer
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Nearly a year ago, via a town meeting vote, residents approved an ordinance concerning private distribution corridors including paved highways, pipelines and high tension transmission lines. In December the selectmen approved a 180-day moratorium extension, meaning permits for these kinds of development projects cannot be granted during the timeframe, and another extension was on the board’s agenda for a May 27 meeting.
“As everybody probably recalls, at the last June town meeting we voted to adopt a private distribution corridor moratorium,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said, adding the first extension was approved in December 2014 and would be expiring shortly. “As long as there is still a need and we as a community are making progress toward meeting that need we can do another extension of that moratorium.”
Dr. Lesley Fernow mentioned two examples of initiatives that qualify Dover-Foxcroft as making progress toward addressing private distribution corridors. One is the work of the comprehensive plan committee to update this document, which will not be finished before the end of a 180-day moratorium extension. She said the second is a petition circulating to get a related ordinance on the November ballot.
Following the public hearing, the selectmen moved to approve and sign a resolution for the 180-day moratorium extension. The original extension expires this month.
On Tuesday, June 9 citizens will head to the Morton Avenue Municipal Building, or use absentee ballots, for the annual town meeting referendum and RSU 68 budget. The warrant includes the financial articles for the municipality and two others concerning shoreland zoning amendments and a traffic incident ordinance (the full ballot and related information is at the town office and www.dover-foxcroft.org).
A pair of three-year seats on the selectboard will be decided, with Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr and fellow incumbent Scott Taylor as the only candidates appearing on the ballot (two write-in slots are also listed). Also to be voted on will be terms on the HAD 4 board of directors and Thompson Free Library executive committee, at three years and one year respectively. Listed on the ballot is incumbent Barbara Austin for the HAD 4 position and incumbent Amy L. Fagan-Cannon for the library seat.
The RSU 68 school board has two open seats representing Dover-Foxcroft. No candidates are listed by name on the ballot, instead are two write-in slots for the pair of three-year terms. Clukey mentioned that incumbent Blake Smith is interested in serving again and Joel Pratt, who formerly held Monson’s seat on the school board before moving to Dover-Foxcroft, would be willing to represent his current hometown if elected.
Six days after the referendum election, will be a special town meeting on Monday, June 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the town office to see if the town will approve an appropriation to assist the Piscataquis Valley Snowmobile Club in financing a snow groomer.
“The snowmobile club is in need of replacing its groomer and they are gearing up to have that for the next season,” Clukey said, as in 2007 the club purchased the current vehicle with a grant combined with $25,000 in assistance from the town to complete the purchase. The $25,000 was repaid in two payments while the town held the groomer title.
The Piscataquis Valley Snowmobile Club is asking for municipal assistance by approving a $50,000 loan, with a six-year repayment schedule with the town again holding the title. If the club is successful in securing a grant then the repayment would be made in two years.
A groomer financing package is being sought at the present time to order the machine before the end of June, to start the four-month process to have it delivered by December.
In his town manager’s report, Clukey touched upon several items. “We have a group, the downtown revitalization committee, that has been and continues to be interested in revitalization work,” he said. Clukey said the group has met recently and plans to do some publicity in the summer on its efforts to improve the downtown, and is looking to hold an event to encourage the involvement of businesses.
Clukey said the environmental consultant for brownfields work at the Riverfront Redevelopment and Central Hall projects was in town the week before. The cleanup at both sites is scheduled to be finished later in the year.
“(Riverfront Redevelopment Developer) Jonathan Arnold makes it a point to be here every July and this July is going to be a bit different,” he said. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the site will take place during Arnold’s visit, date and time to be announced in the near future. Clukey added that the apartment tenants will be able to move in very soon.
During open session, Freeman Cyr said she has gone on several walks at the Browns Mill Park along the Piscataquis River “and I’m really happy to see people using it.”
She also said she wanted organizers to know the Memorial Day parade was very well done. and she wanted the event organizers to know this. Freeman Cyr added that she wanted to thank the Foxcroft Academy marching band for taking part which came soon after the group performed at Disney World. She asked if the board could send the band a related commendation letter.