D-F budget hearing set for March 29

DOVER-FOXCROFT — With the budget advisory committee having begun its work on the 2017-18 spending plan, a public hearing on the proposed budget was scheduled for the end of the month by the selectmen during a March 13 meeting.
“We just had a couple of meetings of the budget advisory committee these past two Wednesdays,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said. “Tentatively we have a joint meeting on the 22nd,” he said, as the group and the selectmen will gather together. “The 29th would be the public hearing.”
The public hearing on Wednesday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building would be held a month before the annual town meeting. On Saturday, April 29 residents will meet in the municipal gym starting at 9 a.m. to approve the articles for the referendum ballot on Tuesday, June 13.
In other business, the selectmen met with Piscataqius County Economic Development Council (PCEDC) Executive Director Chris Winstead as he told the board about a planned letter of intent for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) concerning the Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen.
“The first step in that process is to file a letter of intent,” Clukey said. He said the document is reviewed at the state level and “if it is given the green light they can pursue a full application.”
Winstead about a year and a half ago he began to talk with Natasha Colbry of the Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen, “specifically looking at some expansion of their store.”
The business is pursuing CDBG funds — the application would be submitted by the town on behalf of the establishment — to assist in the process. Winstead said currently a half dozen loaves of bread can be baked at a time, for a total of about 45 daily. With a new oven, the Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen could bake 40-60 loaves at once.
“Going from 45 loaves daily to 45 loaves a session is pretty impressive,” the PCEDC executive director said.
He said CDBG monies being sought would also provide for additional storage space for fresh produce, a walk-in freezer and other facility renovations. When asked, Winstead said the grant being pursued does not contain job creation requirements but the expansion may help create new employment opportunities at the Spruce Mill Farm & Kitchen.
A public hearing on the letter of intent will be held in the coming weeks as Winstead prepares the document for the April 28 deadline.
“PCEDC does a great job advocating for us and we will hope the applications are successful and we will hope for a good year,” Clukey said, as a half dozen letters of intent are being submitted on behalf of businesses across the region.
Winstead said the council continues to work on expanding broadband internet in Piscataaquis County. He said a survey of businesses has drawn 85 responses and a similar questionnaire for residents will be released soon.
“Please share it, one of the things that’s valuable to us is to get that feedback,” Winstead said, saying he hopes to receive 500 completed broadband surveys.
In his report Clukey said, “The charter commission has produced a preliminary report.” He said the group will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, April 4 at 6:30 p.m.
“After that hearing they will put together a final report and their plan is to have this on the June ballot,” the town manager said.
Clukey said he has been meeting with Piscataquis Thriving in Place Collaborative Project Director Meg Callaway and residents Dr. Lesley Fernow and Chris Maas of the Maine Highlands Senior Center on the establishment of an age-friendly committee. “Basically we are kicking off the program and getting members of that committee,” he said, with organizers looking to hold an opening meeting later in the month.