D-F selectmen approve corridor​ ​moratorium​ ​extension​

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Four years ago residents approved an ordinance concerning private distribution corridors, including paved highways, pipelines and high-tension transmission lines. The moratorium enacted in 2014 — meaning permits for these types of development projects cannot be granted during the timeline — was in effect for 180​ ​days.​ ​The​ ​moratorium​ ​has​ ​since​ ​been​ ​renewed​ ​seven ​times​ ​with​ ​the​ ​current​ ​extension​ ​in​ ​place​ ​through​ ​May 25.

During a May 14 meeting, the selectmen approved another 180-day extension which will be in effect from May 26 to Nov. 21.

“This is the same moratorium ordinance we have adopted several times,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said. “Work continues to update the land use ordinance to address the problem the previous ordinance does not.”

Moratorium extensions can be put in place as long as reasonable progress is being made to address the needs identified in the document, such as the town continuing to work on the land use ordinance. The selectmen have said the land use ordinance committee has been meeting diligently to get the document ready for a vote at the November referendum.

“The committee is continuing to work on including corridors in a regulatory manner,” Clukey said. “We have to make a finding that it’s necessary and we are continuing to make progress.”

In other business, the selectmen signed the warrant for the Tuesday, June 12 budget validation referendum.

The document includes a question on the 2018-19 municipal budget, asking residents to approve a gross sum of $5,849,365 with a net amount of $2,827,650 to be raised. Items making up the budget were approved at the annual town meeting last month, and affirmative votes in late April moved the spending plan forward to the June 12 referendum.

Citizens will also be voting on an approximate $11.56 million RSU 68 school budget, joining fellow district residents in Charleston, Monson and Sebec, as well as several municipal positions.

Voters can choose two of three candidates for three-year terms on the selectboard (or go with a write-in name as is possible for all positions) as incumbent pair Cindy Freeman Cyr and Scott Taylor along with Dr. Lesley Fernow are listed.

There are two three-year terms on the RSU 68 school board with incumbents Joel Pratt and Blake Smith on the ballot along with Elisa Schine.

Incumbent Amy Fagan-Cannon is the sole name listed for a one-year term on the Thompson Free Library executive committee.

Incumbent Barbara Austin is the one candidate listed on the ballot for a three-year stint on the HAD 4 board of directors.

More information on the June 12 referendum is at the town website, http://www.dover-foxcroft.org/.

In his report, Clukey said he and Police Chief Ryan Reardon have been meeting with Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials over the last month to discuss a plan to facilitate traffic on Route 15 during a summer large culvert replacement project.

“It’s taking shape in a positive way to get it done as smoothly as possible,” Clukey said.

The plan would close the south end of Pleasant Street to through-traffic, only residents would have access, in order to avoid merging directly in front of the work zone. Clukey said the MDOT has agreed to require flaggers during project working hours in order to keep traffic moving on East Main Street as quickly as possible.

He said construction would start in late June, the week after the 2018 Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, and would have a timeline of nine to 10 weeks.

Town officials also met with Rep. Norm Higgins, I-Dover-Foxcroft to talk about several items.

“I just want to reassure you if you get any calls ‘are they going to do something on Route 7?,’” Higgins said.

He said he has been meeting with MDOT officials and the contract for construction on multiple miles of Route 7 has been put out to bid with preliminary work set for July. Higgins said the entire project may not be completed in 2018, with roadside repairs likely for 2019.

“Summer Street is on the schedule for the summer of 2019,” he said, as this work would continue from where previous construction left off. Higgins said the repairs may go beyond Summer Street to West Main Street.

The representative was asked about the Libra Foundation’s plans to build an ice arena on West Main Street in partnership with Foxcroft Academy. Higgins is on the secondary school’s board of trustees.

He said test borings have been conducted on the property that formerly was the site of Brothers Chevrolet to determine the precise placement of the ice arena.

“They were in last week and from my understanding it’s going to be on the next planning board agenda,” Clukey said about Libra Foundation officials being at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building.

Higgins said, pending planning board approval, construction would be part of the current work season. “They look to open late summer or early fall of 2019,” he said.