Greenville Planning Board alternate appointed

GREENVILLE — One of two vacancies on the Greenville Planning Board has been filled. The Greenville Select Board approved the planning board’s recommendation of Brent Ireland during a July 19 meeting.

Planning Board Chairperson John Contreni said the group has five regular members and two alternates. “The alternates fill in if one of the five regular members cannot attend a meeting, but for months and months now the alternate positions have been vacant until just recently when Mr. Brent Ireland applied to be an alternate on the planning committee,” Contreni said.

He said Ireland has a great deal of community involvement from his time living in Corinna, including serving on the Penobscot County community’s budget committee, being director of the town ambulance, serving as a volunteer firefighter, and being part of the Squaw Mountain ski patrol.

Contreni said during the planning board meeting held earlier that afternoon, members voted 5-0 to bring Ireland’s application before the select board.

In other business, Town Manager Mike Roy provided an update on some inquiries made by a pair of business owners on leasing town-owned property. Greenville has about 3.5 acres available on Spruce Street at the Greenville Business Center.

“I contacted the contractor and at this time he’s not ready to put a structure up so he’s going to hold off for a while,” Roy said. He said he has had several conversations with someone looking to bring a nationwide veterans radio station to Greenville and these discussions are ongoing. 

Select Chairperson Geno Murray suggested leases be on a future agenda so the board can have a more in-depth conversation.

During a meeting earlier in the month, Roy had said each business had thought of constructing its own buildings on about a half acre of land apiece and the town would generate revenue from each lot.

The select board agreed that the lease rate would be 25 cents per square foot — which would equal $5,445 in annual revenue – and the board authorized Roy to continue to talk with the two interested parties.

The land would need to be surveyed and any formal lease agreements would be negotiated and brought before the select board.

Roy said a full-time position with the Greenville Police Department has been posted through July 24. “We do have interest, I will put that out there,” he said.

Should a new officer come aboard then this would allow for the start of a school resource officer when classes are session. Whether the new officer or a current member of the roster becomes the school resource officer is to be determined.

The new position is a part of the 2023-24 budget and costs would be split proportionally between the town and school department. When school is not in session the resource officer would work around town, giving the department an extra person during school vacations and the busy summer months.

Moosehead Lake Region Economic Development Corp. President Margarita Contreni told town officials that the organization has decided to host what it hopes will be the first annual economic summit during the day on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at the Blair Hill Inn.

“We’d like to tap the local regional businesses and community folks in addition to professionals from across the state,” Contreni said. She said Heather Johnson, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, agreed to lead a primary session panel.

“Most likely we’ll be talking about boosting the winter economy,” Contreni said about the panel topic.

She said there will be four other breakout sessions on a variety of topics that are being finalized. Contreni said resident/business owner Mike Theriault agreed to speak on the development of the Moose Creek RV Resort, and employee retention and financial planning for entrepreneurs are other potential session subjects.

“I’m happy and excited to be the new director at the Shaw Public Library,” Kathy Bishop reported to the select board. “The staff has been great and they’ve all done a fine job without a director and they’ve welcomed me and they are teaching me all kinds of different things and I’m transitioning into the job easily.”

Bishop has been researching various grant and fundraising opportunities. “I haven’t nailed anything down on it yet but I am working on it,” she said, speaking with other librarians to get some ideas. 

The new director said she will be taking some free library courses through the state in the fall to help her become a better director.

Shaw Public Library hours will be updated to meet Maine standards starting the last week of July. Bishop said there needs to be two employees per shift so the building will be closing at 5 p.m. Starting Monday, Sept. 4, the library will be closed on Mondays.

“This will enable us to serve our patrons and still stay within our budget and meet the state standards,” Bishop said.