Airport decision could be made at special town meeting

DOVER-FOXCROFT — Dover-Foxcroft selectmen will hold a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12 at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building to gather feedback on a proposal to convert the municipal airport on Pine Street into the home of a 4-megawatt solar power project.

At an Oct. 28 meeting, the board passed a motion saying they will not be taking any votes related to the project during the evening of Nov. 12. In order for the Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field to become a solar site, the airport would have to be decommissioned and should this decision need to be made then it could be done by citizens via a special town meeting vote.

Town Manager Jack Clukey said questions had been raised about what votes might be taken on the airport project Nov. 12. He said it would be helpful if the selectmen clarified whether they planned to vote on a closure that evening or not, and with the town considering potential alternative sites for the solar initiative he recommends they state in advance that no vote on the proposal will be taken Nov. 12.

Selectmen are working with ReVision Energy on the solar project. The company evaluated Dover-Foxcroft for sites to potentially develop large-scale projects and create revenue via lease option agreements. New legislation provides opportunities for municipal solar initiatives, such as federal tax credits and rebates. The airport was identified as a prime site.

“I move that no vote be taken on Nov. 12 to close the airport,” Selectperson Jane Conroy said in making a motion that was passed unanimously.

“It seems to me like we have a lot of information to learn about and it’s only two weeks away,” Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr said.

Clukey raised the possibility of a special town meeting “if we ever decide to do a closure.”

“I personally feel the town needs to have a vote via input rather than by a vote this board makes,” Conroy said, as the selectmen could make a decision to schedule a special town meeting post-Nov. 12.

During public session resident Chris Arno said, “There’s a lot of support for this airport.”

The property consists of a single turf runway for small aircraft, a pilot’s cabin and two privately owned hangars.

Arno passed around a sheet of paper containing images of the memorial plaque at the field, reading Charles A. Chase Memorial Field. This air field was given to the town of Dover-Foxcroft by Ruth W. Chase and C.A. Chase in memory of their son Charles A. Chase Jr. who built this field and used it as a base of operation. Charles A. Chase Jr. was killed on Dec. 18, 1959 while flying from this field.

Carolyn Chase Hall, granddaughter of the airport namesake, said in 1961 her great-grandparents gifted 70 acres of land, including the airstrip, to the town. “I know it was their intent not only to keep the airport up and running but to keep their son’s memory alive,” she said.

Arno said it has been difficult to determine how many planes come in — efforts via social media to save the airport are now asking those flying in to sign a pilots log left in the airport cabin to show the level of activity — but he said the facility does attract pilots who patronize town businesses and is a landing site for emergency air vehicles.

“One thing that’s good about the airport is you know it’s going to be clear, save for the occasional deer or turkey,” he said, saying the landing area on the Mayo Regional Hospital campus is not always free.

Arno said there has been an outpouring of support from the area and national aviation organizations, and seemingly every time he looks at his phone there are offers of supplies and services for the airport.

He said he wants everyone to know those looking to keep the airport open are not against solar energy, but would like to know why a project in Dover-Foxcroft would be located at Charles A. Chase Jr. Memorial Field.

“Basically we asked for a proposal for a project so I wouldn’t categorize it as the only place but it would be the one that is the quickest to develop,” Clukey said. “There are other ones that might take a bit longer.”

Arno then asked about the airport costs.

“As far as a budget item it’s a pretty small item,” Clukey said. The current airport expenses total about $3,000 for maintenance and insurance.

The town manager said Dover-Foxcroft receives a bit of revenue from lot rentals, property taxes on airport structures and plane excise tax monies.

“I don’t think it’s a cost concern,” Clukey said.