Comprehensive plan committee to begin work in the fall

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Last month the selectmen approved a contract with Gwen Hilton, for $12,000 from Sept. 1 through July 1, 2015, to serve as the consultant on the revisions to the Dover-Foxcroft Comprehensive Plan. During a Sept. 8 meeting, the board made the first half dozen appointments to the committee that will work on updating the decade-old document.

    During the open session Town Manager Jack Clukey was asked about how the committee positions are filled. “We are looking for volunteers for the comprehensive plan committee, we have some names I’m bringing forward but we also need more people,” he said.
    Hilton recommended a committee comprised of about 10-12 members, and appointed so far is Jeff Dale, Selectman Steve Grammont, Lisa Laser, Chris Maas of the planning board, George McKay and Sarah Swanson. Others interested can contact Clukey at 564-3318. The selectmen are looking to make the remaining appointments at the Monday, Oct. 13 meeting.
    “Anyone that’s interested should come, these are public meetings, and be part of it that way,” Clukey said.
    The Oct. 13 meeting will also include public hearings on a pair of ordinances prior to the Nov. 4 ballot. Clukey said one ordinance “would prohibit the sale of consumer fireworks to where it was before the state changed the law.”
    The second proposed ordinance concerns traffic incidents. “Basically it recognizes we are a transportation hub and we have our share of traffic incidents that see first-responders,” Clukey said, with these emergency personnel sometimes tied up for several hours such as firefighters needing to direct traffic.
    The ordinance would allow town officials to bill for cost, including personnel, equipment and supplies, when responding to traffic incidents. The potential charges would only be applied to non-residents, non-property owners and those who do not work in Dover-Foxcroft. Property damage costs would still apply to everyone.
    In other business, Selectman Scott Taylor gave a report from the previous week’s recreation committee meeting. “(Director Tim Smith) reported that all levels of youth sports are filled up,” Taylor said, with the Foxcroft Youth Sports boys and girls soccer, field hockey and football teams having full rosters.
    Taylor said trees have been cleared near the parking area by Sebec Lake to allow for more vehicle and boat parking. He said summer resident John Wiles of Connecticut has given the town a 1.3-acre parcel on the corner of Greeley’s Landing and Cotton Brook roads near the lake. “That will be a future parking lot and recreation area,” Taylor said.
    The town and Foxcroft Youth Sports will be hosting a Punt, Pass and Kick competition for children on Saturday, Sept. 20 at 1 p.m. at Foxcroft Academy. Taylor said volunteers are needed to help with the football skills event.
    Those involved with youth sports in the area are working to increase concussion awareness. Clukey said this is being done, in part, by giving information to parents so they may be able to recognize symptoms in their children when they are at home after games and practice.
    “Our goal is to get the education out there so parents can be informed,” Taylor said. “Not every child is going to tell the coach they’re hurt.”
    Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr thanked all of those involved to help provide local children with the opportunity to participate in sports. “There is so much volunteerism with that and I think it’s something we should celebrate,” she said.
    In his town manager’s report, Clukey said Dover-Foxcroft’s franchise agreement with Time Warner Cable is set to expire next year and discussions will start soon on the next contract. “There’s not another traditional cable company that would serve us, but there are other options for people,” he said, such as satellite providers.   
    Clukey said he has reached out to IT professionals to see what is needed and if these services can be incorporated into the agreement. The existing contract was signed in 2000, and significant changes in technology have taken place in the decade and a half since.
    Grammont said expansion of Time Warner service availability could be one possibility to look at. He said perhaps the company’s lines could be extended a little further rather than by a strict pace count.
    Clukey also reminded the board that on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 8 a.m. at the Morton Avenue Municipal Building, the Maine Highlands Senior Center Project will host an event to discuss Central Hall and the Healthy Communities and Thriving in Place initiatives.
    During open session, a question was asked of the board pertaining to the condition of the Essex Street hill. The bumps on the travelway leading to the transfer station result in debris, such as newspapers and boards with nails, falling out of vehicles and landing in the road and adjacent properties.
    Clukey said Essex Street is not scheduled to be repaved, but perhaps a few small sections could be worked on to eliminate the bumps.
    “Some of them need to be reconstructed and for some it’s just an overlay,” he said about roads across town. “We will see what we can do up there as far as that goes and see how we can get more roads taken care of.”