Hearing on fireworks ordinances set for March 18

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    MILO — On Tuesday, March 18 public hearings will be held at the town hall at 6 p.m. to discuss a pair of proposed fireworks ordinances, as well as a PACE ordinance concerning Efficiency Maine home energy saving programs.
    During a March 4 select meeting, Town Manager David Maynard explained there are proposed fireworks ordinances for both use and sales. “They were split after a run-through by (town attorney) Erik Stumpfel,” he said, mentioning the state court has struck down other communities’ fireworks ordinances which covered both use and sales.

    “The ordinances before you are based on the town of Holden’s,” Maynard said, as the town next to Brewer has separate fireworks rules enacted. The ordinances, which will be posted in the lobby of the town hall and on the Three Rivers website (www.trcmaine.org) prior to the hearings, specify when, where and how fireworks can be permitted within Milo as well the permitting process for vendors.
    “I like both of them, I have read them through several times,” Selectman Lee McMannus said. He said he is concerned about the proposed $500 permitting fee to sell fireworks, and would like to hear the public’s opinion on what they feel would be an appropriate rate at the hearing.
    Selectman Bob Ade said he also favors both ordinances, and like McMannus feels $500 may be too high of a fee for a business located within the town of Milo. McMannus said a fee is necessary, in part to know who is selling fireworks.
    When asked about the origin of the fireworks ordinances, Maynard said the issue had been brought up before he came to Milo. McMannus said he has received a number of calls on fireworks, such as residents being concerned with pedestrians walking around and throwing firecrackers, fireworks being lit in the center of town and the noise being heard throughout the night. He said the ordinances will give the police department some leverage when dealing with fireworks-related complaints.
    Ade said the ordinances will allow Milo to follow measures other communities have taken to protect themselves, mentioning many towns in the state have such ordinances on the books.
    In other business, Maynard said the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) emailed him three pages of plans for the Route 11 turning lane to the Eastern Piscataquis Business Park. Maynard said the lane will start at the property line between the park and medical center and continue up to the access road.
    “Instead of 300 feet as was first proposed it is going to be a full turning lane for the business park, at no cost to the town as it is part of the Route 11 project,” Maynard said. He said the MDOT has funding in place for Route 11, which will rebuild the road from the West Main Street bridge up to the Brownville town line. The project will go out to bid in the spring, with the work scheduled from June to Labor Day.
    Maynard said in September and October another phase of construction is scheduled for the Pleasant River bridge, with the crossing being reinforced.
    He said the MDOT is planning to fix the breakouts on Route 6/16 in Milo and Sebec. Earlier in the meeting he shared a letter from Gov. Paul LePage in which the governor said he will take action to balance the monies used from a rainy day fund to continue with the municipal revenue sharing program.
    “One of our projects from the West Main Street hill to Sebec four corners has been bumped back from 2014 to 2016 as a result,” Maynard said.
     The selectmen passed a resolution in support of Eastern Maine Development Corporation special assistance funding being divided between Piscataquis and Penobscot counties. Maynard said the Penobscot County Commissioners had passed a resolution saying such monies should go to Penobscot County following crises such as the closing and/or layoffs at mills in East Millinocket and Lincoln.
    He said the day before the Piscataquis County Commissioners passed a resolution of their own requesting a regional effort for opportunity and growth in the two counties, and Milo’s resolution asks likewise.