Corridor moratorium extended for six more months

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — At June’s annual town meeting, residents approved an ordinance concerning a moratorium regarding private distribution corridors which includes paved highways, pipelines and high tension transmission lines.
    The moratorium, passed by a vote of 369 to 269, was then in place for six months, meaning permits for the development projects specified cannot be granted during the timeframe. During a selectmen’s meeting on Dec. 15, the board voted to continue the moratorium for six more months by a 5-0 decision.

    “In June on Election Day we approved a moratorium because we have a working group who is discussing a new ordinance,” Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr said about the efforts to find a long-term solution to the issue of private distribution corridors. She explained an extension to what was approved in June would allow the working group additional months for its efforts.
    Select member Gail D’Agostino said the purpose of the extension is to “allow for more time to allow the work to be completed.” She said the group continues to work diligently on an ordinance “stating that the people of Dover-Foxcroft do not wish a pipeline/utility corridor to go through town.”
    “Coupled with that we just started the process to review our town comprehensive plan,” Selectman Steve Grammont said, with a goal being to have this ready for a town meeting vote in 2016. “That is also a topic we will be discussing.”
    The public hearing on the moratorium extension drew several residents, and one question asked about the proposed corridor through the state of Maine. “I don’t think we know any more than you do,” Freeman Cyr responded. “We know from what we have read it appears to be a very live issue for Cianbro and its investors.”
    Representative-elect Norm Higgins (R-Dover-Foxcroft) was asked the question. “I don’t know of any action that state plans on taking at this time,” he said. Higgins said the legislature won’t know about all the proposed bills until January. While a piece of legislation could concern the corridor, “I don’t know of anything at this particular time,” he said.
    Selectman Scott Taylor wondered if there is a limit to the number of times the existing moratorium could be extended. Town Manager Jack Clukey said, “The way it’s explained to me, extending the moratorium is based on two findings. One is the need still exists, the other finding we need to feel we’ve made reasonable progress over the last six months.”
    Clukey said if these stipulations are met a moratorium can continue to be extended by town officials, but typically are in place for six or 12 months. He said if a community finds its land use ordinance is not sufficient to regulate a development proposal then a moratorium can be put in place. Clukey mentioned cell phone towers as one project that many towns placed moratoriums on while long-term ordinances were developed.
    “This isn’t really a land use ordinance, it is a question of what the people in this community want for development,” said Dr. Lesley Fernow, who is among those working on the ordinance concerning private distribution corridors. She said the ordinance “will protect ourselves as a community.”
    Another public hearing will be held in the future, with further discussions to also take place as the working group nears and then reaches completion. “It’s viewed as a tool where we identify we have work to do,” Clukey said about the moratorium. “It gives us time to do the work — it’s what it’s made for.”
    In other business, the board voted to continue contracting with Bolsters Rubbish Removal of Burnham for hauling waste from the transfer station to PERC in Orrington. The agreement is for three years from 2015-17, with the current price of $190 per trip — which has been in effect since 2009 — remaining through June 30, 2015 and then increasing to $220 for each haul.
    Clukey explained trash is compacted at Dover-Foxcroft’s regional facility, and then Bolsters Rubbish Removal hauls the condensed waste away. “They’ve done an excellent job in terms of providing that service to us,” he said. “They’ve really kept the pricing competitive.”
    “Is it fair to say this is a good deal?,” Freeman Cyr asked. “It is a good deal and a positive for us,” Clukey responded.
    “Bolsters has been excellent as Jack said,” Solid Waste/Transfer Station Director Joe Sands said. “They are on time, they help us, we help them.”
    In his town manager’s report Clukey said, “We have a new fire truck, it’s en route. It had a temporary delay in Toledo, Ohio.” He said the 1993 ladder/pumper truck was being driven from the Chicago area by several firefighters when the water pump died. The water pump has been replaced and “tomorrow morning it will be back on the road to Maine.”
    “We’re seeing a vast majority of the exterior done,” Clukey said about work on the Moosehead Building at the Riverfront Redevelopment Project. He said the contractor has been installing piping for water, sewer, geothermal wells and is working to finish the exterior. Crews inside are farming and building out the interior space with the completion target continuing to be next spring.