Dexter councilors looking at shoreland zoning amendment for erosion control

DEXTER — With a bit of additional language likely to be added to the document, the Dexter Town Council opted to table a decision on a proposed amendment to the shoreland zoning ordinance during an April 8 meeting. Now another public hearing will be held at the May 13 meeting with a vote set for the June session.

“Around the large lake we are changing the dates,” Town Manager Trampas King said. The amendment says all activities involving earthmoving or disturbing of soils on Big Lake Wassookeag shall be limited to the period between May 15 and Oct. 1.

“The reason we’re doing it is the ordinance is outdated,” King said during the March meeting. He gave an example of foundation work on camps needing to be done only during the proposed timeframe to reduce runoff in order to protect the source of town drinking water.

A question raised asked about potential work areas around the lake would be clarified with an addition to the amendment. The council could only vote on the language presented at the public hearing the month before, so another hearing will be held next month prior to a vote on the final revised document. 

The full ordinance text is available at the town office, and projects within the shoreland zone still need to be reviewed by the planning board.

In other business, King was authorized to move forward on a plan for road/infrastructure improvements and equipment purchases.

“Back in February we talked about doing a bond for some paving and getting some equipment,” the town manager said. He said the bond did not go through but he has had conversations with John Simko of Androscoggin Bank who serves on the board of commissioners for the Maine Municipal Bond Bank.

The town could apply for a bond next year and sign a non-binding agreement with the bank in the interim. King also said if municipal expenses hold flat for the remainder of 2020-21 then projected revenues could be used for about $300,000 in paving and the purchase of a municipal truck.

King will continue to work on the various components and paving work going out to bid, and purchases will be brought before the council for approval.

After a bit of discussion, the council opted to keep the lease as it stands with Robbie McAllister for the Lakeshore Restaurant on Crockett Road near the public beach. McAllister pays $200 a month and also handles maintenance for the adjacent bath house.

King said the current lease has been in place for around four years, being lowered to $200 then from a $275 rate when McAllister began overseeing the bath house, which has been in place for more than 35 years. 

“This winter we talked about looking at the lease again,” the town manager said.

“Just on the time on the cleaning it would save us $6,200 and that’s not counting the paper products,” King said about comparing the current lease to a previous version when the town handled bath house maintenance. “To me I would just leave it as is, see how it goes this year and look at it again in a year.”

“I think it would be a nice gesture,” Councilor Chuck Ellms said about keeping the $200 monthly lease. “The restaurant industry has been harder hit than anyone else with COVID.”