Dover-Foxcroft adopts municipal appointment procedure

DOVER-FOXCROFT — At times it can be challenging to find volunteers willing to serve on various municipal committees. To help with the process the town of Dover-Foxcroft now has a formal procedure for appointments to town boards and committees, which was approved by the select board during a meeting on Monday, March 11.

Select Vice Chairperson Cindy Freeman Cyr said Town Manager Jack Clukey prepared the 8-step procedure which includes an 11-question statement of interest form. The administrative committee reviewed the document the week before to have it come before the full select board.

“I think it will help people who want to serve, it will tell how to get on the planning board or other committee,” Freeman Cyr said.

Clukey said vacancies can be listed on the town website at https://dover-foxcroft.org/ and interested candidates can then apply.

The budget advisory committee has met twice already with a third session set for Thursday, March 14 and a joint meeting with the select board scheduled on Thursday, March 21.

The public hearing for the 2024-25 municipal and wastewater budget will be at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 26 at the town office as the meeting documentation was formally signed by the select board.

The annual town meeting will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 27 in the Morton Avenue Gym. The spending plan approved that day will be moved to the June referendum for a final approval.

Last month the select board was told the year to year difference in appropriations is a $1,439,805 increase (20.99 percent), and the year to year difference in revenues to offset the tax commitment is up $852,608 (12 percent). The increase in the amount to be raised in the total tax commitment, provided there is no change in Dover-Foxcroft’s share of the RSU 68 budget, is $617,257 (9.14 percent) more. There is not projected to be a mill rate increase given the increase in state valuation from 2023 to 2024.

Clukey mentioned several items in his report. 

“We did submit a letter of intent but we were not invited to proceed with a full application,” he said about funding sought from the Maine Connectivity Authority to rehabilitate the Penquis Higher Education Center on Mayo Street.

Clukey said Eastern Maine Community College is looking for a transition plan for it to no longer be the owner of the building, and this should be developed in several weeks.

EMCC would like to give the building, which once was Mayo Elementary School, back to the town.

Clukey had worked with Thompson Free Library Director Jon Knepp and Piscataquis Valley Adult Education Cooperative Director Dr. Josh McNaughton on securing funds through the Maine Connectivity Authority for a major capital upgrade of the building. A letter of intent to the Connectivity Hub Grant Program was submitted which funds projects from $200,000 to $2 million.

More than two decades ago EMCC acquired what is today PHEC from the town. In addition to being utilized by EMCC and the PVAEC, it also currently houses the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council and Eastern Maine Development Corporation.

Clukey said the town will host a public meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 to solicit public comment on the transportation study being conducted with the Maine Department of Transportation. Officials are seeking feedback on transportation improvements in the downtown that would reduce congestion and improve pedestrian safety and achieve other transportation goals.

“The goal is to have the study to really inventory all those improvements for pedestrians, vehicles, and bikes downtown,” he said, saying everyone with ideas for downtown is encouraged to attend and give feedback.

“It will have a better end result if we incorporate all the ideas that we get for the end result of downtown,” the town manager said.

A stakeholder meeting to the Lincoln Street bridge project, particularly for abutting property owners, will be at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3.

Last month the select board approved a $218,400 proposal from Wright Pierce Engineers for permitting design for the Lincoln Street bridge project, which spans the small stream underneath the western end of Lincoln Street.

At last year’s annual town meeting Clukey said a replacement project would cost approximately $2 million with the town having a $200,000 share. Wright Pierce Engineers would have its work done later in the year with construction to take place in 2025.