Concept design phase set for Dover-Foxcroft Villages Project

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A preliminary concept design of traffic and mobility improvements for downtown Dover-Foxcroft has been completed for the Villages Partnership Initiative Project by Gorrill Palmer with input from the Maine Department of Transportation. A presentation slideshow is available at www.dover-foxcroft.org.

During a Nov 18 meeting of the Dover-Foxcroft Select Board, Town Manager Jack Clukey said a public meeting was held the week prior. He said the Nov. 12 session was very informative as it went over the details of the concept design of traffic and mobility improvements. Up next is the project design phase which could begin in the first half of 2025.

After the public meeting, feedback and comments will be incorporated into a more detailed project design as Gorrill Palmer and the MDOT will also develop cost estimates so the project can be submitted and considered for federal funding for the transportation improvements and enhancements. 

“We are the type of community that they want to fund, we are a service center and the state wants to see projects like that happen in towns like Dover-Foxcroft,” Clukey said.

Select Chair Tom Lizotte mentioned a figure of $20 million and all that this amount could accomplish. He said some of the complaints people have, such as having trouble pulling out from one street to another and pedestrian crossings, could be rectified. 

Lizotte said there is a 10 percent municipal match requirement for funds received. He said this potentially could be financed through a 0 interest loan program.

The study area for the Village Project starts at around Dunkin on outer West Main Street and travels east, covering a portion of North Street up to Summer Street, down East Main Street with a portion of Essex Street included, and on South Street to around Pine Street. The purpose is to make conditions safer for all modes of transportation, and create a distinct look and feel and create a sense of place.

Those involved met with Foxcroft Academy representatives to discuss traffic coming and going from the West Main Street campus to see if improvements can be made.

Clukey previously said any improvements made would be done a few years into the future. He said sewer and water line work would be done first with South, Essex, and West Main streets planned for next year.

The Village Partnership Initiative is a program of the MDOT’s community-based planning program. MDOT will use investments and municipal infrastructure, such as the historic village core and/or downtown, to bring a feel and character that many historic towns had as a means to revitalize rural economy in the state of Maine as well as improve quality of life of those who live in the community and for visitors.

In other business, the select board’s protection committee met Nov. 7 and was updated on discussions with Northern Light Mayo Hospital with regards to implementation of the town’s plan to provide local secondary EMS transport services through the fire department.

In order to be licensed by Maine EMS the town needs a letter of support from Northern Light. Correspondence from the hospital came in after the meeting.

In the letter Northern Light Mayo Hospital President Marie Vienneau said the hospital board discussed the request for a letter of support for the fire department application to be licensed as a transport ambulance service.

“In response, the Mayo Hospital Board passed a resolution supporting the fire department’s request for Maine EMS to assess EMS in Dover-Foxcroft and review the need for a second EMS service in town,” Vienneau wrote. “The board feels that this assessment will help all involved better understand current response times, potential gaps in coverage, and how establishing a second service in town would affect EMS in Dover-Foxcroft and the region. The board would like to see the results of this review before determining if the hospital will support a change in the fire department’s EMS licensure. We appreciate the fire department’s partnership and look forward to staying connected as the process with Maine EMS unfolds.”

The protection committee agreed the town should take steps to initiate an analysis of need as required by Maine EMS. A legal notice explaining the application ran in the Nov. 21 edition of The Bangor Daily News, saying the public is invited to comment within 30 calendar days to the Board of Emergency Medical Services.

At its meeting, the committee also discussed the need to develop timelines for the next steps in securing a new public safety building and to seek sources of grant funding to offset some of the cost. Next steps would include site selection, conceptual plans, and budget estimates all of which would be necessary for competitive grant applications. 

During public comment, Manda Stewart of the Piscataquis Area Community Center gave an update on the organization that is working to fill the void left by the recent closure of the Piscataquis Regional YMCA.

“We have been doing a lot of work, our budget plan was completed last week and we sent that in,” she said. “We put together a budget that looks pretty good.”

Stewart said the PACC has reached out to 25 municipal governments that had residents who were PRYMCA residents to inquire about financial support, along with the Somerset and Penobscot County commissioners.

The PACC operations, finance, and fundraising committees have begun meeting. Benefit events include a 24 Days of Christmas Calendar Raffle featuring contributions from local businesses, a Dec. 7 gift wrapping session at the Dover-Foxcroft American Legion, and a spaghetti dinner is being planned. 

The organization has office space at a “pretty good location right on East Main Street” in the former chiropractor office by the Center Theatre. Stewart said people have been stopping in and she is there most days from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Donations are still rolling in, we’re just over $50,000 right now,” she said. “Dr. (Dan) Steinke has managed to secure $50,000 per year in 5-year pledges. The goal is $100,00 per year that he is working on.”

Stewart said the PACC is building off the foundation of the PRYMCA but those involved are working toward something new. So instead of donors we are looking at founders, people who are going to be part of this brand new entity that we are building,” she said.

In his report Clukey said the MDOT will hold a public meeting on the Essex bridge project at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4 at the town office. He said the work is set to start next year.

“We are almost finished with our sidewalk project this fall,” the town manager said about Pleasant Street. He said the work was expected to be finished later in the week.

During the Oct. 15 select meeting a bid of $107,350 by Hopkins Paving of Hermon was approved for the sidewalk from the fire station up to the hill to the new section. The work is part of the Dover-Foxcroft sidewalk plan, with $100,000 for such improvements being included in the current fiscal year’s budget.

 “I think our voter turnout was 86 percent, which is unbelievable,” Lizotte said.

For this year’s election Dover-Foxcroft had 2,449 votes cast, with 1,095 via absentee ballot. The total is higher than the last two presidential elections, 2,372 in 2020 and 2,188 in 2016. 

Four years ago there were more absentee ballots, 1,404, and 597 residents voted absentee eight years ago.