Construction agreement in place for Route 7, 15 intersection

DOVER-FOXCROFT — This coming summer the Maine Department of Transportation plans to widen the corner of East Main and South Street (Route 15 and Route 7) in downtown Dover-Foxcroft in part to allow for easier turns by tractor trailer trucks.

A needed step in the pre-construction process was taken by the Dover-Foxcroft Select Board as a construction agreement between the town and MDOT was approved during a meeting on Monday, Dec. 16.

“This is very routine,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said. “When the DOT has a project it puts out an agreement that’s basically the same for all towns.”

Per the agreement should the MDOT need to use any local roads to access the project then the town will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the project should the equipment weight limits exceed any limits established by the municipality. This scenario is unlikely given the Dover-Foxcroft project is located at the intersection of two state highways and MDOT equipment would not need to be transported over town roads.

“We would be willing to be reasonable with them to accommodate the project and have a permit,” Clukey said, should any such scenario arise.

In other business, the board approved a $23,300 bid by DM&J Waste of Winterport for the demolition and disposal and foundation removal and fill of the dwelling at 130 Pleasant Street. The company previously worked in town on a similar job at 11 Grange Street.

Last year the select board began the process to rectify the deteriorating property by commencing a local dangerous building proceeding, a process that has been undertaken at several properties around town. The 130 Pleasant Street home is uninhabitable and is owned by an out of state mortgage company, with neighbors complaining about the structure being an eyesore.

Code Enforcement Officer Brian Gaudet had previously told the board the roof and garage are falling down and the home has a sinking front porch.

DM&J Waste took down the 11 Grange Street building after it was determined the home was in disrepair and could not be rehabilitated due to a variety of issues.

The week prior the board’s administrative committee met to discuss the 2025 implementation of Maine Paid Family Medical Leave and the 1 percent payroll tax required by the employer. State law allows for the employer to pay the entire amount or require that half of the amount (.5 percent) be paid by the employee.

Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr said the committee looked at what other area towns have done, with many splitting the 1 percent between the municipality and the employee and this is what the administrative committee recommends. 

“It’s very common these are split half and half,” Clukey said.

“Being a new initiative, it could change in the future,” Freeman Cyr said.

Select Chair Tom Lizotte said he has been asked about the town manager search process, with Clukey departing in early January after more than two decades on the job. In the fall Clukey announced he would be stepping down to pursue other career goals and challenges.

“We have been advertising for that position since early November and we have received over two dozen applications,” Lizotte said. He mentioned that not all the applicants meet all the desired criteria so this pool could possibly be narrowed down to about a half dozen.

“We are having our first interviews with candidates this week with all of us together,” he said.

When asked about the timeline for Clukey’s successor to start Lizotte said, “It’s impossible to forecast but I would be surprised if it happened in January, more likely in February.” He said the candidate offered the job would have to give notice at their current position before departing.

The week before Clukey was honored by the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council with the 2024 Warren “Pete” Myrick Award at the organization’s annual meeting. The Myrick Award is presented annually by the PCEDC Executive Committee to recognize a resident, business, or organization who exemplifies the namesake’s concern for and commitment to education, economic development, and/or civic leadership in the region.

“Thanks everyone who was able to attend and it was certainly something I never anticipated,” Clukey said.

During public comment Manda Stewart, executive director 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 are moving in a positive direction,” she said. Stewart said a walkthrough of the Park Street facility was done with mediators and representatives of both the PACC and the Old Town Orono YMCA.

The plan is to open on Feb. 1 and the PACC is awaiting final approval to receive 501(c)3 status to be a non-profit.

Stewart was asked about the reopening of the pool and if this would coincide with the opening of the PACC. 

“If we can close the transaction a few weeks before Feb. 1, I would say yes,” she said. If not then reopening the pool would be a top priority of Stewart’s and she would be able to focus on this, with other people taking care of other tasks, after the building opening.

Clukey mentioned several items in his report. He said an engineering study proposal from Kleinschmidt Associates of Pittsfield was set to be presented to the Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The study looks at the feasibility of rehabilitating and restarting the mill hydro facility.

“I think that’s going to be really helpful for that process going forward,” Clukey said.

Following last June’s vote to reject a referendum article concerning removal of the downtown Mayo Mill Dam on the Piscataquis River — indicating citizens were in favor of using tax money to fund studies, permitting, and repair costs for the structure — the Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee was formed to help determine the future of the site. By June 30, 2025 the town needs to make not only a decision on pursuing hydropower and a plan to carry this out, but also a plan for repairing the dam, making the structure safe, compliant with fish regulations, and more.

The Mayo Mill Dam Review Committee formally approved an engineering study proposal from Kleinschmidt Associates of Pittsfield after the select board had authorized funding for the work during a Sept. 23 meeting. Kleinschmidt Associates bid $19,200 for the dam study.

The firm will look at previous studies and recalculate any potential for generating funds through hydropower and look at dam repairs. Kleinschmidt Associates will carry out its work over six weeks, 

While the financial implications are difficult to fully pin down at the present time because of variables such as the cost of repairs and length of repayment, the town could be faced with an $8-$10 million project.

The Mayo Mill Dam, acquired by Dover-Foxcroft in 2007, needs to be in compliance with all Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requirements. While Dover-Foxcroft will not be spending the money in the immediate future, information needs to be gathered to determine costs and how needed repairs would be funded such as through a bond.

FERC has jurisdiction over the dam because there are hydropower capabilities, but it has been non-operational for over a decade. It is a long process to have FERC relinquish oversight and this depends on whether there are hydropower capabilities or not and a plan is due to FERC by June 30 of next year.

The chances of restoring hydropower at the dam are remote due to a lack of economically viable options; the town has consulted with multiple engineers, turbine suppliers, and a private developer for years to try to identify a hydropower retrofit. When the Arnold Development Group of Kansas City, Missouri converted the former mill building into apartments and office space the consultants looked at restoring hydropower and had an application submitted to FERC about a half decade ago but did not pursue it further.

Clukey said the MDOT held a meeting on the Lincoln Street bridge project on Dec. 4. The bid date will be in late 2025, with the  work to start in early 2026 and be completed in late 2027.

The town manager reported the PCEDC received a grant from the Maine Connectivity Authority to fund digital literacy efforts in the region. The council will be letting the public know about upcoming related programs.