Sangerville selectperson steps down

SANGERVILLE — The Sangerville Select Board is now down to two members following the resignation of Josh Tracy.

Tracy’s resignation was accepted by Chair Jeff Peters and Vice Chair Mike Gould during a Nov. 19 meeting at the fire station, with Tracy not in attendance.

“As most of you can see, we have an empty chair here,” Peters told attendees. “At the end of our last select board meeting Josh gave us a verbal resignation, followed early the next week by a written resignation.”

“I’m disappointed, I really liked working with Josh,” he said. ”I was hoping that over these last two weeks he would have changed his mind.”

Town Manager Brian Mullis concurred, “I think his decision needs to be respected and we just need to say thank you for his service.”

Tracy is staying on the road committee, having attended a meeting two days prior.

“Thank you Josh for the time you gave the town, we do appreciate it,” Peters said.

After a more than 1 hour, 20 minute executive session at the end of the Nov. 5 select board meeting, the board voted to approve a contract with Mullis for the next two years. The vote was made 2-1 with Tracy voting against. 

Before adjournment, Tracy said that we would be resigning. He was told the town would need a letter of resignation.

Tracy’s term of office was set to run through March 2028.

Later in the Nov. 19 meeting Peters said town officials need to think about what to do about the select board vacancy, such as having a special town meeting or leaving the seat open until the annual town meeting in March.

In talks with a previous selectperson, Mullis said years prior when a board member passed away the vacancy remained until the annual meeting. 

Waiting until late March would likely result in a higher turnout than a special town meeting, Mullis said, “I just think we would get a better representation.”

Peters agreed but also had concerns with waiting. 

“Three people makes a real fair balance, with just Mike and I as selectmen it leaves us with people thinking things just get pushed through,” he said. “I like the idea of three people holding the reins.”

Instead feedback would be sought to have a special town meeting, perhaps in January, or wait until March.

“We’re putting it out there and if anybody has public comment, we would love to hear it,” Peters said.

In the other business, the select board authorized the placement of a Christmas tree and accompanying lighting on downtown municipal property after meeting with Community Events Committee Chair Drew Stone.

The community events committee and downtown beautification group have been combined into one group, Peters said, with many related tasks overlapping.

Stone is the logical choice to chair with “great ideas, great energy and I’ve been very impressed with what I’ve seen of her,” Mullis said.

About a half dozen names are now signed up for the group, and they will be formally appointed at a December select board meeting.

Central Maine Power has a contract in place for decorations to go on poles and Stone is checking with the Maine Department of Transportation for permission regarding bridges.

A figure of $180-plus is estimated for the Christmas tree, solar-powered lights, heavy duty stand and tethers. Town beautification funds are in place for these purchases.

The new organization Piscataquis Forward would like to be involved with Sangerville, Stone said.

Mullis reviewed the Piscataquis Forward website at https://piscataquisforward.org/.

“They’re a new organization trying to gain traction,” he said. “I think they’ve got great ideas and they want to kind of get the whole county together. Instead of seven towns planning celebrations on the same day we kind of plan them out through the whole year.” 

This would make planning easier for vendors and attendees.

The community events committee is scheduled to meet next on Monday, Jan. 5.

The Sangerville Select Board and others across the six towns making up SAD 4 received a letter from Foxcroft Academy officials looking to have a conversation about the secondary school in Dover-Foxcroft becoming the high school for SAD 4 through a tuition basis as is currently being done with the four towns making up RSU 68.

Piscataquis Community High School has a current enrollment of about 140 while the Foxcroft Academy pupil count is 410.

“This is kind of just a surprise for us,” Peters said. “Brian received it and we are bringing it to the people via this meeting and the recording of us meeting.”

More information on a number of topics would be sought for any conversations to progress. Another option being pursued is a state-funded comprehensive high school that will combine traditional academics, career and technical education, and access to college courses between SAD 4 and SAD 46 of Dexter.

“They want the opportunity to come into our towns and answer these questions from the people directly,” Mullis said, mentioning he has talked with Foxcroft Academy Board of Trustees President Ethan Annis.

“I think it’s an idea that has a lot of merit,” the town manager said. Mullis said his daughter graduated from Foxcroft Academy and she continues to do well as a junior at the University of Maine.

As a selectperson who helps hold the town pursestrings, Peters said a conversation with Foxcroft Academy officials is needed.

Should the secondary school receive a positive response from SAD 4 communities, then Mullis believes Foxcroft Academy would be happy to get the ball rolling.

Earlier in the month, SAD 4 School Board members discussed the letter from Foxcroft Academy

The comprehensive high school application is moving forward, but should the project not come to fruition then further conversions could take place with Foxcroft Academy.

In his report, Mullis said representatives from town hall roof contractor Roof Systems of Maine are willing to come up and talk with the select board, provided a list of questions and concerns is provided in advance in order to prepare. This could be on a December meeting agenda.

Town officials have had some concerns over the scope of work. They are waiting to make payment until everything is clarified as the actual contract was between Roof Systems of Maine and engineer Wentworth Partnerships & Associates of Skowhegan.

An amount of $18,800 and costs for the lift were mentioned as payment as the town is not refusing to pay, but would like to have some questions answered and is willing to pay a fair price.

Mullis continues to work on a $250,000 Maine Historical Preservation grant for the town hall, which is due Dec. 6. Part of the application is being done by Wentworth Partnerships & Associates.