Two video tapes of an informational meeting on the proposed Twin River Energy plant have been "discarded," according to Scott Houldin, Twin River president and project manager.

The video was made by Westport Island Selectman Jack Swanton, to be shown on Lincoln County Television, Channel 7. Swanton, who is also a board member of the cable channel, said Houldin agreed to allow the video taping, provided that he could review it before signing a release for it to be shown. Swanton said he gave the two tapes and the release form to Houldin right after the August 22 meeting.

Swanton was the only person permitted to video the meeting. Others, including Willy Ritch, president of the Back River Alliance which opposes the project, were told they could not make any recordings.

In the October 4 issue of this newspaper, in the "Tell It To George" column, a writer asked why Houldin would not release the tapes so they could be shown on the cable channel before the November 6 vote in Wiscasset. The vote is on several ordinance changes that would allow the permitting process for the plant to begin.

Swanton said in a phone conversation this week he decided to contact Houldin after reading the questions in "Tell it to George." Swanton said Houldin told him he had "discarded them."

Swanton said he asked if the audio was bad, or if there was anything wrong with them. According to Swanton, Houldin said, "I didn't even bother to look at them."

Joe Donahue of Westport Island had invited Houldin to the meeting to allow residents outside of Wiscasset the opportunity to ask questions because a previous meeting in Wiscasset had not allowed this.

The Westport Island meeting lasted over three hours, and because of interruptions from the audience, Houldin said he was not given the opportunity to complete his presentation.

Asked why he discarded the tapes, Houldin told the newspaper he would send his response in an e-mail, in which he wrote, "We agreed to attend the Westport Island meeting to provide information and answer questions for all regional communities and citizens. Unfortunately, those citizens that attended the meeting interested to learn more about the benefits of the project were denied that opportunity by the unprofessional actions of a small group."

"Our presentation was terminated midstream and the good folks from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection were denied the chance to explain the permitting process and the rigors it entails.

"It is a shame that people couldn't learn more about the significant regional benefits that the project would provide which include 200 full time jobs, $60 million annually in the regional economy, lower county taxes, lower electricity rates, and reduced dependency on foreign oil to name just a few. In all honesty given the lack of informational substance of the meeting, the tape has no value other than highlighting the misbehavior of a few."

Swanton said that Houldin was well within his rights not to sign the release form. However, the tapes were the property of Lincoln County Television.

Swanton said because Houldin did not sign the release form, even if the tapes had not been "discarded," they would never have been made public. Swanton said if the tapes had been returned, they would simply have taped over them in covering another event.

"Houldin has agreed to replace the two tapes that he discarded," Swanton said.