Westport Island selectmen, town officials, employees, and volunteers are excited about the town's tax map Geographic Information System (GIS). Selectmen Jack Swanton and Dennis Dunbar were sharing their excitement with the system at the selectmen's meeting Monday evening.

At the annual town meeting earlier this year, the voters approved updating the town's tax maps using the art of digital technology. As a result of that decision, a team was formed to look into the available technology and initiate the project.

DeLorme's Map GIS system was selected at a cost of $2,000 which also included training on the system. So far about six people have been trained to use it.

The process started with a high resolution satellite imagery and aerial photographs available from the Maine Office of GIS. Dated tax maps and new subdivision plans were digitally integrated into a single precision digital map of the island.

According to Dunbar, parcel boundaries are now being entered by a team of volunteers, a process called vectoring. This process will tie the new more accurate parcel maps with the digital tax data in the town's assessing program. Assessors will then be able to better determine value from this new integrated data and homeowners will be able to better see how their assessments are made.

"Looking beyond the tax maps," Dunbar said, "the GIS database really shines. The town will be able to incorporate data on important natural resources (wetlands, important habitats, aquifers and etc) wells, moorings, cemeteries, fire ponds and other important historic or archeological sites that warrant monitoring and tracking."

"Westport Island residents will enjoy one of the most advanced integrated GIS resources management systems in the state as a result of this project," Dunbar said.

The selectmen and the town's certified assessor, Eugene Huskins, have requested help from the Maine Forest Service and the Department of Conservation in making a decision on the Maine Tree Growth application submitted by Rum Cove LLC.

Rum Cove is a subdivision containing 101 acres, 27 house lots with 87 acres of common area. To date, 11 lots have been sold with each owner receiving a 1/27 th undivided interest in the common area. The application for the tree growth is for the 87 acres, according to the letter sent to the state agencies.

In a meeting held by the selectmen November 4 with Rum Cove representative Mike Stern, the selectmen voted 3-0 in favor of tabling a decision on approval of the tree growth status until the plan is reviewed by the Department of Conservation.

Land owner Robert Nelson was told by the selectmen earlier this month to hire a licensed forester to develop a reforestation plan for replanting and stabilizing of an area he allegedly violated the clearing standards of the Shoreland zoning ordinance.

The selectmen received a letter from Nelson informing them he had contacted Dave Schaible from Bremen to look at the site next week. Nelson was asked to submit a plan by December 1. However, the selectmen agreed he probably wouldn't be able to plant until spring.