Selectmen confer with comp plan task force

The Edgecomb Selectmen met with members of the Comprehensive Plan Work Force Monday night to get a fix on how far the committee has traveled, how far they have to go and what help they need to close the gap before the 2008 annual town meeting.

Chairman Sue Carlson and task force member Kitty Norton stressed the pressing need to develop a capital investment plan that the state requires in all comprehensive plans. Carlson told the board that they need data from different town officials to calculate how much will be needed to maintain and improve town services.

"We need to be able to include how the town will pay for the maintenance of the town hall and the improvements that are needed," Carlson said. "There is a long laundry list of non-compliance with building codes and handicap accessibility requirements we will have to address."

Carlson reminded the board that the task force has been working on the plan for two years, but added, "It is a big job for volunteers to complete." She explained that they asked for $8,000 in last year's town budget but were only given $2,000.

Carlson said that she is meeting with Lincoln County Planner Bob Faunce to get suggestions about consultants that could be hired to help the committee complete the plan.

"I don't want to push you into rushing to complete the plan for the 2008 meeting, but I am concerned about going beyond that date without a completed plan," Selectman John Johnson said. He added that he does not have a problem with hiring someone to help, but wants a selectman to be part of any hiring.

The selectmen and the work force representatives felt that the budget committee could help provide some of the data that is needed.

Carlson told the board that she feels they have the talent on the work force to complete the plan and said, "I remain optimistic that we can meet the 2008 deadline." However, she questioned whether Town Planner Byron Johnson could help the committee.

Norton also questioned whether Johnson would have the "skill set" to participate in the plan's completion. Although she was clear that she was not questioning his competence, just his comfort level with that assignment.

"Byron has been working with the planning board on tightening the ordinances and the ordinances should be consistent with the comp plan," Selectman Stuart Smith said.

"The comprehensive plan is the guide book," Smith said. "The ordinances are the rules. We have some gaping holes in our ordinances that need to be fixed."

"We have some ordinances you could drive a truck through," John Johnson added. "How could Byron help?" he asked.

"I think the most important thing right now is gathering information," Carlson said. "In almost every section we need data, but some areas are harder to get than others."

Byron gave an overview of his work on the ordinances that he divided into three parts. One he described as minor glitches in formatting and the use of terms that may have changed. He is also working under a state mandate to clean up shoreland ordinances with special attention given to timbering in shoreland areas. And he is working to clarify ordinances that relate to sub-division development.

Selectman Johnson asked, "How does your work relate to the comprehensive plan?"

"We don't have to wait to complete the plan to change some of these ordinances, but can amend what is there, and still remain consistent to the plan that the task force is working on," Byron Johnson said.

Task Force representatives explained that they are working from the former plan developed in 1991, which includes the updated zoning ordinances completed in 2003.

Carlson said that they are using the town survey that was so well received as their mandate from the town. "However, some of the town's wishes do not match with growth plans from the state of Maine," Carlson added.

"What would you say are the top three mandates that residents want?" Selectman Johnson asked.

Carlson responded that they do not want the sewer to be expanded. They don't want development, and as expected, they do not want added taxes.

The task force members said that many coastal towns are not complying with their comprehensive plans, and the task force is looking for ways to put teeth into the plan and to keep goals before the residents.

"We would be grossly negligent if we don't marry what we are doing with the comp plan," Selectman Johnson said.

The selectmen asked the task force members to meet with them again in the near future to continue to discuss their needs and progress. At this meeting, the question of whether the present town planner's duties would be expanded or a newly hired consultant would be added to assist the group will be revisited.

In other matters, Chairman Jo Cameron read a letter to the board received from Attorney David R. Ferguson who has been reviewing an IRS tax lien against the property of Anthony J. Lallis. The letter describes the town's interest in the property as the "result of property tax liens that were not redeemed by Mr. Lallis."

The IRS tax lien was preventing the town from taking ownership of the 90 acres that abuts the McKay and River Roads on the Boothbay side.

Ferguson's letter concludes that the federal tax lien expired on October 15, 2007. He adds, "No renewal of the lien has been filed by the IRS. Federal Tax Liens are self releasing if a renewal is not filed prior to the expiration of the original loan." His only concern is that there still may be some state tax liens that are outstanding.

Smith said that this could clear the town to follow through on former plans to sell two of the lots to help finance the new fire station. "We have already given our approval to allow River Link Trails to cross the property but that would not restrict other use of the land," he said.

The board was also presented with a blasting permit from T.E. Gould Drilling/Blasting for work to be done on Parsons Point Road.

Selectman Johnson was emphatic that all blasting permits should not be allowed without the board's final approval. The selectmen and the planning board discussed this question in the past few months and Johnson said, "We need to take control over this."

The board would not approve the present application because the form did not include why the blasting would take place. They agreed that a new form needs to be developed that would provide more information.