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moratorum and I'll let councelor Harris
start off. She had some things to add.

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» Yeah. Um and so I had to write this down
because obviously data centers are not

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my area of expertise, but I just wanted
to thank the committee for um putting

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this on the agenda and taking this
conversation up. So, I asked for this to

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be on tonight's agenda because I think
um I think it'd be helpful for Bucksport

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to get ahead of the question of how we
would review a large data center

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proposal or any other uh major energy um
intensive project if one were proposed

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here. I do want to be clear that I'm not
raising this um because there's a

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specific proposal on the table. I'm not
aware of one and I'm not trying to close

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the door on responsible economic
development. But what I'm asking is that

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the c as is that the committee consider
this moratorium move to council um a

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temporary moratorium so the town has
time to put the right local standards

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and regulations in place before we're
trying to answer these questions under

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pressure when there's a proposal on the
table and the reason I say that is

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because Bucksport's different than many
of the communities um we have a former

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mill site we have existing energy
infrastructure a long history of being

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shaped by large industrial
um users and so that creates a real

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opportunity but it also means that we
have good reason to be thoughtful,

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proactive and careful about what comes
next. Um I know some people may feel we

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should wait for the state's um climate I
mean data center advisory council report

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in January. I think that report will be
helpful, but Bucksport still has to

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carry its own water and have local
questions and we need to think through

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ourselves, including water,
infrastructure, rateayers, land use, um,

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and state guidance can help inform our
work, but it shouldn't take the place of

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our due diligence and local planning.
And the reason to do this before there's

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a proposal on the table, I've said, is
it's pretty straightforward. So once an

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application is in front of us if there
is one we may have le less time less

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flexibility to ask the bigger questions
and so a temporary pause would give us

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room to build a bucket of regulation
around this um conversation that current

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code isn't written for. We have great
code enforcement regulations and our

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code enforcement officer does a
wonderful job. We don't currently have a

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vessel um discussing this type of
infrastructure which is growing around

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um the country and the technologies
here. So I think it would be in

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Bucksport's best interest to build some
regulation around that. Um and also it

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would um give residents time to
understand and and councils who don't

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tend to have the expertise in this type
of thing um to discern what what

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regulation would make sense. So for me,
it's not about being anti- business,

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anti-development. It's not about saying
no or yes to the infrastructure. It's

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just that we can welcome new investment,
but we can also be cautious and careful

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and um that um large local projects
should meet local standards. We don't

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have any local standards for this. And
so my hope tonight is that the council

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uh I mean that the regulatory review
committee would agree to move um a

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moratorum on data centers. I don't have
a particular time frame in mind. Um my

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thought would be to uh implement uh a 30
to 90day moratorum. Um or perhaps the

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committee could discuss up until January
when the state releases its report. Um,

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but essentially we uh if I were um in
the business of putting energy

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infrastructure in a town, a welcoming
town such as ours, Boxport would be a

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good choice because we have all the
infrastructure in place and I don't want

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us to be caught off guard thinking about
this in a rush when there's a proposal

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on the table and as we learned from the
landfill, we didn't have decommissioning

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regulation and we we we had to sort of
backfill our knowledge on that. So this

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is really an effort just to um
[clears throat] let's and it doesn't

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harm anyone to put a moratorum on the
table at this point. There are no people

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who have put proposals here. So who's it
going to hurt?

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» Um it will only build our um muscle
around the um the technology that's

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here. Um so that's that's those are my
thoughts. I um if you have questions,

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why now? If there's no proposal, why
act? I think I've kind of answered

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those.
um and why Buckport's different. I think

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we've answered those two. U I've
answered those in this. So, I'm happy to

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answer questions. I'm not an expert. Um
but I do um see what we have what what

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resource we have here. Um so, that's why
I brought it up. Uh thanks to Ralph

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Chapman for sort of initiating that
conversation at public comment, but I I

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um that's why I wanted it on the agenda
for consideration.

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» Do you have something to add on? Uh oh,
sorry. I was confused. Please. Is there

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an opportunity for a small public
comment?

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» There will be.
Mr. We'll just

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» Is that all right?
>> I guess we could do it now. Sure.

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» Sure.
>> It's It's teeny but worthy. Tom Muxport.

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Um, another consideration to add to your
list of things to think about along with

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those regulations is maybe, and this is
not accusatory, but again in the in uh

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the country at large and Maine and
certain counties, non-disclosure

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agreements pre-signed
have arisen as a a blocking point and

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to to have the public be aware of what's
going on

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in my case very important. So consider
that. That's all. Okay. Thank you.

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» Did you want to go? Go ahead.
>> Oh, no, no, no. Please go.

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» I I agree with uh councelor Hair and I
think we are uh the 90 days is not

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enough. Uh you included a document to us
that I think maybe code enforcement

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should begin to tweak. Um
the um there are issues around heat,

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noise, water uh dumping into the
Ponobscot uh health ba healthbased

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standards as you
are lacking right now focusing around

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this. So I'd like to
again go forward with that. But I don't

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think the 90 I think I' I've seen on the
local news that people are going for six

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month um rather than the nine and have a
chance to deal with it. I I think also

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on a just on a a smaller level but part
of the thing we're looking at here is

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water and things are changing now with
our our water supply. A year ago, the

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president of Maidwater came into this
room and spoke to us and he said his

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three cons three concerns are uh public
safety, drinking water and fire

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suppression. And uh now we're looking at
our our drinking water and maintaining

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proper levels and getting water over to
the power plant. I mean there's a whole

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set of dynamics that are
>> entering into the equation. So I totally

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support a moratorum right now.
>> I did have a Luke, could you come up and

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just answer a few questions about what
we have in place?

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» Thanks. So it's clear we don't have a
decommissioning ordinance. Correct.

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» We do not we don't have a
decommissioning ordinance for a lot of

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things,
>> right? And you know for something like

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this, we also don't have a public safety
consideration in the ordinance either,

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do we? where if these entities brought
in, you know, whether it be batteries or

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other things that require specialized
equipment and plans for that

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development, do we have an ordinance
that would bring public safety into that

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conversation?
>> Yes.

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» Okay.
>> Uh fire is required to sign off and uh

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comment on any application that comes
before planning board before it could go

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forward. So, we're protected there. and
and batteries are not something that's

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typically associated with with the data
side.

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» I know, but if we're talking about an
industrial site, it seems like any

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development should have a consideration
of what public safety is going to need

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to do the job. And if they need
specialized equipment, it should be the

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responsibility of the developer
to provide that.

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» I I don't disagree. I'm just making the
point that batteries and battery storage

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are not what we're talking about right
this minute. Okay.

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» Um
>> Okay.

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» And as far as water usage,
uh [clears throat]

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the majority of these systems now are
closed loop systems. You fill them, they

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reuse the water over and over with the
exception of they go through a cooling

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tower. So there's some evaporation
process that happens in the cooling

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tower. So you might lose about 5% a week
of your

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2 million 3 million gallons in your
system. I think we're getting into some

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of the technical elements. I I tend to
agree with you on some of it. There are

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other applications though that reported,
you know, waters being dumped out at

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105° that that kills fish that grows
algae. I think there's just in general

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there are
>> technical impact as well as healthbased

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standards that have to be looked at
across the across the board.

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» You know, I don't disagree. I I guess my
question to you, Luke, is how long do

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you think it would take to
[clears throat] draft an ordinance to to

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uh you know, handle some of this?
>> It depends what you're looking for. if

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you're looking for some common sense
noise restrictions, uh, wattage

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restrictions, you know, if you wanted to
limit it to, you know, 75 megawatts or

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100 megawws or something like that, uh,
if you wanted to have, you know, nothing

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louder than 55 dB at the property lines,
um, things like that. I mean, that would

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be easy to write. I could write that and
have it ready for the next planning

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board meeting.
>> Mr. Chair,

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» yeah,
>> I think we're kind of missing my point.

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We don't have the expertise to know what
we need for an ordinance. We would need

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to bring in some technical guidance on
what an ordinance would look like. This

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is these aren't these are new
infrastructure. And we we I think it

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would be
>> I don't think it would be

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wise of us to think that we know what an
ordinance would entail to entail. So I I

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just would be careful of us sort of
assuming that it's just about noise and

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order levels. there's just so much in it
that we don't have the expertise as a

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council or in our current regulation to
even know. Um, so I would hope that an

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ordinance would be a little bit more
than proposing a tweak to something or I

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think
>> Yeah. Yeah.

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» Um,
it's an interesting conversation. I

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think, you know, as councelor Harris
stated and how she's framed it up, um,

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I'm not going to sit here and repeat it
except I will say that I like that

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approach.
I think this council's responsibility in

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a way is to hear proposals
and

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judge them on their own merit. I am not
comparing a data center to a landfill,

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but what I will say is the conversation
that we have had over the last couple

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years about the landfill um that is now
about you know that we're work is

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working to be closed started when the
company that that president owns the

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landfill came to us and looked at
expansion and we agreed to have a

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conversation about that. And then as we
garnered facts and learned what was

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happening and what hadn't happened at
that landfill, we made the appropriate

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decision from that point forward.
I say all that to say that I think when

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we have a conversation about data
centers, it's really easy to have a

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conversation about them in the context
of what's happening at a larger level. I

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would want a conversation about data
centers to be based on the facts at hand

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and hear proposals and and then have
that [clears throat] conversation from

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that point. Now, if we step that back
for a moment, the other thing that I

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would say then is what I think council
her has also done is point out that we

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are not there yet. We are not in a place
to to make that type of judgment or make

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that the type of decision that I think
we would owe the citizens of the town of

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Bucksport. So if I were to be in favor
of a moratorum, it would be for the

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reasons that councelor Hair has outlined
and I would not be in favor of a

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moratorum that in any way conveys that
there is a blanket statement that we are

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just dead set against data centers. We
may be dead set against every proposal

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that's that's be coming to us, but I'm
just saying I want to hear proposals on

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their own merit and decide on them from
there. And I think that's what we're

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elected to do. Um, and that's just where
I am on that.

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» I tend to agree with you, Mr. there. And
I I think

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it's
if someone's going to bring us a

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proposal, couldn't we argue that we'd
need to know what we're looking at to

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give them due diligence?
>> Yep.

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» Yeah. But to you said earlier, councelor
hair, this is not in any way to be anti-

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business, anti- anything or or pro
anything. It's

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» and that's exactly where I am as well.
It's I just want to make sure that we're

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in a position to make the best decision
possible based on the proposals that are

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in front of us at any given time um and
so that we can have the appropriate

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conversation with the citizens of the
[cough] town. [clears throat] I imagine

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just this meeting is going to prompt
further conversation amongst the

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citizens of the town of Bucksport and so
we we'll go from there.

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» Um
but yeah, that's that's my

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» Yeah, I was intentional in not asking
for a ban. Um it's really just to build

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regulation around something that is here
and that Bucksport um is is um aligned

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with what they would need to to put
proposals on our on our um council

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changes. Um so it's really
>> I would just say that

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you can do that. Um
four or five years ago I stood in the

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same spot and was told that we had to
have a solar ordinance or we were going

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to be in huge trouble and we now have
two solar farms in town. We don't have a

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solar ordinance and everything's hunky
dory fine. So I I just worry that we're

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going to scare off somebody and and and
an investor comes in here wanting to do

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one of these. You're talking not
millions, you're talking billions of

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dollars of investment.
>> You're talking about property tax,

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you know, that's been our huge thing for
the last 3 years is how we get our

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property taxes down. This is one way.
And I don't want somebody to go, well,

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Bucksport doesn't want us. We'll look at
these other towns that do.

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» Frankly, if an investor with billions of
dollars said, Bucksport doesn't want us.

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We're bailing because they don't have
they have regulation. we wouldn't want

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them anyway.
>> Regulation's fine, but a moratorum,

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long-term moratorum,
waiting for experts to come in and I

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just don't I just don't think that's
needed. I mean, I've read through the

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the stuff that the state's already
proposed or released from their

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findings. Um, and there's really not a
lot there. Um,

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there's nothing there that really
concerns me. I I think there are some

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things we could put in our land use
ordinance that would protect us, but

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» and these are fluid things. They're
going to change over time for sure.

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» They're going to we're going to have to
I don't think we're going to make an

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ordinance that's going to last for 50
years or anything.

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» The counselor here is attached to our
email. It's kind of a a generalist

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thing. We don't get into how many
megawatts, how many square feet or or

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whatever.
>> You're saying we shouldn't or we don't.

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» No, I I don't think we need it at this
time. the moratorum. You know, there

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there were lots of things when this
thing if if we were to have one in town,

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this thing will turn on and it will not
shut off for 10 years. Okay. The sound

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that is going to be out there in the
decibel levels, some of that sound is

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going to carry for 10 miles. This is
going to be like the power plant down

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here. A lot of technical elements to be
looked at. Not tonight. I'm just saying

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that you know there's all kinds of
things to be included and to be in in a

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general mode right now for the moratorum
if it's only for 90 days or 6 months

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it's I guess we
>> is the goal of the mortorium for an

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ordinance
>> purpose of a moratorum is to put a pause

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on a specific set of circumstances
to allow a municipality to establish

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legislation that addresses that set of
circumstances. ES by state law it can

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moratorum can last initially for 180
days and the community can extend it for

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another 180 days if they are not in a
place where their legislation

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uh has been passed. So, um I don't know
if I would spend a lot of time trying to

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decide how long you want the moratorum
for because you know whether it takes a

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week to come up with an ordinance or it
takes 6 months to come up with an

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ordinance. Once you have one, that
moratorum is essentially repealed and

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the or the legislation that you have
passed is what uh takes place.

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» So I I don't think it's unreasonable to
want to put a pause and allow the town

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time to
look at our ordinance to see what we

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have in place and see if there are any
tweaks that that need to be made. And I

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think that that really is what the um
what your initial request was.

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» I did speak with a Bucks resident um not
not the person who brought it up at

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public comment, a different person who
he built a paper mill out in Utah

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» and has some experience with um this
type of thing and is willing to sort of

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um give a second set of expertise um to
this discussion if the town would want

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it. I I haven't responded to him. Uh but
he said he's offered himself some

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assistance. Um he was part of um anyway
I can't speak intelligently about it. So

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but just if if if um the committee
decides to move this moratorum forward,

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I'm happy to connect council with a
person who has the expertise in this

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type of um infrastructure.
Um he built his own paper mill and had

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sort of exposure to some of this
conversation. Um he's happy to provide

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some guidance as well. [cough]
[clears throat]

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» Anyone else on the council? Go ahead.
>> Um

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I know you the the purpose of this is
not to scare away business and to say

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no. But moratoriums in general do make
businesses think that we're going to be

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fought whether it's data centers or
anything. If they see towns fight every

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00:19:49,919 --> 00:19:58,960
issue,
they're reluctant to enter this area.

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And Maine's property taxes are some of
the highest in the nation. Our electric

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bills are some of the highest in the
nation, especially on the coast, which

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we are considered a wealthy coastal
community. Heating oil right now is like

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580 average a gallon.
budget process. Most people I talk to

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00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:24,640
want to deal with inflation because
everything is going up so fast

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00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:31,440
with business industry revenue rather
than cuts to services. That's the

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consensus of most everybody I talked to.
I think we should move forward

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00:20:32,960 --> 00:20:40,640
immediately with a a common sense
ordinance, but

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I I don't want to do a moratorum and I I
don't think it's puts bucks forward in a

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good light towards business when we
desperately need it.

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» Anyone else?
Anyone from the public? Come on up.

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We'll come

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Don White, Tom Farmer of Foxport, Maine.
Data centers are a big deal. This is

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they're they're monster monster
proposals. They can be um they can

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employ many people in construction
phases.

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They tend not to employ people after
construction but there's issues around

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them that need the as you know the
country right now is struggling with

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data centers that that some people are
some many towns are undergoing the same

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00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:42,080
same conversation whether a moratorum or
not. They can come fast and they can

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come in secrecy that happens many it
happens with me happens with many

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developments.
um they have been studied. The

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University of Michigan has done a study
out there and you could take a look at

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that. Uh but I think the issues that uh
councelor Rabs uh pointed out there are

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they tend to be incredibly noisy and the
the the water systems can go many ways,

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but they they can use an incredible
amount of water. They also can use a

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tremendous amount of electricity, an
amazing amount of electricity. and

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00:22:14,400 --> 00:22:20,960
electricity rates around data centers
tend to go up for residential users.

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That's that's at least that's the
studies I've seen, Ed. I mean, I

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understand that. But I I I just I think
it's a good idea to step back and take

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some time and really take a look at this
because this is not this would not be

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just some small proposal. This would be
a huge proposal. Thank you for your

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00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:40,440
time.

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00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:48,799
Hi. Uh, Brena Youngblood, I live on
London Mill Road. Um, I've attended a

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00:22:47,039 --> 00:22:53,120
few meetings, never spoken. I came
tonight because I saw your moratorum on

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00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:56,480
the um, agenda and I just came to tell
you I could not agree more that we do

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00:22:55,039 --> 00:22:59,600
need to have this. Like, as a resident,
I don't want to live near a data center.

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If we have a data center, I will
consider moving away because the general

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00:23:01,919 --> 00:23:07,919
consensus of residents who live near
data centers is it's awful. Their

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00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:13,200
electricity bills skyrocket. The noise
is atrocious. Their water quality drops

291
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tremendously. And I think that I just
agree entirely that we need to look at

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00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:22,200
it and put a moratorium on it before
somebody does move in and decimate our

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community.

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00:23:27,679 --> 00:23:36,880
» Russell Palmer, I'm Route 46. Um, I
would rise to say that I would prefer

295
00:23:34,320 --> 00:23:41,280
there not be a moratorum, but I don't
have a problem with us being prepared,

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00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:48,880
but I don't see why we have to say no in
advance. Not this time. I agree with Mr.

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00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:52,799
Ranken. It sends a negative message to
the market. These people when they come

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to build these things spend a tremendous
amount of money in advance preparing to

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do this. And if they have any inkling
that they're going to get a really hard

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time, they're not going to come. And the
town, from what I've seen, needs some

301
00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:13,120
business, more business activity than it
has now to help support our expenses.

302
00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:18,000
Um, Senator Kennedy from, I think,
Louisiana was on TV the other night and

303
00:24:15,679 --> 00:24:22,320
he listed off 10 points that were very
good points and that might be worth

304
00:24:19,919 --> 00:24:26,080
researching about you can negotiate in
advance that these data centers provide

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00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:30,159
their own power. They build their own
plants. They do a lot of different

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things and he had a whole list of very
good points and I would say that maybe

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we could start there.
>> Um the other thing is do we have the

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00:24:36,480 --> 00:24:41,360
expertise in the town to write this type
of code?

309
00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:45,360
» I mean I would defer that to the code
enforcement officer. I mean there's lots

310
00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:48,960
of codes out there but ultimately I def
I would hate to see us spend money on

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00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:52,480
like if we end up there on a consultant
to write a code for something we don't

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even have a proposal for.
>> So thank you. Thank you.

313
00:24:55,760 --> 00:25:03,360
» Go ahead.
>> Um, just a couple more things. This site

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has been identified by the state and
other organizations as being ideal for a

315
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data data center because it's already an
industrial site. You've got the the

316
00:25:12,400 --> 00:25:21,960
power plant right there, which if they
worked out a deal, they don't pull from

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00:25:17,279 --> 00:25:21,960
the grid and it helps the power plant.

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This

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» is like an ideal spot for a data center
or industry in general because it's it's

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00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:41,919
all ready to go.
I just I I don't want to see us

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shoot ourselves in the foot before it
ever happens. I because I want to hear

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00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:51,200
proposals, good or bad, we can take them
as they come, but I want to hear

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proposals, not scare it away.
>> I get that.

324
00:25:52,159 --> 00:26:00,880
» Yeah. You think the big question for me
is why does regulation and a moratorum

325
00:25:58,240 --> 00:26:08,000
to make regulation scare a company away
in the first place? If like any company,

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00:26:04,480 --> 00:26:12,960
if you suspect you're going to be fought
and then two communities over says yes,

327
00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:17,919
we'll welcome you.
>> Why would you go through the fight?

328
00:26:15,279 --> 00:26:22,880
» Like Brunswick framing of regulation as
a fight. Big companies are used to big

329
00:26:21,279 --> 00:26:28,080
regulations and having to deal with
that.

330
00:26:24,640 --> 00:26:32,480
» Like Brunswick has been there 15 years
and it's been very successful.

331
00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:34,960
How did the paper mill deal with the
noise in

332
00:26:33,600 --> 00:26:38,159
» It was noisy.
>> It was a conveyor belt that we'd hear

333
00:26:36,799 --> 00:26:40,480
all through town, but but we don't
necessarily want to go back to that

334
00:26:39,200 --> 00:26:43,520
either. I mean,
>> well, this that was before me before I

335
00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:48,159
came here, so I
>> it was just a big conveyor belt that

336
00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:52,039
primarily what you'd hear.
>> Anyone else in the public?

337
00:26:54,000 --> 00:27:00,880
» A George Maximic River Road in Bucksport
here. Um, I would agree that uh a

338
00:26:59,279 --> 00:27:04,480
moratorium would send the wrong message.
I think it's premature. I don't even

339
00:27:02,559 --> 00:27:09,440
know if we can define a data center.
What is a data center? How would you

340
00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:13,120
build a a code around something that you
I don't know if we can define if a

341
00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:17,760
company wanted to come to town and build
a a server bank for an internet service

342
00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:25,360
provider? Is that an internet? I mean,
is that a data center? is um uh if a if

343
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:29,919
a bank wanted to locate a headquarters
here with with servers is that a service

344
00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:36,320
you know is that a data center I don't
know if we can't define I mean can can

345
00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:40,559
anyone define what this moratorum would
actually cover is it a blanket data

346
00:27:38,559 --> 00:27:46,480
center or is it do you actually define
it as something and how can you build a

347
00:27:43,919 --> 00:27:52,320
regulation around that and and I do I
think I agree with council rank it sends

348
00:27:49,679 --> 00:27:56,880
wrong message. Our website says
community history and opportunity and we

349
00:27:54,880 --> 00:28:03,039
need to be looking for opportunity to
expand our tax base and preserve our

350
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services to our citizens and and doing
this is it's the wrong message to send.

351
00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:12,960
We're going to shut the door to to
opportunities that may come along. We we

352
00:28:10,799 --> 00:28:17,279
don't have code in place for a lot of
different kind of businesses. Do we did

353
00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:23,440
we have one for a fish farm or you know
a salmon farm before we started talking

354
00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:27,600
to them or
>> I I agree with you sir. Those are really

355
00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:32,480
good points and it's because we don't
know that I think we should do it.

356
00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:35,760
» But but how do you how do you build a
set of regulations around something that

357
00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:39,279
you can't define?
>> Well, I think I mean Luke, you can speak

358
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:43,600
to this. There's you know there's
ordinances across the country for these.

359
00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:47,120
I mean they've been drafted. I mean, not
all of them have worked, but there's

360
00:28:44,720 --> 00:28:48,480
examples of ordinances in this in the
state,

361
00:28:47,679 --> 00:28:50,960
» right?
>> Yeah.

362
00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:52,960
» But until you have a proposal on the
table,

363
00:28:51,679 --> 00:28:56,360
» that's too late, though, because then
there's no rules.

364
00:28:56,399 --> 00:29:00,559
» There needs to be some rules, right?
>> Well, there could be, but what I'm

365
00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:06,880
saying is we could you could form a
committee and and and explore rules and

366
00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:11,679
and and code without having a moratorum.
>> I mean, I personally would be in favor

367
00:29:08,640 --> 00:29:15,279
of a shorter stay. you know, I
personally wouldn't be in for six

368
00:29:12,880 --> 00:29:20,159
months, but if if our code enforcement
officer says it can be done quicker, you

369
00:29:17,120 --> 00:29:22,960
know, that's one thing. Um,
>> but if if nobody's knocking on the door

370
00:29:22,240 --> 00:29:27,200
yet,
>> but if they knock if they if we have an

371
00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:30,399
application, then we have no ability to
to, you know, to

372
00:29:28,320 --> 00:29:32,960
» really we wouldn't you as a council
wouldn't be able to

373
00:29:31,279 --> 00:29:35,200
» if there's no rules in place, we would
have no rules. There has to be some

374
00:29:34,880 --> 00:29:37,200
rules.
>> There would be no permitting process.

375
00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:41,679
No,
>> I mean, but the particulars of of this

376
00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:45,120
wouldn't have any
>> any rules to them. You know, whether it

377
00:29:43,520 --> 00:29:48,880
be public safety, as I brought up, I
mean, if this center needed specific

378
00:29:47,279 --> 00:29:53,039
public safety equipment, there's no
ordinance that would require them to do

379
00:29:50,720 --> 00:29:56,880
it. If there's no noise ordinance, there
would be no requirement for them to do

380
00:29:54,720 --> 00:30:00,799
it in industrial noise when and same
with light pollution. You know, we could

381
00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:04,240
look at should there be a buffer zone
between the village, you know, could we

382
00:30:02,559 --> 00:30:07,760
designate a buffer zone to keep things
quieter or if it's going to be noisier,

383
00:30:06,000 --> 00:30:11,120
dictate it on the back end or, you know,
put the the area back there. I mean,

384
00:30:10,159 --> 00:30:16,080
there's some different things we could
do, but if we don't have an ordinance,

385
00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:21,679
we would have no no ability to to tell
them no. outside of what we have.

386
00:30:19,039 --> 00:30:25,279
» You couldn't pass one or
>> I mean as a proposal

387
00:30:22,960 --> 00:30:30,320
» be rushed. I mean I would rather have
more time to know what I'm looking at

388
00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:33,760
when a proposal comes. Um rather than
like if the proposal's on the table,

389
00:30:31,919 --> 00:30:36,880
we're sort of reviewing it while the
clock is already ticking. We've got a

390
00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:41,760
business that's already put the effort
in, put the proposal in. I'd rather have

391
00:30:39,600 --> 00:30:46,640
sort of a guardrails in place. So when
businesses do that, it's a smoother

392
00:30:43,279 --> 00:30:50,960
process for for the applicant and a
smoother process for whichever council

393
00:30:48,559 --> 00:30:53,919
seats that proposal and for residents to
have enough public information for

394
00:30:52,399 --> 00:30:58,480
input. It would just give us some guard
rails for a technology that is new to

395
00:30:56,720 --> 00:31:01,919
many small towns in Maine and there's a
lot of there is a lot of ordinance in

396
00:30:59,840 --> 00:31:05,840
Maine that's been drafted by attorneys
by usually by the town's attorneys have

397
00:31:03,840 --> 00:31:10,720
looked them over.
>> I I still think it may close the door.

398
00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:13,279
We we we're at risk closing the door to
opportunity. So,

399
00:31:11,679 --> 00:31:15,840
» but if we get something and we don't,
you know, there's things there that we

400
00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:21,039
really dislike, are we going to have is
that going to be a good proposal?

401
00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:27,600
» You know, noise light or
>> Good question. I don't know. I I don't I

402
00:31:25,679 --> 00:31:33,039
against data centers. I just think that,
you know, the tax base and the and the

403
00:31:30,159 --> 00:31:36,559
potential, you know, um whatever else it
might bring to the town would be

404
00:31:34,480 --> 00:31:42,080
beneficial. You you you make it like we
don't have we have a huge site plan

405
00:31:39,519 --> 00:31:47,039
review ordinance and and application
process that covers light, covers sound,

406
00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:50,640
covers environmental issues, covers all
this stuff. I mean, it's not like we

407
00:31:48,880 --> 00:31:56,080
don't have anything. It isn't specific
to this, but we have all these

408
00:31:54,240 --> 00:32:00,640
regulations in there that the planning
board has to review these things. We did

409
00:31:57,679 --> 00:32:02,399
it with whole oceans and we went through
all of those.

410
00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:06,320
» So, you don't feel there's any
considerations with the data center or

411
00:32:04,640 --> 00:32:09,279
There's a few little tweaks. Like I was
saying, we could put a few things in

412
00:32:07,679 --> 00:32:14,399
there if you wanted to put limits at
property lines for decibb. That's one

413
00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:18,960
thing. We don't have a specific
a specific line item or that kind of

414
00:32:16,720 --> 00:32:25,919
thing. But I just don't see the need for
a whole new, you know, full chapter,

415
00:32:22,720 --> 00:32:30,559
redo the whole land. I mean, it's we
we've got an ordinance that's quite

416
00:32:27,919 --> 00:32:36,480
quite strict.
just not an issue that typically we see.

417
00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:41,600
But
>> um like like he said, we didn't have

418
00:32:38,399 --> 00:32:44,880
anything set aside for aquaarmms
and

419
00:32:43,440 --> 00:32:48,559
we still went through the whole process
and we're going to let them build. Um

420
00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:52,640
and we didn't have decommissioning for
that either. So,

421
00:32:50,799 --> 00:32:55,679
» and we might learn from that, I think.
And the decommissioning might be learned

422
00:32:54,080 --> 00:32:58,399
from the landfill and all the dealing
that there

423
00:32:56,480 --> 00:33:02,000
» suppose, but I feel like a landfill is a
whole different ballgame from

424
00:33:00,559 --> 00:33:05,039
» unless somebody walked away from a data
center 15 years down the road.

425
00:33:03,440 --> 00:33:09,039
» But it's the same as solar, same as
windmill.

426
00:33:06,640 --> 00:33:12,159
» I mean, I think that I think and I I'll
drop it here, but I think that my point

427
00:33:10,559 --> 00:33:16,480
is that
>> our ordinance isn't designed for this

428
00:33:14,640 --> 00:33:19,919
technology because this technology
didn't exist when our ordinance was

429
00:33:18,159 --> 00:33:23,360
created and when many ordinances were
created. And so we don't know what we

430
00:33:21,919 --> 00:33:27,679
don't know. I mean, we're talking about
things we know that need regulation, but

431
00:33:25,279 --> 00:33:32,880
there's other pieces and components to
largecale data centers that have um

432
00:33:30,559 --> 00:33:38,240
regulatory elements that most towns
haven't addressed in code um because

433
00:33:35,279 --> 00:33:42,480
they've this is new technology. And so I
that's but I I can I can drop it there

434
00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:46,000
and leave it to the committee to to do
what they want to do. But um that was

435
00:33:44,159 --> 00:33:51,039
just my point. It's not at all this
making our current code less have less

436
00:33:48,399 --> 00:33:54,559
teeth but it's not built for new
technology and that's what

437
00:33:53,360 --> 00:34:00,240
» anybody else from the public
>> let's mention like that there was

438
00:33:56,320 --> 00:34:05,039
nothing for whole ocean yet
>> there was no no regulation surrounding

439
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:07,919
the fishing up here the whole oceans
farm and stuff unless it hasn't turned

440
00:34:06,640 --> 00:34:10,800
out well right they haven't
>> well I mean there was to Luke's point

441
00:34:09,760 --> 00:34:13,440
there was regulation
>> but like

442
00:34:11,839 --> 00:34:16,000
» but that can't make them we need to hold
these people accountable You can't make

443
00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:19,679
somebody build something.
>> No, no, you absolutely can't. But what?

444
00:34:18,159 --> 00:34:22,720
You sold that lot for a dollar. Nobody
did anything. So now we need to do

445
00:34:21,280 --> 00:34:26,720
something, right? Like this kind of
thing. Like if you're going to buy all

446
00:34:24,720 --> 00:34:29,919
of this, we're going to do regulation.
You need to do something beneficial for

447
00:34:28,079 --> 00:34:32,639
the town. A data center. It'll employ
construction people to put up the

448
00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:37,119
building. When they're done, they employ
what? 8 to 10 people total. That's not

449
00:34:35,440 --> 00:34:39,679
beneficial for us. That's not going to
help.

450
00:34:38,079 --> 00:34:44,320
» We don't know. The people who live in
these communities do know though.

451
00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:47,119
They're living through it. They're
experiencing it. They're against it who

452
00:34:45,839 --> 00:34:50,240
live by them.
>> Well, I mean, I do think there's

453
00:34:48,320 --> 00:34:53,119
different regulatory structures in
Texas. You know, if there's electrical

454
00:34:51,919 --> 00:34:55,839
grids that are different, I mean,
there's some

455
00:34:54,320 --> 00:34:58,960
» Not everything's apples to apples here
cuz the site is different.

456
00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:02,480
» So, like a moratorium would make the
most sense. So, we could pull back.

457
00:35:00,720 --> 00:35:06,000
There are no proposals on the table. So,
we do know what we're doing. We do know

458
00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:11,680
what we're talking about. We do know
what we're taking on here. I think it's

459
00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:14,320
not fair.
Go ahead. I'd

460
00:35:12,480 --> 00:35:18,640
» like to make a motion, Mr. Chair. Sure.
Uh before I make that motion, I would

461
00:35:16,400 --> 00:35:23,520
just say that it seems like there's a
varying opinion in the room, but

462
00:35:21,040 --> 00:35:27,599
particularly on the council as well. Uh
so I I think it would behoove the

463
00:35:25,440 --> 00:35:31,680
council to to move this to council for
the for the sake of having a

464
00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:36,480
conversation amongst the entire group,
especially where we have someone um

465
00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:40,640
absent this evening. So I won't add any
further editorialization

466
00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:44,400
about my opinion on this um to that
motion except to say I just want to move

467
00:35:42,240 --> 00:35:48,960
it to council so that the entire council
has an opportunity to discuss that. And

468
00:35:47,119 --> 00:35:53,440
if in the meantime before our next
meeting if there is an ordinance drafted

469
00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:58,480
and we're at a place where we're
comfortable with that great but I'm just

470
00:35:55,839 --> 00:36:02,960
I'm just saying I'm I'm offering a
motion and a rational as to why I think

471
00:36:00,960 --> 00:36:07,119
the entire council should have a go at
this. Council R.

472
00:36:06,560 --> 00:36:14,400
» Second.
>> Okay, we have a motion and a second. All

473
00:36:08,720 --> 00:36:18,240
in favor? Opposed? Motion passes. Uh,
need a motion for number four, I think.

474
00:36:16,560 --> 00:36:22,359
» Motion to adjourn.
>> Second.

475
00:36:18,960 --> 00:36:22,359
» All in favor?

476
00:36:24,320 --> 00:36:27,640
» Okay, that

477
00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:37,680
services committee meeting. All right.
Call to order.

478
00:36:34,800 --> 00:36:41,359
Council the not here. Mayor Besinette
will be

479
00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:44,960
councelor Dodie
>> here.

480
00:36:41,920 --> 00:36:50,640
» And then council ranking here.
Uh item C, selecting three members of

481
00:36:48,720 --> 00:36:56,720
the town council to serve as the fair
hearing authority for general assistance

482
00:36:52,480 --> 00:37:00,475
to satisfy resolve 2027-21.
Can we get some clarification?

483
00:36:58,240 --> 00:37:03,599
» Yes, Mr. Chair. Uh this is
[clears throat] a an item that's

484
00:37:02,000 --> 00:37:09,839
required under our general assistance
ordinance. Uh we actually should be

485
00:37:06,400 --> 00:37:13,520
doing this on a yearly basis. Um fair
hearings are something that occur that

486
00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:18,800
an applicant can occur when the town
denies them from general assistance. Uh

487
00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:23,040
the last fair hearing that the town had
was in 2011.

488
00:37:21,040 --> 00:37:28,800
So that tells you that this doesn't
happen very often, which is why I think

489
00:37:25,200 --> 00:37:34,079
that uh there hasn't been a lot of of of
um emphasis on appointing members on a

490
00:37:31,040 --> 00:37:37,760
yearly basis. Uh we recently had a case
where it was a possibility of a fair

491
00:37:36,240 --> 00:37:44,160
hearing, which is what kind of sparked
this conversation. So um that's all that

492
00:37:40,720 --> 00:37:49,760
this is. What we would do is these three
individuals would act as the hearing

493
00:37:47,760 --> 00:37:54,720
until the end of December until a new
council's sworn in and then it the fair

494
00:37:52,480 --> 00:38:00,079
hearing authority would become a part of
your annual uh council committee

495
00:37:58,480 --> 00:38:03,520
appointments when you appoint your
services and infrastructure and and

496
00:38:02,079 --> 00:38:09,359
those this would just be another
committee on that list. So

497
00:38:07,040 --> 00:38:13,920
» So do you want to
I mean everybody's here tonight. Do you

498
00:38:11,280 --> 00:38:20,000
want to select now or do you want to
just move this to council in 15 minutes?

499
00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:24,640
» I think the easiest thing to do is if
there are volunteers

500
00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:29,440
who are willing to serve, it might be
easy just to identify them uh and you

501
00:38:27,920 --> 00:38:33,720
could make that recommendation to the
council.

502
00:38:30,400 --> 00:38:33,720
» I'll volunteer.

503
00:38:35,440 --> 00:38:41,760
» I'll do it.
>> I'll I'll do it, too.

504
00:38:38,640 --> 00:38:46,000
» Okay. All right. We have uh
Deputy Mayor Eastman, Council Dodie,

505
00:38:44,079 --> 00:38:49,599
Council Ranken.
Do I have a motion to suggest that to

506
00:38:48,000 --> 00:38:53,200
council?
>> Anybody other than me?

507
00:38:51,599 --> 00:38:58,400
» Uh, so moved.
>> Do I have a second?

508
00:38:57,440 --> 00:39:00,640
» Second.
>> Well, you can.

509
00:39:00,000 --> 00:39:03,200
» It's fine.
>> Okay.

510
00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:08,960
» I have a motion and a second. All in
favor?

511
00:39:05,599 --> 00:39:15,160
All right. Have a motion to adjurnn.
So moved.

512
00:39:10,960 --> 00:39:15,160
» Motion and a second. All in favor.

513
00:39:16,560 --> 00:39:22,560
Moving right along. Good evening
everyone. Uh call a regular council

514
00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:26,160
meeting to order for September the 10th.
Uh just a couple of housekeeping things

515
00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:31,200
that I tend to do, but we have a full
room, so I'll add one to that. Uh if you

516
00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:35,280
do plan to speak, as you've observed in
committee, uh please come to the podium,

517
00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:38,800
state your name and address. Uh if your
cell phone is on, this would be a great

518
00:39:36,720 --> 00:39:42,800
time to s uh put it on silent or vibrate
or whatever you need to do. Um and there

519
00:39:41,040 --> 00:39:46,400
are microphones all throughout the room.
So if you whisper something to the

520
00:39:44,480 --> 00:39:50,560
person next to you, there's a very good
chance it will be heard on YouTube. I

521
00:39:48,880 --> 00:39:55,680
just want to make sure everyone's aware
of the status of the room. All right.

522
00:39:53,920 --> 00:39:59,200
Uh roll call. Lindsay
>> Mayor Eastman

523
00:39:56,400 --> 00:40:01,680
» here. Councilman here. Councelor Hair
>> here. Mayor

524
00:40:00,560 --> 00:40:04,000
» here. Councelor Raz
>> here. Councelor Dodie

525
00:40:02,800 --> 00:40:09,119
» here. Council
>> here. Thank you. Council Tarian is

526
00:40:06,160 --> 00:40:12,960
excused. Yep. Thank you. Uh
presentations and town council

527
00:40:10,880 --> 00:40:18,160
recognitions. We do not have it in this
evening. Uh consideration of minutes of

528
00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:22,240
our previous meetings. Uh we have one
and that's from our uh last meeting on

529
00:40:20,079 --> 00:40:24,079
August the 27th. That was included in
your packet.

530
00:40:23,200 --> 00:40:27,119
» Motion to approve.
>> Second.

531
00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:32,280
» Questions or comments?
All those in favor?

532
00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:32,280
you

533
00:40:32,480 --> 00:40:37,760
uh reports, documents and
correspondents. We have your monthly uh

534
00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:41,520
departmental reports uh that were
included in your packet. Any

535
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:45,000
conversation uh comments or conversation
I guess on those?

536
00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:53,599
Uh as well, we have uh the uh report
from the Verona Island Police Call on

537
00:40:50,960 --> 00:40:59,160
August the 29th this year. Any
questions?

538
00:40:56,160 --> 00:40:59,160
Right.

539
00:40:59,680 --> 00:41:07,040
We don't have any discussion items.
We don't have any public hearings.

540
00:41:05,040 --> 00:41:12,000
We do not have any new ordinances to
consider. We do have agenda items,

541
00:41:08,640 --> 00:41:15,359
however. Uh the first is resolve 2027-
17 approving a memorandum of

542
00:41:14,160 --> 00:41:20,400
understanding between the town of
Bucksport and Teamsters Local Union

543
00:41:17,200 --> 00:41:26,560
number 340 regarding the public works
seasonal schedule. Jacob.

544
00:41:23,359 --> 00:41:35,119
» Yes. This is a an item that extends the
public works department's 4-day schedule

545
00:41:30,240 --> 00:41:39,520
um until the the 1st of November. Um
staff, we don't have any issues with

546
00:41:37,280 --> 00:41:46,359
this. We kind of view this as a positive
tool for employee recruitment and

547
00:41:41,920 --> 00:41:46,359
employee retention. So,

548
00:41:47,119 --> 00:41:54,400
» no further details in everyone's packet,
but any questions?

549
00:41:51,359 --> 00:42:01,359
» Motion to approve. Second.
>> Second. All those in favor opposed. You

550
00:41:59,359 --> 00:42:07,520
» resolve 2027-18
authorizing the sale of surplus highway

551
00:42:03,359 --> 00:42:10,160
equipment to the highest biders.
The council like to proceed.

552
00:42:09,119 --> 00:42:12,400
» Motion to approve.
>> Second.

553
00:42:11,040 --> 00:42:16,319
» Move and second. Any questions or
comments?

554
00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:20,160
» You're good with this.
>> Okay.

555
00:42:18,319 --> 00:42:27,760
» Any other questions or comments or
thumbs up?

556
00:42:22,400 --> 00:42:32,720
All those in favor opposed. Thank you.
Uh resolve 2027-9

557
00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:35,839
accepting the resignation of Linda P
from the conservation committee.

558
00:42:34,640 --> 00:42:38,720
» Motion to accept.
>> Second

559
00:42:37,359 --> 00:42:42,720
move and second. Any questions or
comments?

560
00:42:40,400 --> 00:42:47,359
Certainly wanted do want to thank for
her service on that committee.

561
00:42:46,079 --> 00:42:52,040
» There are no other comments. All those
in favor? Thank you.

562
00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:59,760
And what a great number I know of you
are here for. Uh, resolve 2027-20

563
00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:02,800
confirming the town manager's
appointment of David Winchester as

564
00:43:01,280 --> 00:43:06,640
public safety director effective
September the 10th, 2026.

565
00:43:05,040 --> 00:43:10,640
» Motion to confirm.
>> Second.

566
00:43:07,680 --> 00:43:16,240
» Second. Comments.
I would just add it's uh a privilege of

567
00:43:13,040 --> 00:43:20,640
mine to make this recommendation and on
deputy chief Winchester's appointment.

568
00:43:18,400 --> 00:43:26,640
Uh David's in his 26 year of employment
with the town. He's spent the last seven

569
00:43:23,680 --> 00:43:34,040
uh leading our police department. Uh and
there's no question in my mind that he

570
00:43:28,560 --> 00:43:34,040
is the the right person for the job. So

571
00:43:34,079 --> 00:43:39,760
» comments
we do have a motion in a second. All

572
00:43:37,520 --> 00:43:42,760
those in favor
you

573
00:43:50,160 --> 00:43:55,680
and even though I thank you for
reminding me because even though I wrote

574
00:43:53,520 --> 00:43:59,359
yes I wrote big letters next to this
agenda items. We're swearing in. So

575
00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:03,000
we're going to be swearing in our new
public safety director.

576
00:44:04,400 --> 00:44:08,560
» Okay. I state your hand. I, David
Winchester,

577
00:44:07,520 --> 00:44:11,280
» do solemnly swear
>> do solemnly swear

578
00:44:09,520 --> 00:44:14,079
» that I will support the Constitution
>> and I will support the Constitution

579
00:44:12,800 --> 00:44:15,839
» and will obey the laws
>> and obey the laws

580
00:44:14,880 --> 00:44:17,599
» of the United States
>> of the United States

581
00:44:16,560 --> 00:44:19,359
» and of the state of Maine
>> and of the state of Maine

582
00:44:18,480 --> 00:44:20,880
» and that I will
>> and I will

583
00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:22,800
» in all respects
>> in all respects

584
00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:25,359
» observe the provisions
>> observe the provisions

585
00:44:23,760 --> 00:44:27,680
» of the charters and ordinances
>> of the charters and ordinances

586
00:44:26,640 --> 00:44:30,240
» of the town of Oxport
>> of the town of Oxport

587
00:44:28,640 --> 00:44:32,480
» and will faithfully discharge
>> faithfully discharge

588
00:44:31,119 --> 00:44:35,040
» the duties of the office
>> the duties of the office

589
00:44:33,520 --> 00:44:39,480
» of public safety director
>> public safety director This hand box

590
00:44:44,875 --> 00:44:46,895
[applause]

591
00:44:55,356 --> 00:44:57,376
[applause]

592
00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:05,880
» and no blood was drawn.

593
00:45:07,520 --> 00:45:13,599
Yeah, I will give everyone a moment. I
know a lot of you are here for that.

594
00:45:12,000 --> 00:45:19,839
I'll give everyone a couple minutes. If
you would like to leave, it's certainly

595
00:45:17,040 --> 00:45:23,640
can with no harm, no foul. You're also
more than welcome to stay.

596
00:45:50,880 --> 00:45:57,200
Thank you everyone. Uh resolve 2027-21
appointing three members of the town

597
00:45:55,520 --> 00:46:00,319
council to serve as the fair hearing
authority for general assistance. The

598
00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:04,560
names that were forwarded from the
committee were uh councelor Rankin,

599
00:46:02,720 --> 00:46:08,000
councelor Dhoni, and deputy mayor
Eastman. How the council like to

600
00:46:06,960 --> 00:46:12,640
proceed?
>> Motion to approve.

601
00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:18,800
» Second move. Second. Questions,
comments? All those in favor?

602
00:46:16,240 --> 00:46:22,640
You
>> resolve 2027-22

603
00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:25,200
approving the liquor license renewal for
the Alamo Theater.

604
00:46:24,160 --> 00:46:28,640
» Motion to approve.
>> Second.

605
00:46:25,760 --> 00:46:33,720
» Questions or comments?
All those in favor

606
00:46:30,720 --> 00:46:33,720
you

607
00:46:34,800 --> 00:46:40,319
result 2027-23
approving a festival/public

608
00:46:38,720 --> 00:46:44,400
entertainment license for the 11th
annual parade of lights and fireworks

609
00:46:42,560 --> 00:46:49,040
sponsored by Seabard Federal Credit
Union and Buckports Wednesdays on

610
00:46:46,560 --> 00:46:52,720
demand.
>> Motion to approve.

611
00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:57,119
» Second and second. Any questions or
comments on that?

612
00:46:54,800 --> 00:47:00,880
Wonderful news and thank you to the
credit union as well as Wednesday. So

613
00:46:58,880 --> 00:47:04,240
made
there are no additional comments. How uh

614
00:47:02,880 --> 00:47:10,560
we have a motion to second. All those in
favor you

615
00:47:08,480 --> 00:47:14,720
uh resolve 2027-24
authorizing the town manager to execute

616
00:47:12,800 --> 00:47:20,640
agreements with Maine Water Company and
Bugsport Generation LLC pending a town

617
00:47:17,920 --> 00:47:25,040
referendum.
>> How would the council like to proceed?

618
00:47:22,720 --> 00:47:28,000
» Motion to approve. Second.
>> Motion is a second. I will turn it over

619
00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:33,760
to you.
>> Uh yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Uh Town

620
00:47:30,560 --> 00:47:41,520
Attorney Dave Battell is on the call uh
this evening. Um this agenda item is the

621
00:47:37,040 --> 00:47:47,200
result of many months of work uh as uh
by Mr. Latell and and others. So, he's

622
00:47:45,119 --> 00:47:52,800
here tonight to give uh just a brief
overview of uh what this agenda item

623
00:47:49,760 --> 00:47:58,680
entails and to uh answer any questions
that the council of the public has. So,

624
00:47:55,680 --> 00:47:58,680
David,

625
00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:06,480
» thank you, Town Manager Gran and uh
members of the council. I um we've

626
00:48:04,560 --> 00:48:10,560
reviewed because these are interests in
real estate. We've reviewed them already

627
00:48:08,480 --> 00:48:14,800
in executive session, but happy to
answer any questions and I'll give a

628
00:48:12,400 --> 00:48:20,480
brief brief overview for the members of
the public here and others um that will

629
00:48:17,520 --> 00:48:24,480
help orient them. Um as was noted in the
introduction of the resolution, this

630
00:48:22,400 --> 00:48:30,240
this resolution would authorize a town
manager to enter into these agreements

631
00:48:27,440 --> 00:48:35,440
or accept these agreements um only after
a town vote. So, they're contingent.

632
00:48:32,800 --> 00:48:40,480
This isn't final. This is contingent on
a town vote. And the three um agreements

633
00:48:38,713 --> 00:48:44,800
[clears throat] are a revised water
easement, which right now is structured

634
00:48:42,880 --> 00:48:50,000
to be entered into between Bucksport
Mill and Bucksport Generation. It's a

635
00:48:47,200 --> 00:48:56,240
very complex long document about 70
pages because it was created when the

636
00:48:54,319 --> 00:49:00,640
when the bug sport generation facility
was sold off and there's a lot in it

637
00:48:58,319 --> 00:49:05,599
that needed to be updated to reflect the
current reality of the situation and

638
00:49:02,800 --> 00:49:11,760
frankly to put in a position where we
could recommend as your town attorneys

639
00:49:08,240 --> 00:49:16,720
that you accept the dam property subject
to the requirements in that easement.

640
00:49:14,880 --> 00:49:20,240
um because easements are interested and
property. So unlike contracts, if you

641
00:49:18,640 --> 00:49:25,680
accept the property, you accept the
obligations that you get um that go

642
00:49:23,200 --> 00:49:31,040
along with the property. So that is the
document with Bugport generation, but

643
00:49:28,319 --> 00:49:36,720
the after a transfer were to occur from
the current dam owners to the town, then

644
00:49:33,599 --> 00:49:40,800
that easement would bind the town. Um
second document is similar. It's a

645
00:49:38,880 --> 00:49:45,920
revision of what's called the the
indenture. Um the indentured is a

646
00:49:43,599 --> 00:49:52,480
100year-old dock and it more or less was
entered into the 1930s when the um dam

647
00:49:50,720 --> 00:49:56,400
arrangement was set up with the then
Bucksport Water Company which is now

648
00:49:54,559 --> 00:50:01,839
owned with and is a division of the main
water company. And that also updates the

649
00:49:59,599 --> 00:50:05,200
indenture terms to be something that we
can recommend that you enter into. And

650
00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:11,599
and like the other document, it would
bind the town once the town accepts

651
00:50:08,880 --> 00:50:18,400
ownership of the dam. And the third
document is an operations contract which

652
00:50:14,240 --> 00:50:24,240
is broadly speaking the um what the
water company has agreed to do

653
00:50:20,079 --> 00:50:29,119
voluntarily um in for routine services
at no charge to the town in

654
00:50:27,119 --> 00:50:32,559
consideration for the town being willing
to take over the dam and operate it

655
00:50:32,029 --> 00:50:36,880
[clears throat]
and own it. So those are the three

656
00:50:34,720 --> 00:50:42,720
documents. Happy to answer any questions
on them. Um, and the other issue I'd

657
00:50:39,920 --> 00:50:47,040
just touch on is that since um since the
last sort of meetings and updates, we

658
00:50:45,200 --> 00:50:53,920
haven't heard anything from Bucksport
Mill. Um, so no further negotiations

659
00:50:50,640 --> 00:50:58,800
have occurred. The main D, which is
still considering the pending petition

660
00:50:55,760 --> 00:51:05,760
to abandon these dams, has issued a
revised letter giving the owner of all

661
00:51:02,720 --> 00:51:09,680
three dams uh an opportunity to finish
the conveyances of the other two dams to

662
00:51:08,160 --> 00:51:14,880
the watershed districts that have been
set up. Those dams are outside the town

663
00:51:11,359 --> 00:51:18,400
of Bucksport. Um and ask for a final
report by the beginning of November for

664
00:51:16,720 --> 00:51:25,160
it to make its decision on what it will
do on the petition. So that's where the

665
00:51:20,880 --> 00:51:25,160
overall matter sits.

666
00:51:26,720 --> 00:51:30,440
» Questions from the council

667
00:51:30,559 --> 00:51:37,920
» public.
I think the important thing to note here

668
00:51:34,319 --> 00:51:44,680
is this is the last four words of this
um resolve or pending a town um

669
00:51:41,680 --> 00:51:44,680
referendum.

670
00:51:47,200 --> 00:51:54,760
But regardless, we do have a motion and
a second. I want to make sure. Any

671
00:51:50,319 --> 00:51:54,760
questions for Mr. Lutell before we

672
00:51:54,800 --> 00:51:59,200
» No. Thank you. Thank you.
>> Thank you, David, for all your work on

673
00:51:58,079 --> 00:52:05,119
this.
>> Oh, I

674
00:52:00,800 --> 00:52:10,800
» Thank you. Hang on. Sorry.
Yes, ma'am.

675
00:52:07,839 --> 00:52:16,240
» Because a lot of this
>> feedback um

676
00:52:13,599 --> 00:52:22,160
» appropriate 70
squelch me somewhere.

677
00:52:18,640 --> 00:52:28,079
I'm getting echalleia. Um,
>> at some point will there be a dumbed

678
00:52:24,720 --> 00:52:32,160
down 70page document for us to get a
feel for

679
00:52:30,240 --> 00:52:34,079
all the implications of all this? I'm
hoping.

680
00:52:33,119 --> 00:52:34,960
» Yes.
>> Yes.

681
00:52:34,559 --> 00:52:36,960
» Okay.
>> Yeah.

682
00:52:35,440 --> 00:52:43,480
» That was my question.
>> Okay. Good.

683
00:52:40,160 --> 00:52:43,480
» Anything else?

684
00:52:47,599 --> 00:52:56,240
Uh Nancy Minet, I live in Luxport. Um I
didn't really understand anything that

685
00:52:53,839 --> 00:53:01,040
he spoke of. So those last four words
that it would be pending a town

686
00:52:57,760 --> 00:53:06,640
referendum is quite scary to me because
I would have no idea unless it could be

687
00:53:03,119 --> 00:53:11,680
put in lay people's terms like what
where. So I would really encourage

688
00:53:08,160 --> 00:53:16,960
something that is in a language that you
know the population

689
00:53:13,520 --> 00:53:20,800
» except for all you wise folks um could
understand

690
00:53:17,920 --> 00:53:24,640
» and that would be more for when
everything comes to conclusion. Correct.

691
00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:28,000
» It won't be November. Correct. I mean
that's correct.

692
00:53:26,400 --> 00:53:31,599
» Okay.
>> Thank you.

693
00:53:29,599 --> 00:53:37,280
» Thanks
>> David. Maybe if you took just a minute

694
00:53:34,480 --> 00:53:42,240
in in your capacity and explained what
the purpose of this resolve is this

695
00:53:39,280 --> 00:53:48,079
evening, what we're accomplishing by um
taking action on this resolve tonight.

696
00:53:45,839 --> 00:53:53,040
» Thank you. And yeah, I should have said,
don't hesitate to slow me down or ask me

697
00:53:50,640 --> 00:53:59,440
to explain anything in more detail.
We've spent months

698
00:53:55,359 --> 00:54:03,920
with these documents and um they're they
you know there's a lot there. They're

699
00:54:01,359 --> 00:54:09,040
complex. So, please don't hesitate and
I'll try to do better in in putting

700
00:54:06,000 --> 00:54:13,920
these things into like non-legal ease.
Um, the purpose of this resolve is

701
00:54:11,440 --> 00:54:18,640
really to make it clear to all parties
that we've reached fundamental agreement

702
00:54:16,319 --> 00:54:22,480
on the documents with the other two
parties

703
00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:27,839
who we would be left with after
Bucksport Mill abandons the dams. And

704
00:54:25,040 --> 00:54:32,640
the other two parties in Bxport for
Silver Lake Dam would be Bucksport

705
00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:37,520
Generation and Main Water Company
together with the town. These are the

706
00:54:34,720 --> 00:54:43,280
three company the three entities two
companies and the town that have an

707
00:54:39,119 --> 00:54:47,440
interest in continuing to manage the dam
to ensure that there's water supply and

708
00:54:45,040 --> 00:54:51,359
that the hazard posed by the the dam
which is a high considered a high hazard

709
00:54:49,359 --> 00:54:57,920
dam by the main emergency management
agency continues to be maintained and

710
00:54:55,040 --> 00:55:02,480
operated. Um and the you know other
important part of this is that there's

711
00:55:00,480 --> 00:55:07,359
there's money involved because it's a
substantial obligation that would be

712
00:55:04,079 --> 00:55:13,200
taken on. So we had an agreement from a
verbal agreement that um the current dam

713
00:55:10,240 --> 00:55:17,920
owner would provide funding for
operations and maintenance for a certain

714
00:55:15,040 --> 00:55:21,680
number of years. That agreement hasn't
been nailed down yet. And that's one of

715
00:55:19,520 --> 00:55:28,400
the reasons why we've gone to pains to
say that this is um in other words we we

716
00:55:26,079 --> 00:55:32,880
said current dam owner please sign on
the dotted line and they have not done

717
00:55:30,800 --> 00:55:36,960
so. So that's one of the reasons we're
emphasizing that this would be subject

718
00:55:34,559 --> 00:55:42,480
to a further town vote is that we're not
ready, I I think to recommend that the

719
00:55:40,160 --> 00:55:47,280
town enter into these documents until we
get a commitment on the financial

720
00:55:44,319 --> 00:55:52,400
resources that'll be there for the town
to manage the dam. So with that sort of

721
00:55:50,640 --> 00:55:57,520
background that we're not ready. The
purpose of this vote and making it

722
00:55:54,000 --> 00:56:03,440
contingent on a further town vote is to
make it clear to the other two parties

723
00:56:01,498 --> 00:56:09,280
[snorts] that have spent a lot of time
negotiating these documents with us as

724
00:56:06,240 --> 00:56:13,520
well as current dam owners that we we're
we're in agreement. We're ready to go.

725
00:56:11,680 --> 00:56:18,000
We've spent the better part of the
summer negotiating these documents and

726
00:56:15,839 --> 00:56:22,640
we're ready to go. But also the sort of
the subscript, if you will, of that is

727
00:56:21,040 --> 00:56:27,280
that we hope to have it on the ballot
this this November, but we've run out of

728
00:56:25,119 --> 00:56:31,119
time. So now we're hoping to have it on
the ballot next November, and we need

729
00:56:29,040 --> 00:56:36,559
all of these parties to work together to
make that happen.

730
00:56:34,400 --> 00:56:41,200
Um, town manager Grant, do you have
anything else? You've been

731
00:56:38,480 --> 00:56:46,440
» sort of directing us if I forgot
important.

732
00:56:42,079 --> 00:56:46,440
» No, I think you've summarized it well.

733
00:56:51,040 --> 00:57:00,160
I'm resisting the urge to say too much.
except I I will say this and Nancy your

734
00:56:58,319 --> 00:57:05,440
point is an extremely valid one and what
I would say is this action tonight

735
00:57:02,480 --> 00:57:10,000
another thing that it conveys and David
please feel free to correct me if I get

736
00:57:07,040 --> 00:57:14,720
this incorrect um which is totally not
out of the realm of possibility but it's

737
00:57:12,160 --> 00:57:20,079
showing that there are parties that are
for lack of a better word playing ball

738
00:57:16,480 --> 00:57:26,240
here and perhaps others that aren't and
so by taking this action it basically is

739
00:57:22,480 --> 00:57:30,720
saying we're playing ball with parties
>> and that there are other parties that

740
00:57:28,000 --> 00:57:35,920
perhaps aren't
at that point right now. And so that's

741
00:57:33,280 --> 00:57:38,960
that's another reason why we're doing
this this evening. But

742
00:57:36,960 --> 00:57:41,119
» and that was helpful. His summary right
then y

743
00:57:39,760 --> 00:57:46,079
» was helpful.
>> Yep. But in order obviously um and I

744
00:57:44,160 --> 00:57:50,880
don't mean that because your question is
a great is a great one and and it's this

745
00:57:48,880 --> 00:57:54,720
would need to be boiled down into lay
person's terms so that the average

746
00:57:52,480 --> 00:58:00,710
taxpayer knows all right what are we
getting ourselves into here and what

747
00:57:56,400 --> 00:58:05,760
what what's the good the bad the ugly y
[clears throat]

748
00:58:02,640 --> 00:58:10,880
» I mean these are hard negotiations the
the valuable parts of a mill property

749
00:58:08,720 --> 00:58:16,000
have been sold off right so this is a
liability ility. So

750
00:58:14,000 --> 00:58:18,880
they're hard and I would say if it's
fair to say not between us but between

751
00:58:17,760 --> 00:58:24,720
some of the parties they've been
downright hostile. So we do need all of

752
00:58:21,680 --> 00:58:29,280
the parties to cooperate and getting us
across the finish line. We can't do this

753
00:58:27,040 --> 00:58:33,599
without all four parties including the
current DA owner cooperating and

754
00:58:31,359 --> 00:58:39,440
honoring their verbal obligations. So we
hope they come back to the table and

755
00:58:36,079 --> 00:58:45,440
play ball to use the chairman's terms.
Any

756
00:58:42,319 --> 00:58:48,079
other questions or comments? Mr. M.
>> Thank you.

757
00:58:46,880 --> 00:58:54,079
» I'm going to make you come up here
again. [laughter]

758
00:58:50,480 --> 00:58:58,559
» I just going to say another qu
clarification that was important was to

759
00:58:56,000 --> 00:59:01,520
know that the slippage is such that this
won't make this November, which was part

760
00:59:00,559 --> 00:59:03,920
of my concern.
>> Y

761
00:59:02,000 --> 00:59:05,520
» and we hope it'll make it by next
November.

762
00:59:04,640 --> 00:59:09,240
» Correct. Yep.
>> Thank you.

763
00:59:06,240 --> 00:59:09,240
» Absolutely.

764
00:59:12,240 --> 00:59:18,480
We do have a motion to second. All those
in favor opposed. Thank you.

765
00:59:17,680 --> 00:59:20,400
» Thank you, David.
>> Thank you, David.

766
00:59:19,839 --> 00:59:26,079
» Thank you.
>> Thank you all.

767
00:59:23,119 --> 00:59:29,760
» Uh and our last agenda item this evening
or last result for consideration is

768
00:59:27,760 --> 00:59:33,599
result 2027-25
authorizing the sale of surplus

769
00:59:31,440 --> 00:59:37,280
ambulance equipment.
>> Most to approve.

770
00:59:34,640 --> 00:59:42,520
» Second. any commentary there or
>> I was hoping it would be more but we're

771
00:59:39,520 --> 00:59:42,520
good

772
00:59:42,960 --> 00:59:45,960
proceed.

773
00:59:46,240 --> 00:59:53,920
» Can I just ask the chief? I thought we
were one of the considerations we had

774
00:59:50,480 --> 00:59:57,760
was to take the box off of this one and
keep it towards moving with a new

775
00:59:56,000 --> 01:00:01,359
chassis when the next ambulance came
about or is that

776
00:59:58,720 --> 01:00:07,839
» correct? Just not the ideas. Pardon me.
>> That was one of the ideas. Okay. So but

777
01:00:06,000 --> 01:00:15,520
» okay thanks
>> at this point it say

778
01:00:11,920 --> 01:00:22,160
it and proceed with sale
>> more money be made it

779
01:00:18,960 --> 01:00:24,960
that way
>> no

780
01:00:23,040 --> 01:00:31,599
» no
more money no I don't believe so

781
01:00:28,880 --> 01:00:35,839
any other questions or comments all in
favor opposed

782
01:00:34,079 --> 01:00:41,280
you.
The town manager report.

783
01:00:38,319 --> 01:00:46,000
» Uh the town has formally notified
Greenhead Greenhead lobster of ongoing

784
01:00:43,440 --> 01:00:50,880
sewer ordinance violations
uh that uh regarding excessive

785
01:00:48,319 --> 01:00:55,440
biochemical oxygen demand and total
suspended solids in their discharge. Um

786
01:00:54,000 --> 01:01:00,559
because their effluent is currently
consuming at times up to 70% of the of

787
01:00:58,480 --> 01:01:05,599
the treatment plant's total loading
capacity, um the town will be issuing a

788
01:01:03,200 --> 01:01:09,119
special agreement with them this fall.
And that agreement will mandate that

789
01:01:07,119 --> 01:01:14,400
Greenhead implement uh pre-treatment
improvements and conduct weekly testing

790
01:01:11,839 --> 01:01:19,119
um prior to the start of uh the spring
2027 season.

791
01:01:17,359 --> 01:01:23,920
The town did not receive any bids for
the sale of 206 Upper Long Pond Road. Uh

792
01:01:22,319 --> 01:01:29,040
staff will bring this item back to an
upcoming council agenda along with a

793
01:01:26,000 --> 01:01:32,000
recommendation for next steps. Uh just
another reminder, I said it last

794
01:01:30,559 --> 01:01:36,319
meeting, but I'll say it again that the
transfer station's operating hours will

795
01:01:33,680 --> 01:01:40,720
change effective October 3rd. Uh the
transfer station will be open Saturday

796
01:01:38,079 --> 01:01:44,799
through Tuesday from 7:00 to 5:00 and
will be closed Wednesday through Friday.

797
01:01:43,040 --> 01:01:50,880
Uh and along those lines, we have
started advertising for a uh PDM as

798
01:01:48,640 --> 01:01:55,760
needed attendant uh that's intended to
provide coverage uh during vacant

799
01:01:53,359 --> 01:02:00,960
shifts. And finally, the filing deadline
for the town council and school board uh

800
01:01:58,480 --> 01:02:05,280
nomination papers passed last week. Five
candidates will appear on the November

801
01:02:02,720 --> 01:02:09,839
ballot. Uh that is Ralph Chapman, Mark
Eastman, and John Goss for town council

802
01:02:07,359 --> 01:02:16,480
for two open seats on the council and
Abigail Foster, and Jamie Grandmason for

803
01:02:12,799 --> 01:02:20,799
two open uh school board seats. Uh and
I've reached out to a couple local

804
01:02:18,960 --> 01:02:26,240
nonprofits regarding scheduling a
candidates forum. Uh and that is in the

805
01:02:23,920 --> 01:02:31,200
works and we should have more details on
that in the coming weeks. That's all

806
01:02:28,960 --> 01:02:34,760
that I have. Jacob, any questions or
comments for the town?

807
01:02:37,680 --> 01:02:42,119
Yes, Mr. Palmer, I believe.

808
01:02:42,720 --> 01:02:50,480
» Um, again, as I stated before, I have a
property on Route 46, uh, that happens

809
01:02:47,920 --> 01:02:55,200
to share two roads. One is the upper
Long Pond Road, and obviously Route 46

810
01:02:52,799 --> 01:03:01,760
is where I enter my property. Um,
neighbors with Anthony and some other

811
01:02:58,240 --> 01:03:06,480
folks up there. Um, Mr. Rotella, I
believe, had was mentioned in an article

812
01:03:04,240 --> 01:03:11,440
that I I rarely read articles all the
way through. Um, but I was interested in

813
01:03:09,200 --> 01:03:15,520
the sale of the 206 property, which I
understand didn't happen. U, but at the

814
01:03:13,920 --> 01:03:19,839
very end of the article, there was a
recommendation that he has put in to

815
01:03:17,200 --> 01:03:25,280
stop maintaining Upper Long Pond Road,
the town, the portion that it does

816
01:03:21,599 --> 01:03:28,240
maintain, which is roughly 1.2 miles.
the rest of the road, which is roughly

817
01:03:26,720 --> 01:03:32,880
another mile, and Anthony could talk
about that, is being maintained almost

818
01:03:29,920 --> 01:03:36,319
solely by him. Um, we have people live
on that road. Anthony is one of them.

819
01:03:34,880 --> 01:03:43,200
Um, and there's some other people that
live on that road. Uh, I have 800 ft on

820
01:03:39,520 --> 01:03:48,799
that road. Um,
I had in years past, my wife and I have

821
01:03:45,920 --> 01:03:53,119
been here for almost 10 years. Um, this
is my first year here full-time. So, I

822
01:03:51,440 --> 01:03:57,039
apologize. And also I want to start by
thanking all of you for your service

823
01:03:54,240 --> 01:04:00,720
here as well because I I did go through
this in a past life.

824
01:03:58,799 --> 01:04:07,440
» Um and I I know what it takes out of
here. Um and it's a thankless job at

825
01:04:03,520 --> 01:04:11,280
times and I get it. Um but the prior tax
assessor when I was having um vigorous

826
01:04:09,920 --> 01:04:15,359
conversations with him about my
assessment wanted to point out to me

827
01:04:13,599 --> 01:04:19,680
that my back land which is I guess what
they call that piece that's up the hill

828
01:04:17,920 --> 01:04:24,400
um
uh is privately owned gravel road but

829
01:04:22,640 --> 01:04:30,960
has a public easement right away which
is seasonably accessible

830
01:04:27,039 --> 01:04:34,240
um and ripe for development
uh because of the power there is power

831
01:04:33,119 --> 01:04:37,760
that crosses through there and
everything else and he was trying to

832
01:04:36,079 --> 01:04:41,520
shut me down in an argument that that
land should be valued like everybody

833
01:04:39,280 --> 01:04:44,720
else's land up there. Ultimately, we
went a different course with the tree

834
01:04:42,880 --> 01:04:50,079
growth program. Didn't help a tremendous
amount, but it helped a little bit. Um,

835
01:04:46,960 --> 01:04:54,480
I would be opposed to the idea of the
town failing to maintain that road. I

836
01:04:52,400 --> 01:04:59,039
think it would negatively impact the
value of the properties up there. Uh, it

837
01:04:57,440 --> 01:05:03,920
would clearly impact the residents who
live there. uh it doesn't impact me

838
01:05:01,359 --> 01:05:07,280
personally in a sense that I don't the
only reason the only way I can get to

839
01:05:05,280 --> 01:05:10,559
that property up there. I can't drive up
there through my property to get to that

840
01:05:08,960 --> 01:05:14,400
to the upper what they call the back
lot. Okay. Um the only way I can get

841
01:05:13,119 --> 01:05:18,240
there is through the upper Long Pond
Road. Um I have an obligation to

842
01:05:16,640 --> 01:05:21,760
maintain that property up there. I have
tree growth, so I have obligations to

843
01:05:20,000 --> 01:05:26,079
cut, you know, to keep it trimmed and do
other things like that.

844
01:05:24,000 --> 01:05:30,000
So [sighs]
getting back to my notes so I don't get

845
01:05:27,599 --> 01:05:33,119
lost. Chapman Farms is up there, the
they're the nonprofit. They have the

846
01:05:31,760 --> 01:05:37,680
farm and they have a couple of other
lots, I believe. Um, there are people

847
01:05:35,280 --> 01:05:41,920
that go there all the time and then they
advertise that as a place to go visit.

848
01:05:39,680 --> 01:05:45,359
Uh, hunters use that all the time. The
road, as I mentioned before, has a

849
01:05:43,599 --> 01:05:50,559
public easement.
Um, does that go away if the town

850
01:05:47,280 --> 01:05:53,839
decides to stop supporting the road? Um,
do we put a gate at the end up along

851
01:05:52,160 --> 01:05:56,799
Palm Road? I we'll let Luke speak to it
there, but no, we had another situation

852
01:05:55,440 --> 01:06:01,359
like this a couple years ago and it
doesn't close off the road.

853
01:05:59,280 --> 01:06:07,119
» Um I would prefer there's a snowmobile
trail goes through there, which I use.

854
01:06:03,839 --> 01:06:09,920
Um so I'll let Anthony speak more about
how this is going to personally impact

855
01:06:08,480 --> 01:06:14,720
him and the people that actually live on
the road. Um you know, all that, but I

856
01:06:13,359 --> 01:06:19,839
just did some quick math and I went
through some of the tax assessments for

857
01:06:16,160 --> 01:06:24,880
fiscal 26. There's 38 roughly 38 parcels
that are taxed on that road from uh the

858
01:06:22,559 --> 01:06:28,720
beginning of Moosehorn Drive all the way
down to the Stonehouse Road. Well, not

859
01:06:27,440 --> 01:06:34,160
quite to the Stonehouse Road because
they don't really connect at a certain

860
01:06:30,240 --> 01:06:38,240
point. Um the town collected or charged
I don't know if you collected it, but

861
01:06:35,200 --> 01:06:43,680
you charged $41,731
to the people that own property along

862
01:06:40,079 --> 01:06:49,839
that road. All right. In fiscal 26, I'm
sure it's quite more in fiscal 27.

863
01:06:47,119 --> 01:06:55,119
Um, so I would like to think that the
town would consider it a worthwhile

864
01:06:51,280 --> 01:06:59,200
investment to keep that road viable
um, and give it a place where people can

865
01:06:56,640 --> 01:07:03,680
still potentially develop, eventually
run power down that road and, you know,

866
01:07:00,960 --> 01:07:07,359
add value to the town. I do though that
if that town if that road goes the way

867
01:07:05,520 --> 01:07:12,319
that the upper half of the road has
gone, which again Anony's done yman's

868
01:07:09,920 --> 01:07:16,160
work keeping that open, it's almost
impassible when you get down to the f

869
01:07:13,920 --> 01:07:19,440
the bottom end, right? That's what's
going to happen to the other end if

870
01:07:17,359 --> 01:07:24,880
nobody's going to maintain it. If the
town is not going to maintain it. So I

871
01:07:22,400 --> 01:07:29,280
encourage you to not go that route to
not take that recommendation. Okay.

872
01:07:26,880 --> 01:07:34,400
Thank you.
>> Just as a a point of just want to make

873
01:07:32,160 --> 01:07:39,280
sure everyone's aware that there is no
active proposal to actually do that. It

874
01:07:37,039 --> 01:07:43,440
has been discussed uh as Mr. Palmer
stated, but I just wanted to make it

875
01:07:40,880 --> 01:07:47,520
clear for the record that there's that
there is no proposal and that there's a

876
01:07:45,440 --> 01:07:53,039
process
somewhat lengthy process that goes along

877
01:07:49,839 --> 01:07:54,319
with that. So, this wouldn't occur uh
overnight.

878
01:07:53,760 --> 01:07:58,079
» Sure.
>> Uh if that was something that the town

879
01:07:56,799 --> 01:08:02,000
wanted to do.
>> Hey, generally appreciate the uh

880
01:08:00,880 --> 01:08:05,599
clarification on that. It was going to
be one of my first questions. Not a lot

881
01:08:04,000 --> 01:08:10,640
of good communication goes on sometimes.
I reached out to you last week. no

882
01:08:07,920 --> 01:08:13,839
return call. Genuinely would have that
could have saved me the time and having

883
01:08:11,839 --> 01:08:17,359
to come down here. Um, a couple of
council members remember me from coming

884
01:08:15,359 --> 01:08:21,640
in having to fight what I would consider
my right seat and stay on my property

885
01:08:21,920 --> 01:08:29,520
and I shouldn't have to to live on my
own property to survive or to being a

886
01:08:27,199 --> 01:08:34,640
camber. Uh, this gentleman it's been
great. Your previous uh town code

887
01:08:31,359 --> 01:08:40,799
enforcement officer was not the best
dealing with. Um, but the hassle of

888
01:08:38,640 --> 01:08:45,600
having to maintain it myself, I I put
over $8,000 into I'm sorry,

889
01:08:43,759 --> 01:08:51,759
» it's okay.
>> into a mile that road myself

890
01:08:49,040 --> 01:08:55,359
and it's hard. So to consider just to
hear someone's putting their

891
01:08:53,440 --> 01:09:02,719
recommendation out there or it's on the
table or being considered is frustrating

892
01:08:59,600 --> 01:09:07,359
beyond belief. My taxes have doubled,
tripled over the last few years. I'm

893
01:09:05,279 --> 01:09:12,560
sure everyone is familiar with that
themselves, but it's a lot harder. I

894
01:09:09,759 --> 01:09:16,719
live completely off- grid and am
surviving and doing well considering,

895
01:09:14,640 --> 01:09:21,520
but I don't want to get too far off
track. So, I would be adamantly opposed

896
01:09:18,400 --> 01:09:24,400
to it. Um, I know that it's just a
recommendation, but if it's on the

897
01:09:22,880 --> 01:09:28,239
table, it's considered. And I know you
all are trying to save money where you

898
01:09:26,000 --> 01:09:32,880
can and whatnot, but I don't know that
that's all I have is is it's been a

899
01:09:30,159 --> 01:09:36,319
struggle and uh I'm not getting a lot of
services from the town. So to consider

900
01:09:34,799 --> 01:09:40,640
you guys are up in taxes then still
removing other things is frustrating. I

901
01:09:39,679 --> 01:09:44,319
know you're trying to balance your
budgets and get back on track, but so

902
01:09:42,480 --> 01:09:48,000
frustrating. Also would have loved to
have known more about the the dump thing

903
01:09:46,400 --> 01:09:51,440
where you guys are charging more to get
a new compactor or something like that

904
01:09:49,600 --> 01:09:54,640
or it's $20 a year. Something that used
to be covered that's no longer covered.

905
01:09:53,120 --> 01:09:58,640
Whatever. I unfortunately missed that
meeting. Um that's all I have. Do you

906
01:09:57,360 --> 01:10:02,239
guys have any questions for me? I
apologize.

907
01:10:00,480 --> 01:10:05,360
» All right. Thank you.
>> Oh, thank you.

908
01:10:07,360 --> 01:10:14,719
Uh, we can move right into discussion of
items not on the agenda or public. Um,

909
01:10:12,159 --> 01:10:19,000
any other anyone else from the public
have anything to discuss this even?

910
01:10:20,320 --> 01:10:23,719
Okay, council.

911
01:10:24,719 --> 01:10:34,719
Okay, good discussion folks. Thank you.
Uh, committee assignments and

912
01:10:31,520 --> 01:10:38,480
scheduling. Um, I was going to ask if,
and I meant to mention this when I was

913
01:10:36,960 --> 01:10:41,840
talking with you before the meeting. I
knew I was forgetting something. Um, but

914
01:10:40,239 --> 01:10:45,920
we had discussed a couple meetings ago
about taking a look at some of the

915
01:10:43,199 --> 01:10:50,560
committee rules now that we're meeting
prior to and and not and not allowing a

916
01:10:49,199 --> 01:10:55,199
committee to bind the council to
anything. Um, is that that's regulatory

917
01:10:53,199 --> 01:11:00,400
review? Yep. So if we could have a
regulatory review uh committee meeting

918
01:10:58,560 --> 01:11:05,120
uh it could be either next time or or
the time after but um

919
01:11:03,679 --> 01:11:10,120
depending on how much time will be
needed to review that. Um any other

920
01:11:07,120 --> 01:11:10,120
committees

921
01:11:14,239 --> 01:11:18,679
regulatory review?
>> Yep.

922
01:11:15,679 --> 01:11:18,679
» Yeah.

923
01:11:18,719 --> 01:11:22,239
If there's nothing else, Sher will
entertain a motion to adjurnn.

924
01:11:21,199 --> 01:11:25,840
» Motion to adjourn.
>> Second. All those in favor?