POLAND – Voters rejected a proposed public-private partnership for commercial water exploration at a special town meeting Thursday night.

The proposed business partnership with the town by former Selectman Ira “Ike” Levine and his company, Biological Services, was voted down by a majority in a vote taken by a show of hands.

According to town officials, the voter turnout of 146 far exceeded the number of voters that attended the annual town meeting in April.

Levine proposed that 51 percent of net revenue from the partnership would be returned to the town. He said it would result in a 2 mill reduction in the tax rate or a 10 to 15 percent decrease in property taxes within three years. Levine also said there would be no cost or risk to the town.

It would have involved the town giving Biological Services one-year options on leases on nine town parcels of land for water exploration. The leases could have been renewed for up to three years. Levine said he had commercial customers for water in Maine. He said he did not plan to start a bottling company.

In 1998, voters at the annual town meeting authorized the Board of Selectmen to negotiate for water exploration on town land.

Until Levine made his proposal, no one else had proposed to enter into a partnership with the town.

At a public hearing earlier this month, Joseph Cimino, president of Northern Springs, the largest bulk water company in the Northeast, said he wanted an equal opportunity to bid on Poland’s water. He publicly objected to the town considering a contract with Levine without a biding process.

At the special town meeting, Cimino said, “This town will never see a return on their investment. Will this town get any money back and when? The permitting process really dictates.”

Cimino explained that each state has a permitting process for commercial water extraction with different standards. “In order for the town to get a return, the permitting process in all the different states (Levine plans to sell water in) will have to be timely,” he said, adding that it has taken him three years to obtain permits in some states.

“If you think this town is going to generate any revenue, I know a tooth fairy,” Cimino said.

Several people spoke on both sides of the issue. Selectmen recommended passage of the article.

“The truth here in Poland is we have a water-based economy,” said Town Manager Richard Chick. He called the idea “intriguing. It’s worth investigating. Every time they have a crisis in Augusta, we shake down here.”

After the vote was taken, Levine said he was disappointed. “I’ll have to work harder. There was mention of starting a committee (to further consider the issue). I will be a part of it.”