MINOT – The Planning Board’s recommendation that Hemond Moto-X Park be given until July to show it can come into compliance with the town’s noise ordinance didn’t sit well with some of the track’s neighbors.

“It’s too bad you people are allowing this to go on. It’s going to be embarrassing to this town,” said Center Minot Hill Road resident Richard Thayer.

The Planning Board made its recommendation, which selectmen had requested, following Gregory Cunningham’s presentation of Donald and Serae Hemond’s plans.

Cunningham handed board members a letter from Scott Bodwell, engineer for Resource Systems Engineering, which suggested that previous sound studies used a “pausing technique” to record sound levels that would not accurately represent continuous motocross activity for a minute. The pausing technique was used to eliminate traffic noise on Route 119.

Woodstock:

Fire station eyed for activity center

WOODSTOCK – The Recreation Committee got the go-ahead from selectmen to begin converting the town’s old fire station on Railroad Street into a community recreation and activity center.

Recreation Committee Chairman John Fitzmorris presented a breakdown of the costs, which would total approximately $24,000.

“This is only a rough estimate and it’s possible that it will be lower after we get exact quotes on some of the materials. The figures in our plan are only estimates because we’re waiting to hear from several companies with exact quotes on the heating system, chimney, plumbing, electric and septic,” said Fitzmorris, “When those figures are in, we will have a more accurate total.”

Oxford:

SAD 17 addressing fourth-grade gaps

High school students in SAD 17 were much closer to the state average on test scores than fourth-graders in last year’s Maine Educational Assessment testing.

“It looks like our kids do worse in the fourth grade and by the 11th grade they catch up,” SAD 17 board member Mike Brown noted during a report on the 2002-03 scores by Curriculum Director Kathy Elkins.

Elkins confirmed Brown’s observation, and said the district has been busy revising fourth-grade curriculums to meet the challenge.

“They are not overly stellar scores,” Elkins said. When compared with three-year averages, however, the scores for fourth-, eighth- and 11th-graders are essentially the same, she added.

Lewiston:

Meeting to get towns talking

Leaders from Androscoggin County cities and towns took a plan for more cooperation back home with them .

Over dinner in the Lewiston Multi-Purpose Center elected leaders from seven communities and the county talked about ways to work together and combine services.

Then, with copies of a resolution pledging more cooperation, they walked across the street to the Central Maine Civic Center and attended a Lewiston Maineiacs hockey game.

Jim Bennett, Lewiston city administrator, said the meeting was designed to get the towns talking about ways to pool their efforts.

“There’s a chance that we could save some money here,” Bennett said.

Lewiston: Commission backs harassment claim

A woman who claims she was sexually harassed while working at a local restaurant as a waitress and bartender has found a key supporter in her case against the restaurant’s owner.

An investigator for the Maine Human Rights Commission has found reasonable grounds to believe that Stephanie Dustin was subjected to severe and persistent sexual harassment by Kenneth Daigle, the owner of Little Joe’s Restaurant.

“The frequency of Mr. Daigle’s propositions, the physical assaults upon private parts of her body, would have caused a reasonable woman under similar circumstances to feel compelled to leave employment,” wrote Paul Pierce, the chief investigator for the rights commission, in a report.

Daigle denied all of Dustin’s allegations and he accused her of trying to make quick money at his expense.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong,” Daigle said when reached at his restaurant. “I’m actually the victim here.”

Bates Mill deal discussed

LEWISTON – Jim Bennett’s Bates Mill exit strategy could cost as much as $59.2 million over the next seven years, the city administrator told councilors.

That’s how much existing contracts and agreements with developer Tom Platz will cost the city if nothing changes. Any plan to get the city out of those contracts can’t help but save money, Bennett said.

“That is the amount we are obligated to spend right now, for the next few years,” Bennett said. “But if we can negotiate a deal to even save $1 million of that, that’s a better deal.”

Bennett continues making his case for the city to disentangle itself from the Bates Mill Enterprise Complex. The final deal could be made public by the council’s next meeting on Nov. 18, he said.

Tax bills likely to increase

MINOT – Selectmen set the 2003 Minot property tax rate at 16.5 mills.

The rate is down from last year’s 23.3 mills. That doesn’t mean taxes are going down.

Rather, the new rate reflects a recently completed townwide property revaluation. While the rate is down, valuations rose significantly. Very likely, taxes will be higher.

Selectman Eda Tripp pointed out that in March’s town meeting voters approved a large increase in spending. County tax was up more than $17,000, and $180,000 more was raised for schools.

The town side of the budget was up $71,000, compared with the previous year.

“For anyone who is upset with their tax bill, I offer a personal invitation to them to attend next March town meeting,” said Selectman Dean Campbell.

Contract set for sludge removal

FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted to enter into a five-year contract for sludge removal from the town’s sewage treatment plant.

The bid was awarded to New England Organics for $44,300 a year. After the first year, the contract price is subject to increases based on the consumer price index.

The board accepted Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Steve Moore’s recommendation to go with the company. The company transports the bio-solids, also known as sludge to Unity, according to Moore’s memo to selectmen.

They have the option of land spreading on “our sites,” Moore said, or composting at Hawk Ridge Compost Facility.

Although the company’s price is $5 a yard more for land spreading, Moore stated, the cost of composting will offset it.

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