KINGFIELD – Members of the Planning Board voted Monday to hire a lawyer to represent them in matters regarding Poland Spring Water Co.’s possible application for a bottling plant. Poland Spring agreed to pay for the lawyer.
The unanimous vote came after a short meeting with bottling company representative Tom Brennan, who, admittedly, did not attend the meeting “with a lot,” to discuss but, rather, said he was there to seek “guidance from the board” to give a sense of direction, on possible bottling plant application proceedings.
Brennan told board members that Poland Spring’s plans for a bottling plant have been “seriously jeopardized by the possibility” of a statewide water extraction tax. A petition for that proposal is currently in the process of being validated by state officials. He said the company will not commit to any significant capital investment “until this gets resolved.”
Brennan added that Poland Spring’s decision will not preclude the company from continuing scientific tests on Kingfield’s aquifer and other work required before the company could break ground on a new project.
“Being an optimistic person, I’d say we’d get” to an application process sometime, Brennan said.
In response to Brennan’s request for guidance, Planning Board Chairman David Guernsey appealed for Poland Spring’s approval to hire an attorney on the company’s dollar. Although Kingfield has an ordinance requiring applicants to pay for any legal or professional counsel, its Planning Board needs to come to a decision after an application has been filed. There are no allowances made for pre-application advice.
Guernsey explained that an eventual application by Poland Spring would require a lengthy investigation of all circumstances by the board, and requested Brennan’s permission to hire an attorney prior to filing of an application. “What I am suggesting is that they consider funding us so we can hire an attorney and work out any issues an application may present (so) we’ve got all prelims behind us,” before an application is filed, Guernsey said.
Brennan gave his permission to do so on behalf of the bottling company. “One of the things I fully support, on behalf of Poland Spring, is supporting the financial compensation to engage an attorney as you see fit,” he said.
Board members voted to hire a lawyer from Eaton Peabody firm in Bangor. It was not decided which of the firm’s lawyer will represent the board.
Poland Spring representatives will hold an informational meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kingfield School to address residents’ questions regarding company plans.
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