AUGUSTA — State Rep. Wayne Werts, D-Auburn, is appealing the rejection of a bill that directs the Maine Department of Transportation to contact local businesses near a planned construction project to help limit any negative impact on them.

Werts said the bill helps prevent unnecessary hardships on businesses near MDOT construction projects.

The bill was voted down by the Legislative Council for inclusion in the second regular session of the 126thLegislature, which starts in January.

The appeal hearing will be Nov. 21 in the Legislative Council chambers at the State House.

In a news release issued Thursday, Werts said he was contacted by Remco Radiator and Auto Care, a company on Poland Road in Auburn, that lost business because of two construction projects on its street at the same time.

The business lost valuable drive-by business and several appointments were canceled when drivers could not find an alternative route to the business, Werts said.

“It’s unacceptable to me that this business was never directly notified of the construction work,” Werts said. “They lost valuable customers and money. What’s most upsetting is that steps could have been taken to prevent this.

Werts is a member of the Legislature’s Transportation Committee.

Debra York, of Remco Radiators and Auto Care, said the bill would be good for small businesses.

“If the state had notified me of the construction project in advance I would have taken steps to notify my customers,” York said. “I could have posted alternative directions on my company’s Facebook page and warned customers to allow for extra travel time to make their appointment on time.”

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