RANGELEY — Selectmen on Tuesday approved park permit applications for the Rangeley Friends of the Arts’ events — Art in August and the Joan Frost Memorial Art Show — to be held at Oquossoc Park on the grounds of the Rangeley Outdoor Sporting Heritage Museum.

Discussion at previous meetings led to the board denying permits for Lakeside Park due to terms of the original property donor’s will.

Rangeley Friends of the Arts’ spokesperson Linda Sykes said merchants in Oquossoc are excited at the prospect of hosting the events in their community.

At a public hearing before the regular meeting to discuss the final budget recommendations for the 2014-15 fiscal year, police Chief Dennis M. Leahy questioned the lack of audio for a portion of the video of a recent Budget Committee hearing. Members of the committee present said they were told that audio was optional in recordings of proceedings.

Later at the board meeting, Chairman Dave Burgess favored complete transparency at all meetings. Selectman Gary Shaffer said the board cannot mandate recording, but that any member of the public is welcome to attend and record any meeting.

The board instructed Town Manager Tiki White to make sure all public meetings are recorded.

The board quickly approved special amusement permits for Country Club Inn, Parkside & Main, The Rangeley Inn & Tavern, Sarge’s Sports Pub & Grub and The Shed. They approved vendor license renewals for the Rangeley Boosters Club and the Rangeley Friends of the Arts, and liquor license renewals for Country Club Inn, Parkside and Main and Tall Tales Tavern.

The board countersigned the Rangeley Lakes Regional School’s budget warrant, which goes to voters at the June 12 town meeting.

The board also confirmed Earl Ross as temporary road commissioner through June 30.

Ross reported that the A.E. Hodsdon firm, whose bid for the High Street and School Street reconstruction project was accepted by the board on March 4, announced that the surveying on the project was not finished until the end of April, and the project could not start until June. The board expressed dissatisfaction at the possibility of the construction happening at the height of the summer tourist season.

White reported that from May 17 through the end of September, the town transfer station will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sundays.

Copy the Story Link