The Rangeley Board of Selectmen voted to authorize Town Manager Joe Roach to appoint an interim Town Clerk at their March 1st, 2021 meeting.  The Town Manager informed the Board that he accepted with regret the resignation of Town Clerk Kayla Alexander last week.  Kayla’s last day of employment will be March 9, 2021.  The Town’s Finance Assistant Marti Belt will become the interim Town Clerk on March 10, 2021.  The Finance Assistant’s work will be covered by the three front office staff members while Marti transitions to the Town Clerk duties.

The Selectmen appointed Town Manager Joe Roach to the position of Airport Manager.  Rangeley’s full time Town Managers have been the Airport Managers as outlined in their job descriptions.  The last two part time Town Managers have not been the Airport Manager.

Lee R. Grant was appointed to fill a vacant position on the Sewer Commission. Lee is a former member of the Water District Board of Trustees and was a Collection, Holding and Transfer Specialist in the U.S. Navy.

The land survey was completed and a deed prepared for the Rangeley Firemen’s Association lot located near the Rangeley Transfer Station.  The Selectmen authorized the Town Manager to sign the deed and have it recorded at the Registry of Deeds in Farmington.

The Rangeley Region Economic Opportunity Committee (RREOC) recommended that the Economic Development Reserve Account and the Downtown Revitalization Reserve Account be combined.  The Selectmen voted to place a warrant article creating an Economic Development/Downtown Improvement Reserve Account on the Annual Town Meeting warrant.

Meetings to continue promoting a local broadband initiative have been occurring regularly (2/4, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24).  The Plantations of Dallas, Rangeley and Sandy River as well as the Town of Rangeley have been participating.  The Plantation delegates are Linda Jones for Dallas, Jo Anne Taylor for Sandy River and Scott Millbury and Cary Keep for Rangeley.  Town Manager Joe Roach and Selectman Steve Philbrick  are representing the Town of Rangeley.  This group has had discussions addressing what type of entity to form.  They are leaning towards an inter-local corporation that would be similar to a broadband utility district.   They have also discussed the desired level of service and how to pay for it.

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In following town purchasing policies, a Request for Proposals (RFP) was released to multiple broadband providers on February 25, 2021.  The RFP seeks proposals from applicants to build, operate and maintain a fiber optic network that connects all homes and businesses in the four communities.  The applicants will need to provide cost estimates, timelines and performance guarantees.  A mandatory pre-proposal meeting is scheduled for March 10th and proposals are due on March 22, 2021.

At the previous Selectmen’s meeting held February 16, 2021 the Board was informed that the furnace at the comfort station located next to the Chamber of Commerce building was on the blink.  The Selectmen voted to authorize an expenditure up to $7,500.00 to replace the current furnace which has a history of operating problems.

Rangeley is a member town of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments (AVCOG).  Joan Walton from AVCOG informed the Town about projects in the area included in the Maine Department of Transportation’s three year work plan.  The projects include ditching Route 4 from Quimby Pond Road to the intersection of Route 17, paving Route 4 from Beech Hill Road in Sandy River Plantation to the intersection at Dallas Hill Road and planning studies along all of the Scenic By Way.

North Star EMS provides emergency medical services to Dallas Plantation, Rangeley Plantation, Sandy River Plantation and the Town of Rangeley.  Their ambulance and staff are housed at the Rangeley Public Safety Building.  The North Star Regional Participation Agreement for 7/1/21 through 6/30/22 will increase by $3,803.00 over last year’s fee.  Questions and comments concerning their services will be received by the Rangeley Board of Selectmen until their next meeting which will be March 15, 2021.

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