Rangeley’s Annual Town Meeting will be at the Rangeley Town Office on Tuesday, June 8, 2021. Voting by written ballot will take place between 8:00am and 8:00pm. A copy of the Annual Town report is currently available at the Town Office and should prove helpful for informed voting.
This year’s Annual Town Report is dedicated to Alice (Quimby) Smith. Alice was in attendance at the May 17, 2021 Board of Selectmen’s meeting. A Selectmen signed copy of the 2020 Town Report was presented to her in addition to the sincere “Thank You’s” for her many years of dedicated civil service to the Town of Rangeley.
Other Selectmen business included the approval of liquor licenses for The Country Club Inn, Mingo Springs Golf Course, Parkside and Main, Rangeley Inn and Aisling Farm LLC which is the event barn at the Farmhouse Inn.
Mark Beauregard was reappointed to a three year term on the Airport Commission. Mr. Beauregard has served on the Airport Commission since 1995.
The Town Manager informed Select Board Members that discussions with the Town’s legal counsel concerning the contract obligations of Dubois and King, the airport engineering consultant for the runway extension project, are ongoing. Selectperson Cynthia Egan had questions about airport project change orders and their related payments. Her questions were not answered but Chairman Steve Philbrick indicated an agenda item would be included for the next Selectmen’s meeting to address her questions.
The Sidewalk Extension Project from downtown to the scenic overlook on Route 4 across from the Dallas Hill Road has started with a completion date of late July. The reconstruction of the Loon Lake Road from Main Street to the airport is also underway. A completion date was not disclosed. Automated lights will be used instead of flaggers on this project for traffic control.
The Selectmen voted to direct the Ordinance Committee to update Chapter 12 relating to moorings and to create a new section of code related to alternative energy with assistance from the Planning Board.
The Town Manger has accepted the resignation of Police Officer Fournier whose last day of employment was May 20th. The Selectmen authorized the Town Manager to advertise and fill this vacant position.
The Town Manager hosted a Rangeley Region Broadband Initiative Delegates meeting on Tuesday, May 25th at the Rangeley Town Office. Peggy Schaffer, the Director of Connect Maine participated via Zoom. Connect Maine is the State Broadband Authority. Peggy provided information on broadband money available through the American Rescue Plan and other state and federal funding sources. She also discussed timelines for fund availability, application deadlines and project qualifications. The Delegates will discuss this information at future meetings to identify opportunities to capture funds that will help lower the user costs of improved broadband in our region. The Broadband Delegates intend to meet regularly so they can formalize a plan that will allow this initiative to keep moving foreword. Their next meeting is June 2, 2021.
Article B22 on the June 8, 2021 Rangeley Town Warrant asks voters to authorize Selectmen to create an Interlocal Agreement with Sandy River, Dallas and Rangeley Plantations. An Interlocal Agreement will allow the communities to work as a single entity for the purpose of improved broadband. Each of the Plantations has a similar Article on their Town Warrants. A YES vote on this article is essential to get high speed fiber to the premises in these four communities within a reasonable period of time. The opportunity for Rangeley residents to vote on this is June 8th at the Town Office. Dallas Plantation residents get to vote on June 11th and Sandy River Plantation residents on June 26th. Rangeley Plantation residents have already voted yes.
The Rangeley Board of Selectmen held the final Public Hearing for the Town Meeting Warrant on May 24, 2021 at 6:00pm. It was disclosed that the Town Budget request has increased by 3% for the coming year. This does not include the School Budget request which has also increased from last year. The impact on property taxes from these budge increases has not been determined yet. Voters will decide which expense articles will be approved on June 8th. Voters will also elect a Selectmen. There are two candidates running for one Selectmen’s seat. They are David “Joe” Haley, a local business owner (M&H), and Ethna Thompson, a former reporter for the Rangeley Highlander on government affairs and former Rangeley Town Clerk.
The next Selectmen’s meeting will be held June 7th at 6:00pm.
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