The Town of Rangeley received notice that Franklin County Superior Court upheld the legality of the Code Enforcement Officer’s decision to issue a solar array permit.   Dirigo Solar of Portland, Maine obtained a Building Permit for a twelve acre solar array to be located on cleared, vacant land at 204 Pleasant Street in August, 2020.  Lucas Sirois, an abutter to the property, has now lost his appeals with the Rangeley Zoning Board of Appeals and Franklin County Superior Court.   Mr. Sirois has recently filed an appeal with the Law Court (Superior Court) to continue his opposition to the project.  The United States of America as Plaintiff filed a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture at US District Court in Portland, Maine on July 22, 2020.  The federal government wants to possess Mr. Sirois’ property at 41 Village Woods Drive due to their charges against him of drug trafficking and money laundering.  The pandemic induced backlog in court cases has slowed the advancement of this court action leaving Mr. Sirois the owner of record with legal standing to file the appeal.
The Rangeley Board of Selectmen met on Tuesday, September 7th at 6:00pm.  Craig Sargent was present to share some of his ideas and visions for Main Street in the downtown area of Rangeley.  He is seeking future feedback from the Selectmen on their thoughts of relocating the post office, creating more office/meeting space, expanding fireworks and underground power on Main Street.  The Selectmen are likely to invite Mr. Sargent back for further discussion once they have had time to process his information.
The Selectmen voted to approve a new three year Assessing Contract with the Town’s current Assessor, RJD Appraisal of Pittsfield, Maine.
A new Planning Fee Schedule was presented by Code Enforcement Officer Bailey Beers.  The fee schedule has not been updated since 2012.  The new fees which were approved by the Selectmen include a decrease in the square footage costs of Building Permits based on cost averages of twenty-five other towns in the state.
M & H Logging was awarded the winter sand bid at $11.49 per cubic yard.  They were the only bidder.  Dead River Company was awarded the 2021-2022 fuel bid.  Their price was approximately twenty cents less than the only other bidder.
Rangeley Police Chief Russell French has applied for a Homeland Security Grant.  The grant would be used to help purchase five body cameras and a six bay docking station.  These modern body cameras are highly deployed in major U.S. cities.  They have the ability to record in high definition at low light, are equipped with automatic tuning and have the ability to record throughout a twelve hour shift.
Town Manager Joe Roach recommended and the Selectmen agreed that the Loon Lake Road be paved with a base layer this fall and wait until the frost is out of the ground next year before applying the finish coat of pavement.
On September 20th at 5:00pm a public workshop on proposed changes to Chapter 38 of the Town of Rangeley Zoning Ordinance is scheduled at the Town Office.  Also public hearings are scheduled at 6:00pm for the adoption of a General Assistance Ordinance and the classification of a Dangerous Building located on Carry Road in Oquossoc.  The regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen’s meeting will immediately follow the public hearings.
A quarterly meeting of Plantation Assessors and Rangeley Selectmen is scheduled for September 27, 2021 at the Dallas Town Office for 6:00pm.
The Rangeley Town Office will be closed October 1st so that staff can attend the Annual Maine Municipal Association Convention.

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