All five members of the Rangeley Board of Selectmen were present at their March 20, 2023 meeting. They issued an Event Permit for the July 3rd Joan Frost Memorial Art Show and a Liquor License renewal for Mingo Springs Golf Course.
The Board also voted to approve the Town Manager’s recommendation to make a market adjustment for the part time Deputy Code Enforcement Officer’s pay. With no full time Code Enforcement Officer to pay, the Town’s Planning/Code Enforcement Officer budget has ample funds to cover the adjustment. The front office Customer Service Representative position is still vacant. The Selectmen authorized the Town Manager to provide a $30.00 per day stipend to the Town Clerk, Finance Director and Assistant Town Manager to fulfill the customer service duties.
The Town Manager was also authorized to sign a letter of support to the Land For Maine’s Future Board. This letter supports the Mingo Springs Project, a proposal by Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust to secure significant wildlife habitat, scenic views and a year round recreational opportunity close to town. No map was presented to identify the project area.
The Park Commission’s recommendation for new Rangeley Town Park playground equipment was endorsed by the Selectmen. The Town Manager was authorized to issue a purchase order for the new equipment to avoid a 5% price increase scheduled to take effect on May 1st. The Park Commission was updated on March 16th about the status of the Town dock improvement project. BMC Diving, Inc. has refunded the project materials money back to the Town since they are unable to do the dock work this year. The Town Manager is looking into upgraded safety fencing for the dock area.
The Draft Oquossoc Park Capital Improvement Plan prepared by Wright-Pierce Engineering was given to the Selectmen for their review. The Board can still make changes to the document at this point in time. The Draft Plan proposes that the improvements be done in phases between 2024 and 2028. The 2024 phase would repair the tennis and basketball courts and add tennis court fencing at a cost of $376,000.00.
The Selectmen voted to accept the resignations of Planning Board Chairman Rebekah Carmichael-Austin and Ordinance Committee member Leon Libby.
A proposed moratorium ordinance on commercial solar arrays was included on the Selectmen’s agenda for their consideration. The Board voted to hold a public hearing on the moratorium at 5:30pm on April 3, 2023.
The Rangeley Affordable Childcare Project is a new non-profit specifically created for a Child Development Center. The new childcare facility would be located in Rangeley with space for 50-70 children. The non-profit has submitted an application for Congressionally Directed Spending to help finance this initiative. The Town Manager sent a letter to Senator Susan Collins informing her that the Town of Rangeley embraces and endorses the application.
Nomination papers are available for Budget Committee, School Board, Sewer Commission, Selectmen, Park Commission and the H.A. Furbish Trust. The papers are due back to the Town Clerk’s office by April 14, 2023.
The next Selectmen’s meeting is scheduled for April 3rd at 6:00pm following the Commercial Solar Moratorium public hearing scheduled to start at 5:30pm.
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