The Rangeley Board of Selectmen met in person on March 7th.  The Board had been conducting their meetings remotely via Zoom since the uptick in Covid 19 cases back in December 2021.
Town Manager Joe Roach shared good news about the broadband situation in the Rangeley Region.  The Selectmen had voted to authorize Joe to have Consolidated Communications include Rangeley in a broadband improvement grant request early last fall.  The grant application was successful (see sidebar).
The Broadband Committee composed of delegates from the Plantations of Dallas, Rangeley and Sandy River and the Town of Rangeley chose the proposal from Consolidated Communications as the best option for this area during a selection process early last year.  All of the four municipalities had Warrant articles approved at their 2021 Town Meetings to create an inter-local agreement for the advancement of improved internet.  This fully funded grant will make cost sharing and the creation of an inter-local agreement unnecessary.
The Selectmen reviewed the fourth draft of the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Policy with the Town’s attorney Alyssa Tibbets.  Board members made suggestions for additional revisions and are getting close to completing this important policy document.  The TIF District and TIF Development Program that this policy will provide procedural guidance for are anticipated to remain in effect for thirty years.
Levi Robinson, representing RHR Smith and Company made an audit presentation to the Selectmen for Rangeley’s fiscal year 2020-2021.  The Selectmen voted to accept the audit and management letter as presented.

The cleaning contractor for Town buildings stepped down this past December.  The Town received one bid in response to their request for bids.  The contract covers the cleaning of the Town Office, the comfort stations in Rangeley and Oquossoc and the snow removal equipment building/pilots lounge located at the airport.  The contract price totaled $36,600.00 and was awarded to Jackie Haley dba Dove Cleaning.
It is budget season and the Selectmen have been meeting with the Budget Committee several times per week.  The Selectmen intend to vote on a Draft Annual Town Meeting Warrant at their March 21st meeting.  The Draft Warrant will include the operating budgets and expense items for the upcoming fiscal year.  The Draft Warrant will be the focus of a public hearing that provides the opportunity for the public to recommend changes to the Warrant articles.  The Public Hearing is scheduled for April 11, 2022 and the agenda will include time for the non-profit organizations to make a presentation for their donation requests.  The spokespersons for the non-profits are encouraged to Zoom in for this portion of the meeting.  Zoom information will be on the Town’s website.   Contact the Rangeley Town Office if you would like to obtain a copy of the Draft Warrant prior to the public hearing.
The Selectmen accepted the resignation of Cash Haley from the Budget Committee and appointed Colin Madrid to a three year term and Mark Beauregard to a term expiring June 30, 2022.  Valerie Zapolsky and Lee Libby were both appointed to three year terms on the Ordinance Committee.
A Town of Rangeley police cruiser is scheduled to be replaced this coming year.  The Town of VanBuren is selling, by a bid process, a fully outfitted 2020 Ford police interceptor hybrid with 10,000 miles with a minimum bid of $40,000.00.  Due to availability problems with new vehicles the Selectmen authorized submission of a bid but have since rescinded that vote.  The Selectmen decided it was better in the long run to purchase a new vehicle with full warranties even if a waiting period was required.
The following was not discussed at the Selectmen’s meeting.  In addition to the approval and funding of the high speed internet project, cell phone coverage is also likely to improve in the Rangeley Region.  The Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) voted unanimously at their March 9, 2022 meeting to approve the construction of a new cell tower in the vicinity of the Dallas Plantation Town Office.  This tower is a component of the First Net network whose primary purpose is to provide a dedicated channel to public safety throughout rural America.  The tower will also provide improved coverage for general cell phone use to many local areas that presently lack adequate signal strength.  Maine Wireless Partners, the company that received the permit, is in hopes of having the tower operational before the end of this summer.
The next Selectmen’s meeting is in person, scheduled for March 21, 2022 at 6:00pm and will be available to be viewed via Zoom.

“A democracy is healthiest when the public is informed about the activities of leaders of industry and occupants of public office.” -Melvin Melcher