Newly appointed Franklin County Commissioner Bob Carlton attended the Rangeley Selectmen’s August 15th meeting to introduce himself. Health issues prevented Commissioner Clyde Barker from serving the remainder of his term. Bob was nominated by caucus and then appointed by Governor Janet Mills to fill out Clyde’s term. Bob provided his cell phone number (207)446-6751 so that he could be contacted by anyone who could use his assistance.
The Selectmen approved an Event Permit for the Northwoods Gravel Grind. This is a fifty mile bicycle event that starts and finishes in Rangeley. It is scheduled to start at 9:00am on September 10th. The event is held for the benefit of the Rangeley Lakes Trail Center.
Liquor license renewals were granted to Loon Lodge and Parkside and Main.
The Selectmen authorized Town Manager Joe Roach to sign the Franklin County Interlocal Cooperation Agreement. The Town of Rangeley will provide for the disposal of solid waste and structural fire protection under this agreement for Redington, Stetson, Davis, Seven Ponds, Letter D, Letter E Townships and also a portion of Langtown.
The Selectmen declined to approve the request by Town Treasurer Rebekah Carmichael-Austin to write off $7,171.95 in unpaid personal property taxes. The Selectmen asked the Town Manager to seek guidance on the Town’s legal rights to disclose information and collect these taxes now and in the future.
The Town Manager received input from the Selectmen on the Draft Increment Financing Policy (TIF). The document will be sent to the Town’s TIF attorney Alyssa Tibbets for further revisions.
The Selectmen did not schedule an August public hearing or a November Special Town Meeting for the adoption of revisions to Chapter 38, the Town of Rangeley Zoning Ordinance. The Selectmen concluded the document needed more work prior to its presentation for a Town vote and that the voters would benefit by having the revisions presented as a series of sectional amendments rather than the entire Zoning Ordinance at once.
Town Manager Joe Roach provided an update on a Rangeley Attainable Housing Neighborhood. This past spring developer Matt Teare presented to the Selectmen a conceptual project designed to provide attainable housing in Rangeley. Since that time Matt has identified suitable property and obtained a purchase option. He has also been working on project designs and price points. Matt plans to meet with Selectmen, local groups and neighbors to discuss his plans and receive input early this fall.
Joe Roach also provided the Selectmen with a copy of the Franklin County Administration Policy. The Selectmen will use this supplemental information in their review of Article 21 in Rangeley’s Personnel Policy which deals with wage adjustments.
The Maine Land Use Planning Commission (LUPC) adopted the Rangeley Region Prospective Zoning Plan (PZP) in November 2020 which took effect on January 1, 2001. The LUPC is conducting a twenty year review to get a sense of how well the PZP has worked towards achieving its key goals and objectives. The PZP covers Townships C, D, E, Adamstown, Magalloway, Richardson and Dallas, Lincoln, Rangeley and Sandy River Plantations. The PZP does not have jurisdiction over the Town of Rangeley because it is an organized town but it relies upon it as the economic center. The LUPC hopes to hear from Rangeley town officials and all others who want to offer comments. Contact Tim Beaucage by email at [email protected] or by phone at (207)931-6974.
Town Manager Joe Roach shared staffing updates with the Selectmen. Former Rangeley Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Tom Lillis will be the interim CEO on a part time basis until mid September. Deputy CEO Karl Kolze will continue to be available on a part time basis during September and beyond.
The Selectmen and Town Manager are pleased to announce that the Town of Rangeley has received a $4,715.00 dividend check from the Maine Municipal Association. They thanked the Town employees for their good performance and efforts towards reducing workman’s compensation and casualty losses.