| Joanne Cole |
The Select Board settled pricing and heard about paving plans, discussed but took no action regarding a liquor license for Norumbega Cidery and considered next steps on diversity, equity and inclusion at their May 15 meeting.
Paving pricing, plans. The Select Board voted to award paving work directly to Spencer Group, bypassing the competitive bid process. In an email, Spencer offered to hold to last year’s prices if the town agreed to the no-bid approach, Public Works Director Ted Shane told the board. Shane estimated the resulting savings at $40,000 to $50,000, potentially enough to get an extra road paved.
Spencer has done the town’s paving in recent years. “Their work is second to none,” Shane said. The company’s price would be $87.80 per ton, instead of perhaps $94-$100 per ton, and would hold through June 30, 2024, even if asphalt prices increase in the meantime. “I’d sign this in a heartbeat,” Shane said, alluding to his other role on Naples’ Select Board.
Board members expressed reservations about departing from competitive bidding. But the prospect of savings and a known contractor carried the day. Dustin Ward was the lone vote opposed. Shane had said that other communities were accepting similar deals from Spencer, and Ward expressed concerns about the potential impact on other paving companies.
Shane also outlined plans for the 10 roads hoped to be done by June 30, 2024. Because of traffic from heavy trucks (26,000+ pounds), Gloucester Hill Road, Morse Road and Snow Hill Road would see traditional asphalt-only paving. The remaining seven would be chip sealed. They are the remaining segments of Bald Hill Road and Penney Road, and Rowe Station Road (paved part only), Bryana Way, Elderberry Lane, Waterman Drive, and McKenney Drive.
Looking ahead, the board suggested Shane stick with $500,000 as his ballpark paving budget as he plans which roads to tackle next. They also floated the idea of a new capital reserve account, should the town want to embark on paving any dirt roads, but made no commitments.
Norumbega Cidery liquor license review awaits clarification. Apart from owner Noah Fralich, no one spoke at a public hearing regarding an on-premises license for Norumbega Cidery of Woodman Road. Fralich wants to be able to sell others’ beer and wine in addition to his own ciders, he told the board. His manufacturer’s license has allowed on-site sale and serving of his products, but he’d like to expand offerings, especially for a fall music event.
Even though Fralich’s interest is beer and wine, state licensing authorities advised him to apply for an ‘all-in-one’ license that includes spirits, he told the board. Board members were supportive but unsure whether this particular class/type of application—a pricey one, in the view of member Stephen Hathorne—was necessary for the purpose. Perhaps Fralich could check off the “Other” category instead?
Fralich said he’d asked for guidance from the Augusta authorities and taken his lead from them but will investigate further and come back. The board took no formal action.
Board workshop on diversity, equity and inclusion. Member Dustin Ward had asked that the board discuss next steps regarding diversity, equity and inclusion. The board had issued statements after incidents of a painted swastika and burning of a pride flag, Ward noted. This agenda item would provide an opportunity “to think about what more we can do beyond just a statement.”
Ward, whose consulting work focuses on equity issues, proposed a workshop to educate the board “around what does diversity, equity and inclusion look like, and why is it important, given what has happened in our town.” That context and an understanding of their authority could prepare the board for possible “actions down the road,” he said, such as considering ordinances, principles and practices “that would be more effective for the town.” But as a first step, a DEI “learning opportunity for us,” Ward said.
Board chair Paul Larrivee said, “I’m fine with learning more about it.” Member Stephen Hathorne commented, “I’m not a real fan of this.” Hathorne said, “This tells me that we’re going to tell people what and how they need to think and how to react.” Instead, his job is “to run the town—our roads, our Fire Department, Rescue,” he said. “This, to me, is outside my reach.” “I’m not in favor of racism or not-inclusion,” but “I just don’t feel it is our responsibility as a town to do this.”
Ward replied that the town created a DEI Committee, and the Select Board was tasked with its oversight but has yet to take up the committee’s recommendations, for example. In early December 2022, a divided DEI Committee presented a report to the board with recommendations and a draft DEI statement for the town. Ward thought board training would provide context for their review.
Larrivee was on board with the workshop idea. “I know enough to know that I don’t know everything,” he said. “If there’s a chance to just educate us, I think that’s a great start.” Member Tammy Donovan followed, calling DEI a very sensitive topic. “I feel like what we’ve gone through as a town has created some people [who] don’t feel comfortable with saying how they truly feel, and then they don’t feel safe and they don’t feel welcome.”
Friendly agreements-to-disagree of the past have been replaced with an attitude of “‘If you don’t agree with me, then you’re wrong and you’re racist and you’re not right,’” Donovan said. She didn’t want something she or another board member might say at a workshop to be similarly held against them. The session should be “just for us” and not broadcast, she said.
Member Peter Bragdon asked Dustin Ward what “the end goal” would be. Ward said one objective is “how do we create an environment in our town that makes people feel both welcome to come into it and welcome to work in it.” Another goal is to help the board know how to be proactive with future incidents or issues and “pull people together,” he said.
Bragdon said that based on the phone calls and comments he gets, “DEI is dividing people more than it’s bringing people together.” He said he would join a training but thinks “it’s overstepping my role” as a board member “to make rules or ordinances for how people conduct themselves.” Mentioning DEI talks or presentations as an example, Bragdon said, “I will support anything someone in the community wants to do, but I don’t think it’s our role as a board.”
Ward acknowledged fellow members’ concerns. “I’m not looking for this to be fixed overnight. I know this is going to be a step-by-step process.”
In the end, a split board voted to hold a DEI training workshop for themselves and have Manager Bill Kerbin contact the Maine Municipal Association about a facilitator. The vote went 3-1-1, with Stephen Hathorne opposed and Dustin Ward abstaining because he has worked in a similar role with MMA. The board penciled in late September as a possible date for the workshop.
ERC next steps on recycling. Lauren Jordan, chair of the Environmental Resources Committee, returned to the Meetinghouse for guidance from the board about next steps on the committee’s recycling project. ERC’s research into New Gloucester’s practices yielded some information, Jordan said, but yet not enough to move forward. They proposed a community survey to get a sense of what recycling options residents might be interested in—for example, single stream—that would in turn give ERC direction to investigate.
Board members suggested a presentation by MMWAC (now Maine Waste to Energy), the Auburn facility that takes waste from New Gloucester and other area communities and generates electricity. Public Works Director Ted Shane, who oversees the Transfer Station and meets with MMWAC, will contact its John King about presenting. Shane noted that New Gloucester’s current costs are the lowest among comparable operations in-state.
The board suggested that ERC might consider developing questions for MWAC in advance. ERC’s Jordan expressed the hope that ERC could move forward with a community survey after the MMWAC presentation.
Other items. In other action, the board set July 24 as a tentative date for a workshop to review and revise the town’s Bylaws for Boards and Committees. The Bylaws address notice, agendas, attendance, meeting procedures, public comment and more. The board will look into whether the Bylaws conflict with new town charter provisions that take effect July 1, among other issues.
The board deferred setting the date for a Special Town Meeting. Zoning ordinance changes to bring the town into compliance with the new housing law, LD 2003, are among the meeting items. But a joint review meeting with the Select Board, Planning Board and Land Management Planning Committee must first be held, as well as a public hearing. Timing of the joint meeting remains TBA.
Resident Penny Hilton was appointed to the Ad Hoc Sesquicentennial Committee tasked with organizing a celebration next year of the town’s 250th. Plenty of good seats on the 15-person committee remain available.
To watch video of the Select Board’s May 15 meeting, click here. Find Select Board agendas and related documents at this link.
