News Briefs

Gray's Budget Proposal
By Janet Neal

Gray--Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz officially presented his budget proposal to the Council at their meeting on March 2. He stressed that the budget is still a work in progress and that some changes would likely occur. As presented, however, the tax impact would be an increase of $94 per $100,000 of property value. That does not include school or county increases. The budget as presented did not include cost of living adjustments nor salary increases, either.

Berkowitz stated that he was pleased that revenues always exceed projections, and that the Town doesn't always spend all of its adopted budget. The surpluses collect in the Undesignated Fund Balance and this "represents the wealth of our community" he said, and lessens any need to borrow money. The budget proposal includes spending $700,000 from this Undesignated Fund Balance: $400,000 to start a reserve account for a Town Office Center, and $300,000 for bridge work.

The Council will hold a budget workshop on Thursday, March 11 at 7:00 at Stimson Hall and a public hearing on Tuesday, March 16 for public questions and comments.

Budget summaries can be picked up at the Town Office. Large binders with hundreds of pages of detailed information are available for perusal by the public at the Town Office and Library.

Status of the Bypass
By Janet Neal

Gray - At the March 2 Town Council Meeting, MDOT representatives gave Councilors an update on the progress and status of the bypass project. In the past, Councilors and citizens have expressed frustration with a lack of visible progress. Holly Anderson, MDOT Project Manager, explained that one reason for the extra time was because land owners were being approached up front, sooner in the process, rather than near the end.

She anticipated being ready for a public meeting some time in the spring of 2004, finalizing the precise work plan, and then advertising for contract bids in the late fall of 2005. "Moving dirt" could begin as early as that winter, or in the spring of 2006. She stated that "the money is still in the budget…it's not going anywhere, as far as I know."

Jeff McEwen is with HNTB Architects Engineers Planners, the engineering firm working with the Turnpike Authority. He described the work to be done on the section of road from Exit 11, left onto 202/115, and over the bridge, toward the access to the bypass. McEwen stated that the bridge would be widened to three lanes, with bicycle shoulders five feet wide. One lane would be eastbound toward the Village, and two lanes would be west bound, one to continue straight on 202 and one to be a dedicated right hand turn onto the bypass near Northbrook Business Park.

Michael Danforth, a right-of way appraiser for MDOT reported that the wetland mitigation study was on schedule and that he would soon have a map for alternative wetlands. Someone would have to be willing to have these alternative wetlands on their property. Danforth is currently working with about two dozen property owners regarding issues of compensation for land taking and for decreased value of parcels left "orphaned" or less accessible or otherwise diminished in value. He stated that he is approximately 18 months away from being able to make compensation offers.

Chair Pam Wilkinson stated that the town has targeted that area for potential business development, and would need more access roads to/from the bypass. But MDOT Senior Technician Brian Kittridge stated that the bypass would have only "limited access", and that three access points were already in the tentative plan. Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz requested that Town representatives be involved with negotiating where those limited access roads might be, in order to preserve the commercial development potential of the parcels west of the bypass. He strongly urged the MDOT to consider the Towns wishes before the modeling construct is completed, probably in June 2004.

Democrats to meet
New Gloucester--The inaugural meeting of the newly formed New Gloucester Democratic Committee will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, March 7 at a private home on the Penney Road. Any New Gloucester resident who is a registered Democrat is welcome to come! We could use your input to strengthen our fledgling group and ensure the advancement of the Party in the upcoming elections.

A few of the topics to be discussed include: revising and/or approving bylaws, forming standing committees, the election of officers, and coordination with the Gray Democratic Committee.

For more information and specific directions, please contact Joanne Jaccaci, 926-5933, or e-mail her at gusandjoanne@earthlink.net.

County Commissioners discuss Interoperability Emergency Communications Study
The Board of Cumberland County Commissioners, Esther B. Clenott, Gary E Plummer, and Richard J Feeney, convened a meeting on January 12, 2004. Peter Crichton, County Manager, reported that there has been progress on the work that is being made regarding the Request For Proposals (RFP) for the Interoperability Emergency Communications Study. Jane Duncan, Deputy County Manager, Bill Holmes, Communications Director, and Lauren Carrier, Consultant, have prepared a draft RFP. They recently met with the Communications Board of Directors and are close to finalizing the RFP. There are a number of vendors who will be receiving the RFP.

Internet upgrade for County Deeds Office
The Commissioners voted to approve the Cumberland County Deeds Office Pricing Model for the Internet. The Manager reported that this was an important step for Cumberland County Government. In 2001, the Strategic Planning Technology Subcommittee looked at taking advantage of technology, and suggested that the Registry of Deeds investigate the possibility of providing services to the citizens through the internet. Jack O'Brien, Register of Deeds, Mary Najarian, past Deputy Register of Deeds, Pam Lovley, current Deputy Register of Deeds, and Vic Labrecque, Finance Director, worked together to reach that goal. O'Brien reported that they have established a pricing model for internet access to the Registry of Deeds land record database. In an effort to upgrade current customer services to include the internet access, a contract addendum was accepted and agreed to by Cumberland County and ACS State and Local Solutions. Phase one introduced the public to the database free of cost through the end of February. Phase two is effective March 1, 2004 with a fee schedule of $.50 per search, $.25 per view, and a $50.00 per month subscription fee.