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Pennell Stay extended again

On July 30, Gray Town Manager Mitchell A. Berkowitz reported that "We have received the filing of the motion to extend the stay regarding the stipulated judgment rendered on June 13, 2003 by the Court. This is an extension of the original action by the Town at that time. The motion to extend was agreed to by the Town and the MSAD #15 to August 31, 2005 extending the time for the parties to work out the disposition issues of the Pennell and Anderson Laboratory and related trust properties....We are awaiting the signature of the Justice to affirm the motion to extend."

Statewide forest study opportunity for middle and high school teachers

Maine, with close to 90% forest cover, ranks #1 in the US. That is one reason teachers are joining other Maine educators who are learning how to establish a Forest Inventory Growth (FIG) plot with their students at a nearby forest with a professional forester as a partner, according to Pat Maloney, Project Learning Tree Coordinator for the state.

This interdisciplinary high school and middle school training, presented by experienced teachers, foresters and UMO Forestry professors, includes history, use of measurement tools, and access to an interactive website. Once a plot is set up, students will collect, store and compare forest ecology data with other participating Maine schools.

Training will take place on August 14, 15 and 16, 2005 at the Schoodic Education and Research Center on Frenchmen's Bay. Registration and the $50 fee are due July 18. Other expenses for this highly rated professional development opportunity will be paid for with a grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund, which covers meals, overnights at the Schoodic Center and a FIG kit that provides all the tools and resource materials necessary to set up local FIG plots.

The 2.5 day training and curriculum is fully aligned with Maine Learning Results and National Standards, and a LAD assessment will be introduced that can be used with this project.

Registration is limited to Maine high school and middle school teachers. Interested educators can call Pat Maloney at 626-7990 for further details, or send registration and a $50 check to: Maine Project Learning Tree; P.O. Box 344; Augusta, Maine 04332, with FIG TRAINING noted on the check. More information can also be obtained by e-mailing meplt@gwi.net or visiting the Project Learning Tree website at www.mainetreefoundation.org

NG Manager sought for MMA Executive Committee

New Gloucester Town manager Rosemary Kulow has been asked to run for the MMA Executive Committee, a Committee within the MMA which sets policy and is considered an honor on which to serve.

The towns of New Gloucester, Gray, Raymond, and
Standish have voted to nominate Ms. Kulow by petition for a position on
the MMA Executive Committee. Selectmen Chair Steve Libby has contacted other communities for their support, as well. The deadline to submit petitions was July 8th.

Ms. Kulow did serve on the Executive Committee once before for a few
months in 1992 before she moved back to Wisconsin to serve as Platteville's city manager. Ms. Kulow was city manager of Eastport at the time and had spent a short time on the Executive Committee when she had to leave. "It was a very valuable experience, however, and provided an inside view into policy-making for MMA's various services to municipalities," Ms. Kulow said.

The election will be held at the MMA office on Friday, August 19, 2005.

The Executive Committee is established by the Maine Municipal Association Bylaws and serves as the corporate governing body for the Maine Municipal Association. Major responsibilities include: establishing the mission and setting the direction for the organization; employment and evaluation of the chief executive officer; development of policies that guide the functions and relationships of the Association; serving as Trustees of the MMA Worker's Compensation Fund; and serving as the nucleus of the governing board for the MMA Property and Casualty Pool Program. The Executive Committee has overall governance, strategic planning and fiscal responsibility for MMA, including an annual operating budget of approximately $100 million and custody of $116 million in assets.

The Committee is composed of 12 elected or appointed municipal officials including a President, Immediate Past President and Vice President serving one-year terms and nine Executive Committee members serving three-year staggered terms. Executive Committee members are elected by mail ballot by the full membership in August of each year so that new board members may be involved in the strategic planning and budget process for the coming year. Although elected in August and obligated to participate in the fall meetings, new board members formally take office the first of the calendar year. The Executive Committee typically holds regular monthly meetings, which are usually held at the MMA Office. This also includes a September strategic planning meeting. The Strategic and Finance Committee, a standing sub-committee of the Executive Committee, also meets on a regular basis throughout the year. A recent bylaw amendment provides attendance requirements for board meetings.