New Gloucester News Briefs

NG gravel road maintenance:

New Gloucester Public Works Director Kevin Doyle updated the Board of Selectmen on the progress being made on town roads. At the Board meeting on July 11, Mr. Doyle reported that Mayall, Town Farm, and Bennett roads were currently being worked on. Work on Tufts, Megquier, and Rowe Station Roads were to begin on Monday, July 18th. He noted that a backhoe would be available in two weeks for use on the dirt roads. Mr. Doyle is also working with D.O.T. on a road maintenance program and recommended the Town look into integrating a Road Service Management System (RSMS) with the Global Positioning System (GPS) that is already in place.

Town of NG renews lease with New Gloucester News:

At their Board meeting on July 11, New Gloucester Selectmen voted unanimously to renew a lease with the New Gloucester News. The newspaper leases a portion of the Library on Route 231, a renovated portion of the basement at the front of the building. The lessee will pay $100 per month for one year, for a total of $1,200. If payment difficulties arise, the lease allows other payment arrangements. If the paper receives additional revenues from inserts, the lease stipulates that the rent shall be renegotiated within 30 days. The lessee shall pay for all utility service, all electricity, and heat for that portion of the building. The Town will maintain the exterior of the premises and perform all necessary structural repairs. The lessee shall keep the interior of the premises in neat and clean condition and repair.

NG requests proposals for economic study:

At their July 25th meeting, the New Gloucester Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to send out a request for proposals for a Business and Economic Development Study. The Request for Proposals states that New Gloucester has nearly doubled its population from 2,811 in 1970 to the current estimate of over 5,000. The Town has evolved from a rural farming community to a bedroom community with mixed uses. The development of the Pineland campus and farms is further expected to affect infrastructure, businesses, land, and housing. The formal request states that the study "is needed to inventory and categorize New Gloucester's existing businesses, infrastructure, and resources; evaluate and project the effects of Pineland's development on existing resources; recommend economic development opportunities in the area; and recommend mechanisms to meet the demands for Town public and private services."

The request for proposals includes a description of the purpose of the study and a list of tasks. "The Town of New Gloucester needs to engage in long-range economic development planning to fully incorporate the impacts and benefits of the Pineland development. Activities such as an assessment of the economic health of the town, development of GIS tools (Geographic Information System), and promotional activities are included in this planning effort."

Project tasks will include:
1. Review recent documents including the comprehensive plan, land use and other town ordinances, and the Pineland TIF District application, as well as regional economic statistics and projects.
2. Review New Gloucester's current land development trends, natural resources, transportation patterns, growth trends, utility infrastructure, tax base, and demographics; and identify state and regional development initiatives, goals, and trends.
3. Conduct a survey of existing businesses; analyze and present survey results.
4. Assess New Gloucester's current and future economic health.
5. Identify the impacts (actual, likely, potential) of the Pineland development district.
6. Identify types of business or commercial development that make sense for New Gloucester, given its current development patterns, resources, and the accomplishment of reasonable infrastructure improvements.
7. Identify those portions of town where it may be economically feasible and prudent to extend or develop public utilities (water, sewer, electricity, telephone, and cable TV).
8. Recommend long-range economic development strategies.
9. Recommend strategies for improving existing infrastructure and public services.
10. Prepare a map showing current and future economic development opportunities.
11. Recommend strategies to counteract or pro-actively handle the effects of sprawl without sacrificing growth.
12. Develop a plan for a low-interest loan program.
13. Meet with Selectmen, Town staff, Zoning, Planning and a neighborhood group in the Upper Village to solicit their opinions on needed improvements.
The Business and Economic Development Study will be paid for from TIF district funds. The TIF district financial program application shows about $225,000 for long-range economic planning for the 30 year life of the TIF.

Pineland YMCA and NG may offer recreation programs:

At the July 25 Selectmen's Meeting, New Gloucester Town Manager Rosemary Kulow reported that the YMCA at Pineland wants to enter into a relationship with the Town to provide recreation programs to resident youths. They would like to discuss this option at the long-range planning workshop in late August and establish a working group with representatives from town to iron out the details. Before the long-range planning meeting, the working group comprised of Kevin Sullivan, Cliff Andrews, Scott Doyle, Linda Chase, and Rosemary Kulow have scheduled a meeting with representatives from the YMCA on August 12.

NG Assessor considers raising land values:
At the August 8 Board of Assessor's Meeting, Assessor's Agent Nancy Pinette submitted a report explaining the rationale for increasing taxpayers' land valuations. She stated that the ratio of assessed value to actual sale price for land had dropped to 72%. Under-assessed land has in turn lowered the ratio for land with homes to approximately 84% of market. Ms. Pinette updated Land Schedules 3 and 4 to more closely reflect the market in both vacant land and homes. Base lots in Schedule 3 would be increased 70% from $25,300 to $43,010. Base lots in Schedule 4 would increase 35%.

Those adjustments would bring the ratios of assessed value to market value to about 92% for residential properties. Taxpayers would notice these changes on their tax bill as an increase in their land valuation. These changes will increase the Town's total assessed value approximately $30 million. This adjustment in land value ratio would be more compliant with state law and assessments would be closer to market, allowing the Town to keep Homestead, Veteran, and Blind exemptions at their full amounts.

During the Regular Selectmen's meeting immediately after the Selectmen's meeting, the Selectmen approved Susan Doyle to serve on the Planning Board. Ms. Doyle has lived in New Gloucester for 22 years. She has worked 19 years for the State, working directly with local, state, and federal agencies.

At the end of the meeting, the Selectmen entered into executive session for two items: 1. to discuss the status of possible real property acquisition, and 2. to discuss legal counsel communications. When questioned for further details regarding item 2, Town Manager Rosemary Kulow stated the matter related to pending or contemplated litigation wherein premature disclosure would disadvantage the Town.