EDDINGTON SELECTMEN'S MEETING - OCTOBER 28 - AN "ENERGETIC" AGENDA

It was a busy agenda that was scheduled for last night in the Eddington Town Office - and an informative one. All Board member were present with the Exception of Don Goodwin.

This writer was a bit late and therefore missed most of Fire Chief Ellis's report, which had to do with Staff Scheduling and Regionalization. Readers interested in finding out what the Chief had to say should contact Town Manager Russell Smith for a copy of the meeting minutes.

Sheriff's Deputy Mason reported that the Route 9 road construction is supposed to be done by this Saturday, October 2. We'll see. The crew still needs to do the paint striping which shouldn't take much time but...we'll see. Deputy Mason said that, with the improved road and fewer obstructions, he's seeing more speeding, more OUIs, and more marijuana "problems." That is resulting in more tickets, etc. Just a warning, people. There have also been a few home burglaries and attempted burglaries. Deputy Mason suggested that some individuals may be trying to get in their last licks before the winter snows and summer folks lock up and leave for parts south. A word to the wise to lock up before going into town for shopping, one would think.

The BIG PARTS of the agenda came under New Business:

ECOMAINE, represented by Allison McReady, is making a bid to bring Single Stream Recycling to Eddington. Ms. McReady provided a PowerPoint presentation showing how Single Stream Recycling (where more items can be recycled than the ones currently processed by the Bangor Processing Center and which do not have to be sorted by item) can be gathered and compressed in a single truck) can save costs to a community.

It was a detailed presentation with many possible benefits to a community. The Bottom Line of the presentation was that, at no cost to the town, Ms. McReady will provide a cost analysis for the Town of Eddington to see if Single Stream Recycling would be beneficial for Eddington on both a cost basis and a potential recycling basis. What this writer liked, in particular was that ECOMAINE transports its collected and compacted recycled trash to Portland, ME where it is sorted and sold to various places all over the world (including places in Maine) to be turned into re-usable products. This generates jobs IN MAINE. While there is one other competitor in the single stream recycling business operating in Maine, that company transports its compacted trash to Massachusetts for distribution. No jobs for Mainers there. The more Mainers being employed, the better for our state's economy. And that's better for our tax base - our school district funding. What goes around comes around. Now THAT'S Recycling!!!

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Then there was a loooong discussion about the Planning Board's proposed/work on Wind Energy Ordinance.

Bottom Line: The initial Eddington Town Moratorium had an expiration date of October 1, 2010. State law is that there can only be one extension to any Moratorium. The Planning Board was requesting one such extension to allow time for up to two Public Hearings on the proposed Wind Energy Ordinance. This would allow time for any Public Feedback and subsequent changes/corrections if needed before the proposed Ordinance would have to go to a Required Town Meeting for a Vote.

It was suggested the Board authorize a 180-Day extension (the maximum allowed) or until the Ordinance was approved or voted down. (What will happen if the Ordinance, with whatever changes may come to pass, is voted down - with no more Moratorium allowed, is unclear in this writer's mind. Maybe the town is then required to go with the standards the state has written which this writer has heard are less stringent than those being proposed by the Eddington Planning Board. Maybe not so good.)

At first the Board was equally split on extending any Moratorium at all. Chairwoman Brooks and Vice Chair Grover were for the extension; Board members Baker and Lyford were opposed. With Member Goodwin absent and unable to break the tie (he usually votes with the Chair) the Moratorium extension appeared dead in the water. Not so good. There was discussion that there were no applications for any wind towers currently pending; however, what would happen if there was an application after October 2 and there was no extension of the Moratorium. There would be no ordinance to prevent any wind tower farms to be approved (or maybe it would only have to meet the state's standards).

With reluctance, Chairwoman Brooks allowed this writer to speak up (it was not Public Access time and this writer in not a member of the Planning Board or the Selectmen). But I felt it was important to speak before the matter became moot. I pointed out that extending the Moratorium was only a Safety Net for the town. Without the extension, there was simply not enough time for the Public Hearings, feedback from town members, any changes, etc. or even the Town Meeting to vote on the Ordinance. It was clear, the only person who might change his vote was Charles Baker. Peter Lyford seemed adamant to let the Ordinance die. ???

The vote was reconsidered and Baker did change his vote and the Moratorium was extended for 180 days or until the vote is taken (one way or another).

And THEN...a presentation from EOLIAN Renewable Energy was made as represented by two men - Travis Bullard being the primary representative. Their presentation was worth listening to, I must say. Not the multi-page letter read with objections to various standards that are included in the Eddington Planning Board proposed Wind Ordinance. The issues read in the letter got lost in a blur of sound - BUT the power-point map that followed - showing sound levels from the top of Black Cap mountain which is the ONLY spot where EOLIAN is proposing to create a wind farm (of ?? wind towers) to where homes are located near Highway 46. That Map IS Significant - as are the sound levels NOW of numerous areas where there are NO Wind Towers. Then compare those NATURAL noise levels to the sound levels in the proposed Ordinance.

EOLIAN also stated they do have a project for Eddington they would like to submit for construction IF the final and approved Ordinance will work for them. It may generate up to $120,000/annually for the town in taxes and up to $2.4 million over the life of the project in addition to the employment opportunities. Something we may want to hear more about.

I saw members of the Planning Board watch that map and the sound levels and listen to the objections (and explanations) and it was my impression the members of the Planning Board may be talking today..... Perhaps there will be some changes in the proposed Ordinance even before the Pubic Hearings. Who knows.

BUT, in order for that map and that information to be presented/included at the Eddington Town Meeting where the final vote will be taken, the EOLAIN representatives will have to be allowed to speak (it's in the rules because they are not voters/residents). Just something to remember.

The meeting adjourned at 8:30pm. Like I said, it was a long night and a Big agenda. But a good one. well worth attending.