DEPT. OF CONSERVATION

            Back in 2009 an ecologist from the Dept. of Conservation in Augusta contacted the Board of Selectmen on behalf of the Maine Natural Areas Program regarding conducting a survey to relocate and update the status of an exemplary wetland habitat, a Spruce Fir Cinnamon Fern Forest off Route 11 in Shapleigh (Tax Map 10 Lot 9).  After receiving permission to access this property, the ecologists did a survey of the site that summer.  They relocated the area identified as Spruce Fir Cinnamon Fern Forest, and while it is a good example of a forested wetland, it does not meet the size or character criteria to be considered a high quality example of this community type (“exemplary”).  As a result the Dept. of Conservation is de-mapping it and removing this feature from its database. 

            Although this site does not support a rare or exemplary natural community, it still represents a large block of undeveloped forested wetland that provides important functions and values for wildlife, floodflow alteration, groundwater recharge, and buffer to the adjacent rare community types.  Information regarding this program is available on the internet at http://www.maine.gov/doc/nrimc/mnap

MMA LEGISLATIVE POLICY COMMITTEE

            The election season is about to get fully underway and competitive claims for bold new visions of state government are beginning to fill the air.  When the next legislative session begins in January 2011, a newly-elected Legislature will inhabit the State House and a new Governor will reside in the Blaine House. 

            How are Maine’s towns and cities going to be treated by the new Administration and Legislature?  How will we characterize the intergovernmental relationship in Maine two years from now?

            To put those questions into some context, this outgoing Legislature has overseen

·        A significant retreat on the goal of paying for 55% of public school funding with broad-based tax revenues;

·        Unprecedented raids on municipal revenue sharing;

·        A serious weakening of the Homestead property tax exemption enacted 12 years ago; and

·        Deep cuts to the Tree Growth reimbursements that are so important to some of Maine’s most rural communities.

How is the new Governor going to propose dealing with a structural biennial budget deficit that some people believe will approach $1 billion?

The Maine Municipal Association (MMA) takes its direction on all questions regarding the goings-on at the State House in Maine from 70 elected and appointed municipal officials serving in towns and cities throughout the state who are chosen by their peers to serve on the MMA’s Legislative Policy Committee (LPC).  The first task of the new LPC after it is elected will be to develop the legislative changes Maine’s municipal officials believe should be submitted to the 125^th Legislature.  All municipalities in Maine, including Shapleigh, are now in the process of nominating their candidates to serve on this diverse policy committee which is so vitally important to MMA.

TRAINING

            Selectman Charles L. Mullins has completed all the necessary requirements of the Local Project Administration certification course presented by the Maine Dept. of Transportation.  As such, he has accumulated 5 professional development hours and 5 continuing education credits.

TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK

            Dedicated to the teachers at the Shapleigh Memorial School, the following poem has been submitted by the Parent Teachers Club:

Rarely does someone

Get to influence a person’s life

in a positive way

for a lifetime,

as a teacher can,

fostering optimism and confidence,

providing knowledge that leads to success

and being a good role model,

as you have,

and you are,

and you will….

forever.

We’ll remember you always.

Thank you.

LIBRARIAN’S REPORT

            Gene Smith, Librarian of the Shapleigh Community Library has submitted the following report to the Board of Selectmen regarding the activity during the month of April 2010 as compared to April of 2009.

            Year                 2010                2009

            Fiction              184                  178

            Non-fiction         22                    17

            Juvenile/YA      122                    76

            Renewals              8                    10

            Periodicals            4                      7

            Videos             101                    96

            Fines                $76.70             $19.00

            Sales                $  3.00             $  4.00

            New Patrons        5                      9

            Patrons 178 Adults       161 Adults

            Patrons   49 Juvenile       47 Juvenile

            Total patrons    227                  208

The Shapleigh Community Library is open on the summer schedule of Tuesday 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and again at 6p.m. until 8 p.m.; and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.  These hours will be in effect throughout the summer months until August 31.  FMI call 636-3630 during those hours.

REMINDER

The Shapleigh Transfer Station is now on summer hours:  Tuesday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  All persons using the facility must have a valid Transfer Station Permit available at the Shapleigh Town Hall.  FMI call 636-2843 ext 401.

GROWTH PERMITS ISSUED

            Robert Rizzo of Springvale has been approved for a Residential Growth Permit by the Planning Board for property located on White Tail Lane in the North Country Land Company subdivision off Route 11.

            Stephen Eastman of Merimac MA has been issued a Residential Growth Permit for a seasonal conversion for Tax Map 23 Lot 10A off 23rd St, Mousam Lake.

            To date, there have been only two such permits issued in the year 2010, quite different from several years ago when the economy was bustling.  At that time most permits were gone before the end of January of each year.

LIBRARY EXPANSION

            Art Bryant, Chairman of the Shapleigh Community Library Trustees, applied to the Planning Board for a Conditional Use Permit to place a single story addition on the Shapleigh Community Library at 607 Shapleigh Corner Road.  Abutters within 500 feet have been notified.  Comments may be submitted to the Planning Board concerning this application.  The next scheduled Planning Board meeting will be Tuesday, May 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Shapleigh Town Hall.  Prior to this meeting there will be a Public Hearing at 7 p.m. to which all interested persons are invited to attend.

PLANNING BOARD

            Two Best Possible Locations (BPL’s) were approved by the Shapleigh Planning Board recently.  One was for 11 Acorn Way to put in a full foundation and a second for 92 Cedar Drive to replace an existing structure.  Site inspections, notice to abutters, review of material received and pertinent Zoning Ordinances took place prior to any action by the Planning Board.

VIOLATIONS

            Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) Steve McDonough has cited several property owners who have waste water disposal systems that have failed.  The properties, which all share a common septic system, are located in Pine Springs on Emily Lane, a peninsula section of the development.  Inspection by the CEO revealed that sewerage was bubbling out of the ground, approximately within 100 feet of Pine Springs Lake.  Owners have 10 days from the receipt of the violation order to abate the nuisance in accordance with the State of Maine Plumbing Code and all other applicable laws.  If the order is not timely complied with, the Municipal Officers may undertake said abatement at municipal expense and recover all such expenses, including reasonable Attorney’s fees, by means of a special tax or civil action.

            A lunch truck has been operating on property of Scott Cobbett at 217 Emery Mills Road in violation of the Shapleigh Zoning Ordinance.  Cobbett received a Conditional Use Permit from the Planning Board in January of 2005 to operate a home occupation to sell lobster that he caught, but the resale of purchased merchandise does not qualify for a home occupation.  Also during the January 2005 hearing Cobbett stated that the flea market would be held inside the existing building only with the exception of a few hanging plants for sale outside the building and there would be no eating on site; the lobsters were to be purchased as take-out only.  The placement of the lunch truck occupies part of the required parking space for the businesses that are allowed.  Since eating establishments are not allowed in the Shoreland District and resale of purchased merchandise will not be considered as a home occupation, Code Enforcement Officer Steve McDonough notified Cobbett to cease all food sales from the lunch truck and remove it from the required parking area.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

If you have ever considered creating your very own Penny Rug the opportunity now presents itself for beginners to learn how to do so.  Instructor Linda Aaskov will be conducting a beginner class at the Alfred Shaker Museum on Saturday, May 15, 2010 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The cost of the class is $35.00 with the pattern being supplied by Aaskov.  The list of supplies needed for the class will be given to the applicant upon registration.  FMI and to register call Linda at 207-490-5709 as soon as possible.