The snow is piled higher than it’s been in dozens of years but Friends of Lamoine is still working for better town government. Our efforts are in several areas.
Monday night’s (2/2/15) scheduled meeting with the Lamoine Board of Appeals was cancelled due to winter storm Linus. We were hoping to appeal the decision by Code Enforcement Officer Michael Jordan in which he rejected our demand that the Gott garage project requires a gravel permit, since it called for the removal or disturbance of 70,000 cubic yards of gravel. This is equivalent to excavating an acre of land down 43 feet! We are awaiting a decision on a new date. Meanwhile, we assume gravel from this illegal pit continues to leave Lamoine.
The Board of Selectmen’s new proposed gravel ordinance continues to slowly simmer on Lamoine’s back burner. This re-write process was strongly suggested by non-resident gravel interests as a way to avoid a lawsuit against the town. The Board’s new version, now up to the 4th draft, contains provisions favored by the gravel interests. The Lamoine Planning Board’s Chair, John Holt, has written a detailed critique here. Friends of Lamoine anticipate that a final version will appear eventually on the ballot, and will require our action.
Finally, a very important issue for Lamoine’s future currently rests in the Maine State Superior Court. This is the proposed Cousin’s Hill (a.k.a. Miro’s Hill) pit. After the court reaches a decision on a technicality, the appeal of the Planning Board’s denial of the project will go to Lamoine’s Board of Appeals. Friends of Lamoine hopes to take whatever legal measures it can to prevent this catastrophe.
With three balls in the air Friends of Lamoine is having a busy winter. We have begun a fundraising campaign to provide legal assistance, campaign materials and outreach. Your help is needed. Please email friendsoflamoine@lamoine.org for more details.
