This is the latest in a series of bi-weekly “joint statements” reporting on progress to resolving the proposed abandonment of three dams, one of which has created Toddy Pond as currently known.
Representatives from the 5 Town Dam Committee met at the Bucksport Town Office on Wednesday, December 18 to discuss new developments regarding Bucksport Mill LLC’s petition to abandon the Toddy, Alamoosook, and Silver Lake dams.
Continue reading “Toddy Pond Dam: 12/19 Joint Statement”12/5/24 JOINT STATEMENT
5 TOWN DAM COMMITTEE
(SILVER, ALAMOOSOOK, TODDY)
Representatives from the 5 Town Dam Committee met at the Bucksport Town Office on Wednesday, December 4th to discuss new developments regarding Bucksport Mill LLC’s petition to abandon the Toddy, Alamoosook, and Silver Lake dams.
Continue reading “Joint Statement: 5 Town Dam Committee”The agenda for Monday’s Select Board meeting is available here.
A Special Town Meeting has been scheduled for Monday, November 25, 2024 at 5:30pm in the Select Board Room at Town Hall.
In addition to selecting a moderator for the meeting, the sole article to be considered is whether Blue Hill should participate, together with Orland, Penobscot, and Surry, in the statutory “consultation” process associated with the proposed abandonment of the Toddy Pond Dam.
Here is the text of the article:
Shall the Town participate in the statutory consultation process (see 38 M.R.S. § 902), together with other towns affected by the petition to abandon ownership of the Toddy Pond dam and/or Alamoosook Lake dam, to obtain sufficient information about the dam and the towns’ legal options of facilitating an agreement for dam ownership, including whether to participate in or otherwise support a group that would accept ownership of the dam?
The full warrant has been posted at Town Hall and on the Hannaford’s bulletin board.
Public Meeting at Maine Maritime Academy’s training facility in Bucksport on Thursday, November 14 at 5:00pm (details)
As you may be aware, Toddy Pond is what it is because of a dam in Orland that maintains the water level. This dam, originally associated with the paper mill in Bucksport, is now the subject of a petition by Bucksport Mill LLC has petitioned the DEP for permission to abandon the dam. Two other dams (creating Alamoosook Lake and Silver Lake) are also proposed to be abandoned.
In the event a new owner (prepared to maintain the dam(s) going forward) is not identified, Maine DEP’s preferred action is apparently to order release of the water held by the dam, which would all but drain the three water bodies.
Continue reading “The End of Toddy Pond?”The Blue Hill Select Board is considering consolidating and replacing its existing traffic ordinance with an updated version. Attached is a draft of the new ordinance being considered, for which public comment is sought.
Of particular interest is the public’s feedback on the proposal to make a portion of Mill Street one way for safety purposes and on parking arrangements in the vicinity of the Falls Bridge. But there are a variety of other changes incorporated in the ordinance; interested parties are encouraged to review the entire draft.
Anyone wishing to comment the draft is invited to do so in writing (delivered to the Town Office), by email (to townadmin@bluehillme.gov), or by attending a public hearing to be held at the Town Hall on Wednesday, October 2, at 6:00pm.
As part of an effort to make its practices clearer and more consistent, the Select Board plans to codify its “street tree” policy—particularly which tree care costs will be borne by the Town and which will not.
The Select Board expects to consider adoption of a policy at its September 16 meeting. Prior to doing so, however, the Board hereby invites public comment on the proposed policy, either via an email to selectboard@bluehillme.gov or, in person, at the September 16 Select Board meeting.
In short, proposed policy provides that the Town will pay for 100% of the costs of caring for trees on Town property and 50% of the cost of care for trees in a public right of way (with the other 50% to be paid by the property owner). Care for trees on private property outside of the public right of way are the responsibility of the private property owner.
The Town of Blue Hill is looking for applicants to join our Public Works Department. This is a full-time position with competitive pay and benefits package (pay rage $28-32hr DOE).
Continue reading “Full-time Public Works Opportunity”The public hearing for amendments to the Blue HIll Traffic Ordinance, originally scheduled for August 19, has been postponed (to provide more time to refine the proposed draft ordinance). No new date has been identified.
The public will receive at least seven days’ advance notice of the hearing, when it is scheduled, via the Town website and physical notices at the Town Hall and Hannaford’s. Copies of the draft ordinance also will be available at that time.
The Select Board is considering amending the Blue Hill Traffic Ordinance and will hold a public hearing to receive public comment on a proposal to repeal and replace the Blue Hill Traffic Ordinance, including designated “no parking” areas, crosswalks, traffic control signage, making Mill St. one-way and other changes.
The Select Board will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting on August 19 at 5:30pm.