September 11, 2014
Maine

Dixfield selectmen schedule special meeting to discuss wind ordinance

MATTHEW DAIGLE, Staff Writer | Sun Journal | September 10, 2014 | www.sunjournal.com

DIXFIELD – The Board of Selectmen voted Monday to schedule a special selectmen meeting to address additional changes to the town’s Wind Energy Facility Ordinance, Town Manager Carlo Puiia said Tuesday morning.

The ordinance was approved in 2012 and revisions began in January 2013.

Patriot Renewables of Quincy, Mass., approached Dixfield officials three years ago about constructing 13 wind turbines on a Colonel Holman Mountain ridge. The corporation has been conducting research on the ridge, including wind tests, bird studies and environmental impacts.

Selectmen met with lawyer Kristin Collins of Kelly and Collins on Monday evening to discuss several revisions that she and the town’s Planning Board made to the ordinance, including removing setback limits on the town’s scenic resources, decommissioning and permit fees.

“When we concluded with Kristin Collins, we agreed that she would come back to Dixfield at a later date with some recommended language changes to address the items we brought before her,” Puiia said. “Before that, the board agreed to schedule a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15. Time is of the essence, and the board wants to get this ordinance ready for the November ballot.

“I took the list of the changes throughout our conversation, and we’ll continue to revise it,” Puiia added.

In other business, Puiia said the board discussed the upcoming vacancy of the Dixfield chief of police position.

Chief Richard Pickett plans to retire sometime in early 2015, Puiia said, and the board is taking the first steps toward finding his replacement.

“The board agreed to contact the Maine Chiefs of Police Association to inquire about the process they offer in searching for a new chief,” Pickett said. “The Maine Chiefs of Police Association is responsible for preparing the interview process and assisting the towns. The board gave me the authority to contact them and begin discussing the first steps.”


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2014/09/11/dixfield-selectmen-schedule-special-meeting-to-discuss-wind-ordinance/