Bradley councilors to consider debate on Basin Mills proposal

BRADLEY — The Town Council will discuss Tuesday a proposal to sponsor a debate between both sides of the Basin Mills issue.

A similar debate recently was held on the Maine Public Broadcasting Network show, “Woods and Waters,” during which representatives from the Bangor Hydro-Electric Co. debated opponents of the project. Town Manager Rose Marie Brooks said Monday that councilors would discuss a proposal to hold a similar debate in the town.

The council will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 29, in the municipal building.

The Basin Mills project calls for Bangor Hydro to build a new dam on the Penobscot River, to make alterations to the Veazie dam, and to construct power houses in Eddington and Bradley. Also, Bangor Hydro has offered to build recreation sites for the four towns involved in the project — Bradley, Veazie, Orono and Eddington.

The project has run into problems from environmentalists who fear that the $100 million project would damage the river and the fisheries in it, and state officials who have issued delays in approving the design.