Houlton council puts brakes on gas-price probe

HOULTON – A letter that would have prompted the Maine Attorney General’s Office to look into gas price irregularities in the community will not be mailed to Augusta, as a Town Council motion to approve and sign the letter failed, according to Town Manager Peggy Daigle.

The town drafted the letter last week after Councilor Michael Blanchard brought forward local concerns of noncompetitive gas pricing in town.

Concerns focused on lower prices in communities north and south of Houlton, though gas company officials have said the lower prices were because of price wars that temporarily were driving gas prices below market price.

In a 4-1 vote, town councilors decided not to approve the letter because “they didn’t think that it was anything that was within their control as councilors,” Daigle said Tuesday.

“[They] didn’t feel it was appropriate to take action on something that was market-driven and out of the control of a local group of politicians,” the town manager said.

One councilor was absent during the vote, and council Chairman Dale Flewelling did not vote on the issue, Daigle said. As chairman, Flewelling is required by town charter not to vote unless it is to break a tie, she said.

The letter will not be back on the agenda, Daigle said.

Blanchard, who declined to comment on the board’s decision, said residents should contact state officials with their concerns about local gas prices.

“As far as the town doing anything, it’s not going to happen, unfortunately,” Blanchard said Tuesday.