Town recognizes Guilford of Maine

GUILFORD – Pleased by the strides Guilford of Maine has made to become environmentally friendly, municipal officials last week voted to nominate the company for a federal award.

A leader in the textile industry, Guilford of Maine has a reputation for its use of innovative techniques to decrease natural resource use. Its efforts already were recognized when, in 1998, the company received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Pollution Prevention. Later, the Environmental Protection Agency accepted the Guilford facility into the National Environmental Achievement Track Program, which recognized the company’s leading by example and modeling of environmental excellence.

Through the changes made in production, the classification of the Piscataquis River has improved. In addition, the company has reduced the amount of resources it takes directly from the earth by recycling and it demands a certain responsibility for the environment from its suppliers, according to Guilford Town Manager Tom Goulette. Even though the company has been recognized at the state and federal level, the town, too, wants the company to know that it’s a good corporate neighbor.

“I want them to have some recognition for it,” Goulette said Monday. The Board of Selectmen wholeheartedly approved his recommendation that the company be nominated for a federal Environmental Merit Award.

Selectmen last week also embraced, with some revisions, a proposed land use ordinance that brings the town’s existing laws under one ordinance. Rather than have the town detail specifics and enforcement actions regarding timber harvesting, the board recommended that the town follow the Forest Products Act and Maine Forest Guidelines.

The proposed ordinance, along with a proposed parking ordinance, will be presented to residents for adoption at the annual town meeting. Goulette said town officials have received many complaints about motorists parking on the wrong side of the street, particularly at the post office.

In other business last week, the board stamped a $400,000 downtown grant application. Town officials and a downtown revitalization committee are working to improve the downtown. If the town receives the grant, local in-kind service can be applied as the town’s match, according to the town manager.

The committee hopes to purchase the vacant lot created when the Braeburn Hotel was destroyed by fire. Goulette said the town does not want to be in real estate, but, with the purchase, town officials will have some control about its future.

Selectmen also directed Goulette to complete fire protection contracts with Parkman and Abbot. The town has provided coverage to both communities for $10,000 each, but because runs have doubled, the contract fee will increase to $12,000 this year. Goulette said the Fire Department has 16 firefighters trained in various degrees of emergency response, from first responders to paramedics. When an ambulance is called to Guilford and these two communities, the appropriately trained firefighters are asked to assist.