MACHIAS – Community members at an informational forum at the University of Maine at Machias indicated Tuesday afternoon they aren’t happy with having had little input into or information about the University of Maine System’s strategic plan.

About 70 people, many of them faculty members who stayed after their own meeting, took part in the public forum.

They left with a resolve to send strong letters to the UM system office and the office of Gov. John Baldacci in the next few days. They put their names and e-mail addresses on a list in hopes that when Machias talks, the decision makers will listen.

Noting that the system’s seven university presidents have had an audience with the trustees concerning the plan and that UMM’s faculty will be represented at a systemwide faculty summit June 29-30, community leaders said they have felt left out of the planning process.

“This is a public relations debacle,” said Machias resident Charles Lightner.

“This plan was rolled out way too fast without any participation from the public,” said Kathy Sparaga, a member of UMM’s Board of Visitors.

“It’s hard to act on good faith and give input to the process without knowing if we will be listened to,” said another attendee.

The public comment period on the plan ends a week from today.

Under the draft, the UMM campus would be merged with the University of Maine campuses at Presque Isle and Fort Kent to form a new entity, the University of Northern Maine.

The three campuses would gain graduate programs but would lose their individual presidents and autonomy.

That has been the prevailing sentiment since the Machias community learned of the trustees’ proposal in April, when the system’s chancellor, vice chancellor and three trustees spent a day in Machias. They heard from all segments of the UMM family: faculty and staff, students and the general public who have a stake in UMM’s growth and energy.

Tuesday’s challenge was to try to identify a message that community members hope will be appreciated.

They want trustees to realize the economic impact of the university in the rural region. In 2002-03, UMM spent $11.6 million and employed 140 full-time and part-time employees. Additionally, UMM’s 1,300 students spend a significant amount of money within Washington County each year.

They want UMM’s mission as the Center for Downeast Coastal Studies respected.

They also wondered what specific savings would be gained by the proposal and how that would realistically happen.

The public meeting, presided over by UMM interim president Sue Huseman, lasted two hours. It followed a two-hour meeting of UMM’s faculty.

“What we are puzzling through is, if the merger with the other campuses has to happen, how can it be done productively and creatively, given our geographic and other differences?” Huseman said. “How can we all work together to create a brighter future for UMM and our community?

The frustration aired in both meetings is how precious time is now for letting trustees know what needs to be preserved as changes are imposed on UMM.

In April the chancellor’ office invited the public to respond by e-mail to the plan posted on the system’s Web site – www.maine.edu. But those in Machias would like more face-to-face interaction with the chancellors to have basic questions answered before a revised plan is announced Sept. 7 and goes to a vote of the trustees on Sept. 20.

The chancellor’s office was aware of Tuesday’s meeting, Huseman said, but no chancellors or trustees said they would come and none did.