Dover-Foxcroft gets state OK for town comprehensive plan

DOVER-FOXCROFT – Selectmen learned Monday that the State Planning Office found the town’s comprehensive plan consistent with the goals and guidelines of the Comprehensive Planning and Land Use Regulation Act.

A comprehensive plan is a decision-making tool for officials and residents to guide future growth and development and it serves as a guide for the creation of ordinances.

Towns that have such a document are given preference for local grants and loans, according to Dover-Foxcroft Town Manager Jack Clukey.

“It’s a huge step forward; we can see the finish line ahead of us,” Clukey said Monday.

Copies of the plan will be distributed throughout the community for review before a public hearing likely to be held in June.

Residents can comment on the document but if the wording is changed significantly it can alter the state’s approval. Clukey said a local vote on the document probably will be held in November.

Selectmen rejected a proposed change in hours for the town office, saying it would do little to help those residents who find it difficult to do business during the day.

Clukey offered an alternate schedule that would have closed the town office to the public on Monday but kept the facility open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.

Selectmen, some of whom would like the office opened later on one to two nights or open on Saturday morning, voted 4-2 to keep the present schedule until a better plan can be found.

Clukey said the town’s attorney had confirmed that a petition submitted on Feb. 28 was a request for an amendment to the town charter, so it will appear on the June ballot as a proposed amendment.

Also on the June ballot will be a question asking voters whether they wish to establish a charter commission.

In other business Monday, selectmen voted to move forward on a loan agreement for general obligation financing through the Maine Municipal Bank for the $425,000 garage project and the $300,000 library expansion project, both of which were approved by residents at a previous town meeting vote.