Life left in business park plan

MEDWAY – Local businessman Richard Day Jr.’s attempt to build an industrial park might be gaining momentum, town officials said Wednesday.

Early in May, the Board of Selectmen wrote a letter on Day’s behalf expressing support for the project.

“The project that Mr. Day is bringing to the Town of Medway is greatly needed in the Katahdin Area,” the letter, dated May 8, states.

“It has the potential of creating needed jobs and increasing the tax base for the town. These two together will help reduce our tax burden and in addition create housing opportunities, business opportunities and population growth,” the letter continues.

“We are willing to work with Mr. Day. We expect this project will move forward soon,” the letter concludes.

It was signed by the board. Board members wrote the letter at Day’s request, Selectman John Farrington said.

“We were glad to help,” Farrington said. “We hope that they will be successful.”

Day could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

Day’s project has been on the drawing board for more than two years, town Administrative Assistant Kathy Lee said recently.

An early version of the plan called for a sawmill, planing mill, kiln, boiler plant, pellet mill, bottling plant and greenhouse, although Lee said the plan has likely changed considerably since then. The plan was called “Katahdin Energy Commons.”

Lee said she believed that the bottling plant was no longer part of the plan, for example. She said Day needed the letter to help him secure loans or grants.

Day, owner of Day’s Welding and Machine, is a well-known local businessmen. He is a partner with Robert Moscone in Moscone Bantam Boiler Co. LLC’s plans to build a boiler factory in town.