What You Think About That

Great song by Montgomery Gentry that explains land use ordinances.

Recycle Hogwash

I was very disgusted when the board of selectman voted to take money from the emergency reserve to pay for additional help this summer in recycling. During the budget workshops, this was shot down. At the annual meeting it was shot down. But as with all good government, stay at it long enough and they will find a away to get the money - emergency reserve account - my foot. Its a slush fund and nothing more at this point. This has nothing to do with the fine folks that oversee recycling, its about how public (your) money is spent.

Joint Ownership

Earlier this year a group of Bradley residents whom reside on the East Side of Chemo approached the Town of Clifton about doing some business and maybe even being annexed and becoming part of Clifton. See these folks have to drive 40 miles for trash, do business at the town office and receive little for their waterfront tax base. Wonderful idea, welcome to Clifton. But that brings me to our taxes and form of government. Both Clifton and Eddington have full time town offices that cost a lot of dollars to operate. Why not reduce our hours to say one day a week and contract some work with Eddington, such are vehicle registrations. Most all fish/game material and licenses can be done on the internet, so about the only reason to visit for most people once a year is to pay taxes and registar the car. We could give Eddington an agent fee - heck until a few years ago we didn't handle registrations. I thinking with the short fall of money we need to be thinking outside the box. How about getting four or five towns together to do trash and animal control while we are at it, it appears to be working well for the fire department. Maybe we should look at becoming unincorpated and be a township under LURC

Planning Board

I am working on a late breaking news flash, its appears that there many be an opening on the planning board - I hear time commitments are creating a problem for a person. I hope this is not the case, as she is doing a wonderful job.

Where's the Gold

Some would say the gold is in our local government offices - taken by unfair taxes. But a nice way to relax and enjoy the day with kids is panning or sluicing for gold in our local waters. I am betting you didn't know that many Maine waters hold gold and in some places, like the Swift River, it is possible to make $50 a day. Kids love water and will play for hours and sometimes they find pretty rocks too.

Rainy Days

Well the trout have been biting fairly well on the Union and togue are hanging at abotu 40' at Hopkins Pond. It looks like overcast days for the next few, so why not wet a line and have a feed. Water levels are still runnable on the Union for the kayak or canoe. A dear friend passed yesterday at 82, Elizabeth Bragg who raised me for the first 9 years of my life, she is now with her Johnny.

Selectboard Meeting May 20 2009

The Clifton Selectboard held a fairly long meeting, as far as selectboard meetings are concerned, almost to 10pm. The majority of the time was spent listening to a citizen on shoreland zoning concerns. A bid was given to Harris for Spring Clean Up on June 6 & 7 to be held at the town office. The board (4 to 1) voted to hold a public hearing and special town meeting regarding shoreland zoning ordinance in June. 10th for hearing, 17 for special meeting. See blog report below for more information, this is a bad idea. I felt completely blind sided by this, with no information prior and really none given, just the citizen expressing the view to hold special meeting - with out endorsement of planning board. Also have questions about why we are just getting a letter that was dated in Jan from MMA regarding shoreland map saying we don't have map and map is stronger than text. So do we have an ordinance now without a map? Interesting thoughts for a landowner discussion. Discussion that there have been no planning board minutes on file for several months. Voted to spend up to $75 on the ACO for ID and badge. Discussion on the number of properties sent lien notices. School board member reported on school and lands that Holden would like to transfer. Discussion to make sure cemeteries are mowed and markers/flags are put out - great crew going this, with many thanks. Trash contract is out for bid. Letter from Bradley on dumpster, would like to let them put dumpster and pay a land rent fee. Report on trying to get DOT to cut Route 180 so some sun gets on road in winter to melt the ice. Discussion roads: If the grader operator needs gravel when grading, then allow them to get up to $3,000 for all roads. General discussion on roads, Getchel to get grinded and needs gravel, Pleasent to get paved ($24K), thoughts on putting a fence along road to stop ATV traffic - will view and think about. Need work projects for the SO and work gang. Discussion on help for recycling, voted (4 to 1) to hire PT to help for summer. Questions about funding this, since board decided not to include in budget at spring meeting. Will take from special fund - I thought this was for emergencies only! Discussion on budget, loss of income from various sources and the 9% school budget increase - what is the mill rate going to be? What do we do if the mill rate takes a big jump? About the only thing in the budget that is big money is funding a full time town office. You can view the complete minutes at the town office.

Machias Air Line Rips

Well back from a visit to Air Line Rips on the Machias River. Good crowd and a few getting fish, including a 16" brookie. I am seriously disappointed in the Department of Conservation at these fee camp sites. The fire pits are run down, the tables are either rotted to the ground or beyond repair. The outhouse maintenance is poor. What a wonderful site, but budget cuts have taken away the ranger I guess. It wasn't long before a ranger was in to remind people to leash the dog, although no one minded. But as for care or toilet paper, that was out of the question. DOC needs to spend some money or create a Friends of the Machias group to care for these sites.

Land Use Ordinance

While there are some that think I would not approve of any Land Use Ordinance at all, and call me a protectionist. I am really for property owners rights and the thought that overall I should be able to do what I wish with my property, as long as I don't harm others. Land Use is the hottest topic in any community, just ask the lawyers and MMA. It is also a living document, one that must be updated on a regular basis. It is not just written and then forgotten about, a planning board should always be reviewing the needs of the people and the community. But you can not write a 30 year plan, it really needs to a 3 or 5 year plan or simpler, then updated. I have a lot of feeling on the matter, as do others. But it seems that emotions are high on the matter. We are currently undertaking a massive review and re write of this ordinance and I know I not created any friends on the planning board or with my fellow select board members, but I will not allow property owners to be deprived of their use of their lands. I will be writing more on this later...its late now.

Warden Service Green

A number of you have commented to me about the "new" uniform of the elite woods cops, better known as a game warden. This is not a new uniform, although it did cost thousands of dollars to purchase these additional uniforms. The new uniform is a SWAT styled baggy uniform with iron patches. Fishing recently with the kids, a warden came out of now where, the kids thought it was SWAT. Not only does this uniform not fit the make up of a warden, it is not traditional in nature for them and just looks dumpy. It should be dumped.

ATV Routes

Many folks in our town, like other rural small towns, have ATV's. Its seems there has been some strict enforcement by the elite woods cops about riding ATV on back town roads, with a number of our residents receiving summons for exceeding the distance allowed to travel. At the suggestion of the law enforcement and a number of residents, we find that the town selectboard can open roads and call them "ATV routes". This allows ATV's to travel the extreme right side of the road and obey all traffic laws. There will be a petition out around town asking the board to consider opening most all town roads to become ATV routes. This is good for business, travel, recreation and exploring. Yes I am well aware of the few individuals we have that are already traveling the road at a speed that is not good, but even if the routes are not openned these folks will be doing, so why should be penalize all the parties because of a few. This will actually help enforcement. Route 9 will not be one of the roads suggested to be a route.

The Mill Rate

Most bugets in the State of Maine run from July 1 to June 30 of each year, this includes the state, county and schools. However some towns run a different calendar, such as Clifton. We run Feb 1 to Jan 30 of each year. We approve our budgets at the March Town Meeting. Do you see a problem yet? Lets see the assessor's agent doesn't have the true list; the state budget is not approved for revnune sharing; the school is just starting to think about its budget and grants are not in cycle. So we have an approved budget, now what. Well here we are a few months into the town budget and things are starting to crumble. Excise income is down, as folks aren't buying new cars, the state is going to cut road revnune sharing, the county tax went up higher than we thought, the school share is going up 9 PERCENT over last year, homestead exemption and tree growth returns look like they are going to get reduced, grants are down and the assessor agent is getting ready to set a mill rate. The current mill rate is about $10 a thousand....you better hold on because I see a bad storm brewing. I am still trying to figure out the school, glad Rusty has a blog in Eddington that covers most of the events - its called keeping them honest.

Shoreland Zoning Vote

At the selectman's meeting in Clifton on the 20th of May a vote was taken to call a public hearing and hold a special town meeting in June after this was requested by one person, without a petition. The purpose of this is to see if the good folks of Clifton would like to change the Shoreland Zoning ordinance or go with the basic ordinance from the state. There are many changes in the ordinance and I for one voted not to hold a special town meeting, especially since the planning board was not on board with having this ordinance presented yet. Currently we can open a business with the zone, as long as it has less than 5 employees. However the new ordinance will not allow a commerical business and has added restrictions placed on landowners. The other side is, if you lot is not developed currently, it would be placed in resource protection. Sounds like, if you are built - great, but if you own land that is not developed or built your camp yet, sucks to be you. I urge you to vote on this ordinance and let the planning board do its work for next years town meeting. Wonder how many people will be able to come to a special meeting during the week? This just is not a good idea for property owners, nor does it protect property owners rights. Maybe a property owners bill of rights is needed.

Trout Fishing

The trout are bitting on the West Branch of the Machias. There is a great campsite on the West Branch provided by the DOC. It could use some improvements, but overall its is good and best it is free. The idots will be gone by Tuesday when the holiday weekend is over, so take the kid and head out.

Duck and Loon Stamp

Now some have told me that Loon tastes like Eagle, but I don't really know. What I do know is that the state charges another fee for invasive plants when you register your boat. Most boat owners don't move about that much, certainly not like canoers and kayakers. Yet we must purchase this "extra" Mil Foil Permit. This money, again goes to the elite wood cop and administration of fish and game. My question is why doesn't the person with the canoe or kayak have to purchase a Milfoil permit or better yet why doesn't the DUCK and LOON have one on their respective ass. See most of the Milfoil is spread by DUCKS and LOONS eating in one pond and pooping in another. I want more duck control and a stamp on their butts

Fish and Game Bear Fee is an Attack

Once again Fish and Game (always liked that much better than Fish/Wildlife) has found a way to rape the sportsman of funds and not provide what they said they would. It seems that over the past few years we have been requiring "bear permits" for most all seasons, it keeps creeping up on us. Non-residents, then all, then trappers, then non-residents during deer season. The only standing is a Maine hunter during firearm season on deer that doesn't not need a bear permit. Honestly a permit should be required to hunt bear at any time. But that is not the issue. Bear management and protection of a 30 million industry is. See about 15,000 bear permits are purchased each year. Do the math on non-resident fee's, and you will see we are approaching over a $1,000,000 in funds for fish and game. Now we have a bear biologist and one of the best bear research projects in the United States. There are three controled study areas, with a number of female (sow) bears wearing radio collars. These bear and off spring are tracked and studied. What a great program, producing fantastic results and information for youth and sportsman. But as usual the funds have been RAIDED by the department. We run a bear project on less than $100,000 a year. So where does the rest of the money go. Oh it must be to sportsman shows or maybe tourism to promote hunting and fishing in Maine. Right, it goes to wardens and administration. The bear project is using equipment that was out dated when it was built. Radio collars should be live time transmit to the office computer. We shouldn't have to pay to have a warden pilot fly an area to locate bear. Yes that is right, its called intra department billing, a nice word for stealing bear money to fund the elite wood cops.

Another way to skin the outdoorsman and women

Well its seems that our great folks in Augusta, or should I say disgusta are at it again. This time on the backs of sportsman/women. Tagging fee's will increase to $5 per animal from $1. The reason, because of the data entry time and manpower. Wait a minute the tagging station does all the work and only gets to keep a buck. They stop what they are doing in the store to take care of a bear, deer or moose for a buck. And then if the records aren't correct a summons will be tow from the most elite set of woods cops around. It should increase, but with all the money going to the tagging station.