Union Select Board Approves Cemetery Mapping, Traffic Study, Bridge Permit

The Union Select Board approved a $19,050 cemetery mapping and database project, awarded a $70,000 multimodal transportation planning contract to Haley Ward, and authorized an over-limit permit agreement for the MDOT St. George River bridge project. The board also approved the General Assistance Ordinance, set its voting delegate for the MMA annual meeting, and named two members to the comprehensive planning committee.

Key points

• The board approved the General Assistance Ordinance and appendices after opening and closing a public hearing, with no public comment received.
• The board authorized spending $19,050 from the cemetery project reserve fund for Garley Dorsky to GPS every headstone and marker in all five town cemeteries and build a searchable database.
• The board awarded the multimodal transportation improvements planning project to Haley Ward for $70,000, funded by an $80,000 grant, over Sebago Technics; the study will cover vehicle and pedestrian movement in the village area.
• The board authorized a construction over-limit permit agreement for MDOT bridge project 0227158 and requested a bond from the contractor to cover potential road damage.
• Martha Johnston Nash was named voting delegate for the MMA annual meeting with Todd Souza as alternate, replacing Steve Migliorini due to a schedule conflict.
• Steve Migliorini and Martha Johnston Nash were appointed as the two Select Board representatives to the comprehensive planning committee.
• Knox County Sheriff traffic data for Common Road showed 97 percent of vehicles in compliance with the speed limit over a six-day September study, with an average speed of 31 mph in a 30 mph zone.

Next steps

• A poverty abatement hearing was tentatively set for 6 p.m. before the board's next meeting on October 20, pending the applicant's decision.
• The town will research tax increment financing options for the Steel Pro project and report back, with any June vote in mind.
• The board will revisit the Cog & Sill maintenance conversation at a mid-November meeting.
• The green space committee will hold a site walk at Bump Hill on November 1 and meet November 16 to finalize recommendations.
• The budget committee's first meeting was corrected to November 9, and it will meet the week before the Select Board during budget season.

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