Byron citizens at crossroads

by Barry Matulaitis
     
     BYRON - Byron residents have never been shy about making independent decisions, and public meetings there often are a contrast in personal views and ways of making a case for or against an issue.
     A public hearing on May 1 drew roughly 40 citizens into the old schoolhouse, where the pros and cons of an amendment to a commercial campground ordinance were heatedly debated. Coos Canyon Campground owners Roger and Judy Boucher took exception to a requirement in the current ordinance that would require a site plan drawn by a registered professional engineer or certified state inspector for campsites.
     "We were under the impression that if the state approves it, we would not have to have a licensed engineer," said Judy Boucher, pointing out that a licensed engineer would cost anywhere from $18,000 to $25,000 and would be unaffordable.
     The couple had purchased some land with the intent of having 12 seasonal campsites in addition to the current sites. "We did it to accommodate the people who were coming to Byron to camp in every nook and cranny," said Boucher. "If you vote against this, we'll probably go bankrupt. We bought that land with the intent of expanding. If we can't get some return on that, there's not going to be a campground."
     Resident Anne Edmunds pointed out that people setting up to camp outside the campground were not going to camp there regardless of expansion. Several others stated their concerns about environmental impacts from the additional campers and noted the commercial campground ordinance protects the town's character and environment.
     "You have to have an engineer. It is state law," said selectman Bruce Simmons.
     "We took an ungodly site, a junkyard, and we did it at our own expense," said Judy Boucher. "It's nice looking over there. There's people in this town that think it's an eyesore."
     The couple expressed how deeply hurt they were by the accusations by some people in Byron of wanting a massive expansion that would cause pollution and a disturbance of the peace.
     "We are not liars or thieves like we have been told we were by several members of this board," said an indignant Roger Boucher. "Whoever is going around here saying that there are going to be hundreds of campsites over there is fabricating. It is strictly a vindictive vendetta to convince Judy and I to get out of business. I'm not asking for any special favors or anything."
     There were several residents who stood up for the owners and noted what an asset they had been to the town by serving on boards, committees, volunteering, and helping those in need.
     One resident, Irene Hutchinson, said to the selectmen, "If you people hold grudges against anyone, it must be an awful feeling inside, when you can't get along with your neighbor. I feel that's what this town is supposed to be, friend helping friend."
     However, Robert Susbury noted that having an engineer design the sites was crucial to protecting the town "as a whole. That's a part of doing business, there's a cost to doing business. If you're going to do it, you do it right."
     Planning board chairman Dave Duguay noted that if the professional engineer terminology was taken out of the ordinance, it should also be taken out of the subdivision ordinance for the sake of consistency.
     There were several other articles and amendments discussed at the public hearing. Once again, the planning board came under scrutiny, as an amendment was made to the planning board ordinance that would make board representatives elected instead of appointed.
     Several in the room explained that they felt the board had not been receptive to Byron citizens in the past. However, there was disagreement from several residents, who felt the board had done as much as they could with regard to listening to residents' concerns and researching the issues before them.
     The amendment also limited family members serving on several different boards at the same time to the second degree.
     "If we enact an ordinance that restricts family from serving on the planning board, then it needs to be six degrees," said Simmons. "You can't change the state definition."
     "If you're writing the ordinance and it's what the board wants, there's no way the state should be able to say you can't take it to the second degree," said Judy Boucher.
     Former selectman Steve Duguay took exception to the part of the amendment that would require any planning board member with three consecutive missed meetings to step down from the board.
     "Somebody that's good on the planning board could have health issues, could have vacation time, and have to miss meetings," he pointed out.
     Judy Boucher noted that typically, the planning board meets quarterly, and three consecutive missed meetings would equal three quarters of the year. "They're not doing their job if they're not there."
     Soon, Byron may have a wind turbine project development moratorium ordinance in effect. The 180-day moratorium would prohibit wind towers from being approved during that time. During the moratorium, the town could determine the best methods of regulating wind projects and prepare ordinances governing them.
     "There's a development mentality that seems to be taking place in the state of Maine with regard to wind projects," said Robert Bourassa. "The people who were proposing the project for Byron I don't think are simply going to give up with regard to the wind project."
     Simmons then corrected a misconception. "The people that proposed that wind tower project are not pursuing it any further in Byron right now."
     One citizen vented his frustration with the barrage of meetings about the wind turbines.
     "We already told them no before," said Donald O'Leary. "How come you can't tell them no today? How often are we going to have to go through this?"
     The town is considering a ten-year extension and amendment (second renewal term) to the joint ambulance service agreement with Med-Care. Each community that Med-Care serves has a representative on its board, and Byron Med-Care representative Patricia Duguay told citizens that they simply would not get a better deal for their money.
     "It's something that's worked for 20 years."
     O'Leary testified to the quality and professionalism of the Med-Care service, pointing out how well they had responded when his brother had fallen ill. "I strongly suggest the town stay with them."
     Andover resident and Byron property owner Kevin Scott noted that there will be a meeting this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the Andover Town Hall between the ad hoc ambulance committee in Andover and selectmen from other communities to discuss updates to the interlocal agreement. The Andover committee is seeking amendments to the interlocal agreement that would keep taxes from increasing to area towns.
     Scott credited Med-Care for their quality of service. "Without question, you need the ambulance service," he told the Byron citizens. "In Byron, you have no other options."
     However, he noted that Med-Care now operates differently from when the interlocal agreement was first written up. Last year, noted Scott, there was $248,000 in profit being made by Med-Care, including $115,000 for non-emergency transports, over and above what is being written off each year.
     "Do you realize how much is written off each year from Med-Care from unpaid bills?" countered Patricia Duguay. Med-Care, she emphasized, takes in over $1 million in unpaid bills every year. Additionally, said Duguay, Med-Care is debt free.
     "We have top notch equipment. We try to keep our expenses as low as we can and keep the per capita cost as low as we can."
     Scott then pointed out that even if towns vote down the amount for ambulance service each year, they will still accrue the debt each year of the 10-year agreement once they enter into it.
     Selectman Mike Gallant summed up Byron's current fiscal status with regard to Med-Care. "We pay more for garbage pickup then we do to save lives at this point."
     In the future, there may be a Board of Appeals for citizens to appeal decisions by the planning board. This board would, if approved by voters, consist of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, a secretary, and two alternates.
     The members would be appointed by the selectmen, with initial staggered terms of one, two, and three years. Alternates would be appointed for three-year terms. The chairman would call one meeting each quarter, provided there is business to conduct.