Newcastle To Consider Wind Energy Ordinance

A public hearing on a proposed Newcastle Wind Energy Ordinance is scheduled for Thurs., May 5, at the community meeting room at the Newcastle fire station.

The 23-page ordinance would limit the decibel level, energy production and height of wind turbines, according to planning board Chair Rick Burt. Copies are available at the town office.

Burt, at an April 25 meeting of the Newcastle Board of Selectmen, said multiple citizens have expressed interest in erecting small turbines. “Around the state, they’re becoming popular and we’re trying to learn from other areas around the state,” he said.

The board will hear comments on proposed changes to the Land Use Ordinance at the same meeting. Burt described the changes as “corrections and clarifications.”

Newcastle to debut on LCTVThe Newcastle Board of Selectmen, in coming days, will debut on Lincoln County Television (LCTV), joining its counterpart in Damariscotta, as well as other Lincoln County boards.

“We’re very excited about this,” Newcastle Town Administrator Ron Grenier said. “It’s something we’ve been looking forward to for a while.”

Chris Doherty, a newly appointed member of the LCTV Board of Directors, filmed the April 25 meeting.

Design Review changesThe committee charged with the reform of Newcastle’s beleaguered design review process has recommended changes to the applicable chapter of the Land Use Ordinance.

The selectmen held a public hearing on the proposed amendment April 25.

The amendment includes a provision for a five-member Design Review Committee.

The new committee (at present, the selectmen hear design review applications) will consist of one property owner from each of the town’s three design review districts (Damariscotta Mills, Sheepscot and the “village”), one member with “experience or expertise in… architecture, home construction, renovation or restoration of structures” and one member of the Newcastle Historical Society.

The proposed amendment would require all members of the committee to “receive appropriate training for a minimum of six hours prior to convening…”

The amendment will go before voters at Newcastle’s Annual Town Meeting on Sat., June 11.

Working committee to meet May 11A working committee made up of municipal officials and members of the Newcastle Fire Company will meet for the first time on Wed., May 11 at 6:30 p.m. at a location to be determined.

The committee’s municipal representatives are Selectmen Ellen Dickens and Brian Foote and Grenier. Fire Chief Clayton Huntley; Casey Stevens, president of the Newcastle Fire Company Board of Trustees and Tom Stevens, also a trustee, will represent the Fire Company.

In other Fire Company news, Huntley and Casey Stevens presented a modified department budget at the April 25 meeting.

The latest budget removes a $6000 request for health insurance for Huntley and shifts the funds to payroll and training, as well as a modest ($800) salary increase for Huntley.

“I don’t think our budget can handle [health insurance],” Huntley said.