In a rare joint public hearing, the Wiscasset and Woolwich Boards of Selectmen discussed the possible transfer of 22 acres on the Montsweag Brook from Central Maine Power (CMP) May 3 in Wiscasset. The transfer is compensation for the Maine Power Reliability Project and involves deeding the property and the upper dam to a third party for conservation purposes.
Bud Newell of TRC Solutions, who spoke on behalf of CMP, told the respective boards the Chewonki Foundation, identified previously as the designated conservation group, had withdrawn from consideration for the transfer.
“Apparently there has been a change in focus,” said Newell.
At a previous meeting, the Wiscasset selectmen expressed interest in obtaining the property. Newell said the town of Woolwich had inquired about a possible transfer recently. In explaining the parcel, Newell said what the property provides three acres of wetland and 19 acres of up land wetland buffer for environmental resources. Of the 22 acres, 17 are located in Wiscasset and five in Woolwich.
Wiscasset Selectman Pamela Dunning asked Newell what would happen if neither town wanted the property.
“One fallback position is that CMP could hold onto the property,” said Newell. “There’s no requirement that the property be transferred to a conservation group.”
Both select boards took aim at the language in the covenance and restrictions, which repeatedly referred to Chewonki as the landowner.
“This information was prepared before, when Chewonki was considered the likely steward,” said Newell. “The deed can obviously be revised.”
Members of the Wiscasset Board brought up a number of issues with possible ownership of the property including cost of repair, liability concerns, and the actual worth of the 22 acres.
“The DEP cut a deal and took the value of the property away,” said Wiscasset Selectman Bob Blagden. “No matter who ends up owning it, the value is already gone. This issue needs some thought, but we have to accept that this property is virtually worthless.”
Dunning echoed Blagden’s sentiments by saying that “not only is the property worthless but we would have to maintain the perimeter of the property.”
“This means man hours to keep it trimmed and marked,” she said. “I’m not sure what benefit this presents to the town.”
Newell said CMP will donate $100,000 to whomever receives the property, an amount Dunning dismissed as minimal in the context of preserving the property. After Wiscasset Town Manager Laurie Smith asked what the Board would like to do, the selectmen decided to put the matter on a future agenda for discussion.
