Otisfield puts PACE ordinance on town meeting warrant

OTISFIELD — An ordinance that will make it cheaper for residents to make energy-saving improvements to their homes will be added to the town meeting warrant, voted the board of selectmen at its May 16 meeting.

The Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) ordinance, if adopted by the town, will give residents access to low-interest loans through Efficiency Maine to make valuable improvements to their property and possibly increase the resale value of their homes.

But in order to get a PACE loan, a customer's property must be located in a municipality that has adopted a PACE ordinance, said Administrative Assistant Marianne Izzo-Morin.

Izzo-Morin reported that 50 Maine towns participated in the program last year.

In addition, Board Chair Hal Ferguson said that he has personally walked the hiking trails in the area of Saturday Pond and Moose Pond that Conservation Committee member Bob Blake proposed at the May 2 selectmen's meeting.

Ferguson was escorted along the trails by Blake and Jeff Stern, another member of the Conservation Committee. The three discussed setting the trail back 20-30 feet from the shoreline rather than 75 feet.

"There's no clear route there. People are going to go wherever they want to go anyway," said Ferguson. "You might as well have it [the trail] closer. At least then ... they will stay off the berm."

Ferguson said that Stern will be in contact with DEP to determine if the town needs a Permit By Rule, which is required for areas with any potential for soil disturbance.

"There's quite a bit of work [to do] for the second trail, but the first trail is pretty easy," said Ferguson. "Ninety-eight percent of it is downed logs."

Town Sexton Dan Peaco reported that a new fence has been installed at Cedar Crest Cemetery, and that it "looks very nice," with the exception of a plaque – in memory of Jim Bishop who passed away on January 9, 2009 – which has not been purchased yet.

Selectmen said they will contact Ellen Bishop – who donated the money to the Cemetery in Jim Bishop's name – to get an idea of what the plaque will read. Selectmen will also decide where to place the plaque, preferably in a place most visible to cemetery visitors.

Jim served as chairman of Otisfield's Comprehensive Planning Committee and the Road Study Committee. He was also a member of the Otisfield Board of Appeals and served as a director on the board of the Thompson Lake Environmental Association, where he was active in the YCC (Youth Conservation Corps) and milfoil boat inspection programs.

In other news, the board:

• Voted to purchase a new table and chairs for the boards and committees to use during meetings.

• Heard from Selectman Lenny Adler that he's been writing up a list of new equipment to purchase for the town garage. 

• Signed the 2012 County Hazard Mitigation Plan.