CAMBRIDGE, Maine — Residents voted Saturday at the annual town meeting to move forward with the repair or replacement of the rotting Cambridge Dam.
As approved, a committee will be formed to help selectmen and engineer Myron Petrovsky of Portland oversee the project and to help raise funds to cover its cost.
Petrovsky recommended that the town conduct a topographical survey of the dam and its surroundings, do test boring, verify abutting property lines, prepare a draft design, obtain necessary permits, verify construction costs and prepare a bid package for the project. Toward that end, residents approved the use of $5,000 to begin the work.
Some residents worry the current dam could fail anytime and flood the downtown area. Others say they believe the dam, once it’s repaired or replaced, could produce hydropower, which would help the town’s finances.
The approximately 45 residents who attended the town meeting voted not to reimburse the town of Parkman $649 for survey work it did on the Cambridge-Parkman town line. Residents were told that Parkman officials never notified Cambridge before the work, nor do town officials know exactly what work was done.
Voters also rejected a recommendation to spend up to $60,000 to pave a portion of North Road. At least one resident noted it was a large amount of money for a road with few homes.
Residents denied a request from Fire Chief Robert Folsom to increase his pay by $250, which would have made it $2,000 a year. Folsom noted that much training and time are involved in the job, and he merely wanted to bring his average in line with that of fire chiefs in other small towns. While residents didn’t dispute Folsom deserved the increase, they felt the town had to keep the budget down.
Folsom also noted the town’s equipment is aging and said it’s difficult to get younger people to serve the department because of the commitment.
A vote to pay the code enforcement officer $400 a year followed by a vote to raise $1,600 for animal control prompted a comment from resident Michael Watson. “It seems kinda funny it takes $1,600 to take care of animals and $400 to take care of people,” he remarked.
Administrative Assistant Carol Laplant told residents the town contracts with Somerset Humane Society to house the town’s strays and the society increased the per capita cost this year from $1.15 to $1.25 based on the town’s population of 500.
Elected to office were: Clara Watson, town clerk; Bernard Watson, Ronald Strouse and Bill Digby, first, second and third selectman, respectively; Cindy Hoak, SAD 4 director; and Donna Sawyer, director of the Harmony Regional Ambulance Service.
Recognized during the meeting were Lulu Bunker, 103, the town’s oldest resident, and Bernard Watson, a founding member of the Fire Department, who was presented a plaque for his contributions to the community.
876-4579