MONSON, Maine — The town of Monson may not be in the path of the proposed east-west highway, but town officials aren’t taking any chances. The selectmen voted unanimously on July 18 to hold a special town meeting next month to consider placing a six-month moratorium on approving any privately owned corridors within the town.
The private corridor moratorium was one of two requests made by the planning board in regard to a special town meeting. The selectmen denied a request to place a moratorium on fireworks use. The board believed the proposed fireworks restrictions would be difficult to enforce.
A public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, in the Monson Community Center
regarding the private corridor moratorium. The special town meeting will follow at 6:30 p.m.
In other action, the selectmen voted to repair the tennis courts using funds from a special account dedicated to recreational programs. The board unanimously approved the maintenance work after it was determined that no taxpayer funds would be spent on the project. The town will spend $1,575 from the Carolyn and James Durham fund.
The tennis court has been unusable for several years due to a large dip on the surface. The town received a letter from the U.S. Department of Conservation in 2010 that it had an obligation to maintain the courts.
The selectmen will next meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 15, in the municipal building.
“Loosing” your home is the worst…
Certainly do not take any chances is supporting a project that just may be the best answer to the economic downfall of your town and surrounding areas. Your quaint town can’t even afford to maintain a tennis court and you guys are proposing a “moratorium” to quell such a private enterprise. So many more things come to mind but it seems pointless to even try to make sense of the opposition to the E/W highway. Foolish!
Not everyone believes that, the one with the most money wins.. In your words I believe your opinion is foolish.
I personaly don’t want a Canadian highway going through our state, and my whole faimily is Canadian,
So let me get this straight. You are calling the duly elected representatives of the people of The Town of Monson, the Board of Selectmen, foolish because they were requested to hold a special town meeting on a matter that apparently is a concern to the residents of Monson and voted to do as they were requested? The town meeting is perhaps the best example of democratic government that is in existence in our Country today. The people of the town gather, listen to the pros and cons of an issue and then vote either for or against it. What could be more democratic then that? From your post I gather you are in favor of the E/W Highway and you have a right to your opinion. What I don’t understand is why you felt it necessary to use the term “quaint town” is such a snide manner and to call a group of people foolish simply because they chose to exercise their freedom to chose as a town. Are there any other freedoms you feel that the Citizens of The Town of Monson should give up simply because they do not conform to your views?
Wow, you need to relax a little and not assume so much. I did not refer to the reps of the town in any way and my “foolish” reference was directed to the general opposition to the E/W highway by many economically depressed communities and not towards any specific individual(s): I am also well aware of the local gov’t processes and town meetings……as far as the “quaint” reference it was used in my thoughts to describe the uniqueness of Monson and the old fashion attractiveness of the area. Your thoughts were obviously different than mine, so be it but don’t put words and meaning to what I wrote to try and prove something not stated or intended. Also, there was no “snide manner” in my comments so you have some work to do to get things “straight”. But, thanks for at least acknowledging that I have a “right to my opinion”…..
Right
Smart move Monson, before Cianbro sneaks in your back door and starts to steal the Towns Property for Canada.
I might be for this if it was a public road. I think as a private road the only ones to make any money are the one that build it and the ones that own it.
Hmm. Not the best protest photo the BDN’s ever had. Remember the one for the wind protest in Lincoln that inexplicably had a hobo clown in it? That was epic. Though the guy with the sign in French is a nice touch.
And incorrect French at that
Did you notice “loosing” on the guy’s sign on the right? Precious!
I’m happy they are taking a stand.
Whoa that was close we almost made some progress as a state. lets go back to being a welfare state where half the residents are murdering and stealing from each other while high as a kite.
Good for Monson! Just say no to the pipeline corridor and a Canadian autobahn.
Right! No corridor, no pipeline! NO WIND! NO DAMS! NO PLUM CREEK! NO NOTHING! Say no to any and all business. Monson doesn’t need business. Nor does Maine.
/rolls eyes/
It would seem that more than a few are beginning to read, and I mean r-e-a-d, that Highway Act from Cianbro’s perspective and are seeing just what Cianbro’s planning to do with it. Education is the public’s best protection from runaway Government AND Corporate business that’s only interested in it’s own progress and success, not the damage it leaves behind in it aftermath. The Kestrel mess taught us all, both citizen, business community and Government alike, that lesson.
Where is the Act that you speak of PLEASE provide a link if it’s something you’re going to reference and reference it as often as you do, or at least give a better description of where one might find it
Any one look at the E/W signs that are in state right of way!! Not on Private Property!! O and their made of Plastic too. I am sure from out of state. Do any of these protest people shave,bave, or have a job？ Its the joke folks. Build Build and give the joke folks a job. End of story!!
Is “loosing” anything like “losing”? Corridor is already there, known as CP Railroad. Same
arguments were used when it was proposed. Bring on the road and the $$ that will come with it.
Monson is taking action to protect the town and I say Hurray for Monson. Every town should do the same. Too much of the Plan for the route is unknown, so this is a way to protect property owners.
I remember a time when business was alive and abundant in many towns (Monson was one) around Maine that have over the years lost many of the very same businesses thus leaving economically poor communities. Many of these towns have resisted offers of change and continue to struggle financially and with attracting any sort of new business investment. I do realize that some change might not be the answer but to not consider things such as this highway seems to continue down a road that takes a negative situation even into a more depressed situation.
There will be NO local benefits for Mainers. An Express highway from Canada to Canada, 75MPH, privately owned, by Canadian Billionaires.
All the negativity concerning the E/W Corridor seems to be coming from just a tiny minority in Piscatiquis County. I haven’t seen nor heard of any such negative rhetoric in other parts of the state where the corridor is proposed to go through. In fact, it has just been the opposite. We have friends on both ends of the proposed corridor in Maine that tell us they couldn’t be happier about it and are for it 100%. There are obviously those who have a closed mind and will “cut off their nose to spite their face” as the saying goes. If you can’t tolorate any change or progress, and refuse to see the good this Corridor will eventually bring to our state then, SHAME ON YOU!
Please tell me what “good” becomes of this. And don’t say “jobs”. What jobs? Of course there will be construction jobs but after it’s done what jobs are there? Jobs doing what? Now you have this huge scar across the state, uprooting property owners, untold damage to the environment, etc. and you think this is good? It seems all in favor of the highway don’t live anywhere near where it will be and we still don’t really know the proposed route. I’m sure a lot of property owners aren’t going to sell and what does that do to the proposed route? A bunch of “doglegs” in the highway to go around those properties?
Let the Canadians upgrade the St. Lawrence River and ship everything that way.