TOPSHAM

Selectmen will hear from the owners of the hydroelectric dam between Topsham and Brunswick tonight who are coming to talk about addressing some safety concerns upriver from the dam.

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at the municipal building at 100 Main St.

The dam, owned by Brookfield Power, is located in the Androscoggin River between Topsham and Brunswick. Town Manager Rich Roedner said staff met with Brookfield Power about a month ago after the company’s insurance audit raised some concerns about the use of the river upstream of the dam.

That includes concerns about swimming and the ease of access for example, Roedner said. The utility’s property is fenced off — except for the area upstream it doesn’t own but is responsible for under their federal licensing. A company representative will come speak to selectmen to talk publicly about thoughts and ideas for what might be done to address the insurance issues.

Steve Edmondson will also report to selectmen on the town’s 250th celebration.

Selectmen have held workshops and will consider approving their strategic plan tonight. Roedner said the town’s biggest annual policy statement is its budget, which sets the tone for where the town wants to go and how. The plan discusses how selectmen want to move the town forward, and what direction and how do they want to accomplish these goals.

The plan also recognizes concerns. One, for example, is a lack of staff in the assessor’s office, an expedient move due to a budget issue that may not be sustainable long term, “and at some point we need to address that capacity,” Roedner said. And there are other capacity issues and equipment issues the town has tried to address over the years, “but when you get behind it’s hard to get caught up.”

The resulting two page plan will help Roedner and the town’s department heads to their daily jobs and prepare for the next budget round, as they look at how to achieve or adapt department goals while maintaining those laid out by selectmen.

Selectmen will also consider approving the Lower Village Developmental Committee to conduct a walkability audit in the Lower Village and authorizing the proposed funding sources for the audit. An appointment to the Historic District Commission is also slated.

Lastly the board is scheduled to meet in executive session, first to discuss the town manager’s evaluation and then to discuss an issue raised by one of the unions.

dmoore@timesrecord.com