Wiscasset Traffic Troubles

The ongoing saga of what to do about the summertime traffic problem in Wiscasset continues. The latest attempt by the Maine Department of Transportation (MDOT) hits another snag as an unhappy resident files a lawsuit to block their latest attempt. Nothing, it seems, can satisfy the town. Meanwhile the traffic problem continues to worsen every year. After watching the speed and ease that the replacement of the overpass in Bath is experiencing, it suddenly dawned on me: give Wiscasset an overpass. If it’s good enough for Bath, and it works, it should be good enough for Wiscasset. Route 1 traffic will still pass through town and anyone wishing to go downtown can simply take an exit into the business district. A rotary, or “Roundabout” at the intersection of Routes 1 and 27 will eliminate the need for a traffic light there. This way the town can have it’s traffic and back-ups would be greatly reduced. It’s time the MDOT stopped letting the tail wag the dog. The motoring public has been under served far too long. That’s my opinion.

Robert Turcotte

Woolwich

From the Brunswick Sewer District

As we reported in an earlier news article in August, the Brunswick Sewer District is in the middle of the upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant. As part of the project we are replacing the equipment we use to dewater the solids that settle out in the treatment process. Dewatering is the part of the treatment process that generates odors. The old odor control system has been removed, and the new odor control system is not yet operational. Yet, we must continue to dewater the solids prior to their removal.

We have installed two new dewatering presses. But before we can accept them for ownership they go through a 10-hour start-up testing procedure. It takes 7 to 10 days to have enough material for a 10-hour run. Normally we store the material for no more than four days. This long holding period allows the solids to go septic, creating a more potent odor issue. You may have experience this one day last week when we conducted the first unit test. We have the second unit to test sometime in the next few weeks, at which time you may experience additional odors.

We are doing everything we can to minimize the odors and we ask for your patience and understanding as we finalize the testing for the two new presses. Please call us if you are experiencing odors in your neighborhood.

Thank you.

Leonard Blanchette,

General Manager

Brunswick Sewer District

Supporting LD 169

The 128th Legislative Session of Maine has recently proposed a bill to be passed (LD 169) called An Act to Protect Sexual Assault Survivors. This bill enacts additional protections for alleged victims of gross sexual assault to the current bill in place. This is an extremely important piece of legislation that the state of Maine should be in full support of.

In summary, this bill requires law enforcement to provide written information to a victim concerning their right to undergo a forensic examination, receive the results of said examination, and dispose of the results when and how they wish. The results of the examination include toxicology and DNA information of the alleged perpetrator. Additionally, this bill requires that law enforcement retain the forensic report results for up to 60 days; longer, only if indicated by the victim of the offense.

Alongside the legal reasons that this bill should pass, there are numerous personal reasons as well. 1) All alleged victims will immediately know what their options are regarding obtaining a forensic exam. 2) Toxicology and DNA results will likely enhance victims’ court cases. 3) The results will empower and give a sense of control back to the victim, who was so wrongfully stripped of these. 4) Law enforcement is currently mandated to keep records indefinitely, so the newly-posed timeframe for keeping records will be more productive. These four reasons, of course, are just the tip of the iceberg.

LD 169 has been posed and printed, but now it needs to be passed; your voice will count here. We encourage you to write or call the bill’s sponsor (Representative Colleen Madigan), or attend the public hearing that is to be held on March 1st, 9:00AM at the state house in Augusta, to show your support as this legislation progresses to be passed. The more support, the more likely this bill will become law.

Paige Moore and

Kayla Hamel

Masters of Social

Work Students,

University of New England

What Happened to the ‘Good Old Days’?

In the “good old days,” CEOs were paid proportionately with an entry level position. Companies paid a higher amount of taxes that provided funding for education, infrastructure, and the military. What has happened since?

There is a shortage of qualified American workers to fill tech positions requiring tech companies to hire specialized foreign workers. Why are we not developing well trained people here? American companies are making much of their profits from the products consumed in America. It is time for our country to invest in education that is current for the jobs skills that are needed in this day and age.

In the “good old days” people had manual labor jobs in manufacturing, construction, or in a mill, people could get a degree in higher education at a reasonable cost, and many still lived in rural areas supporting the belly of America. That has all changed.

CEO’s are paid disproportionately more than an entry level position. Manufacturing left America for cheaper labor elsewhere. But with labor costs rising elsewhere, jobs will be coming back. When they do many of the “workers” will be robots. Fortunately, many people will still be needed.

The work force will have to be trained with new skill sets to design the products the robots will make, operate the robots and service those robotics. The companies and the government need to work in partnership to develop comprehensive training programs to meet this need. The worker of tomorrow will have a different set of skills.

There will always be the need for laborers and service jobs, those who work in the fields, deliver and sell product, and various service positions. Manual labor jobs are not being filled in this country because the young workers of today do not want to do those jobs. They want jobs that will not break a sweat. Immigrants who are eager to work will be needed to fill these positions.

Greed has robbed America. We are the melting pot of the world. That is what has made us Great in the past and will in the future. Investing in all our people is investing in the future.

Christine Wolfe,

Freeport

Brunswick Needs to Think out of the Box

I respectfully asked that the Town Council: 1. Vote no on pool and park. (any new project proposed in the annual budget should be an absolute need for the town; 2. Vote no on a June school vote — to be fair to citizens, we should not be asked to vote on the school project until after we know the results of the reevaluation and the impact on our property taxes. We should wait to see if the town could get state funding for the project.

The school board should be asked to reconsider the location of a new school. The Jordan Acres property could be sold to a developer for more residential housing to increase the tax base. I’d love to see a new school somewhere on the base with easy access for students to get to rec center.

The Mere Point property, which should remain on the tax rolls, is very close to the launch. Perhaps the town could work with state to create water access for people to the left of the docks. The land is steep, but with some fill, grading, and steps down to the water, it should be possible. Granite tables there already provide a space for people to enjoy a natural setting by the water.

We need a new fire station, but I would ask that the town consider a functional building considerably less expensive than the one at Cooks Corner. A large steel building with well-designed space inside for personnel is really all that’s needed for storing vehicles. Fire stations don’t need to win architectural awards!

Finally, instead of the usual adding to/revising the capital improvement plan every year, I’d like to see a comprehensive report detailing all town-owned property, its use, its condition, and its annual cost. Such a holistic picture of the current situation would allow some outside-the- box thinking of better ways to meet the town’s building needs.

Anne Wescott Dodd,

Brunswick