By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — As early as this winter, community meetings could be held to start the process of writing a new comprehensive plan for the Town of Casco.

For years, people have mentioned that maybe the town should update its comp plan. It wasn’t until Don Gerrish was serving as the interim town manager that the idea got put into action. Gerrish contacted companies that did comprehensive plan work with towns and got price estimates. That cost was added to the 2021-22 budget. 

On Tuesday, another step was taken toward that becoming a reality when the Casco Board of Selectmen awarded the bid, 4-0, to Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG) to facilitate the process. The fixed rate fee is not to exceed $72,500.

Two firms provided the town with bids: North Star Planning and GPCOG.

Board members said they liked GPCOG’s plan, which put the process on the calendar earlier. 

“They really want to do this. They want to help us out. I would lean toward GPCOG,” Selectman Scott Avery said. 

“Me too,” Selectman Robert “Bob” MacDonald said. “They want to start in January where North Star is March.”

Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward  said he has had many conversations with the representatives from CPCOG.

“They emphasize they want to start doing community meetings sooner than later. Their goal is that by the time they get to Casco Days next year, they want to be able to present it to the community and get feedback,” Ward said. 

“North Star has a good plan, but GPCOG is a little bit better,” he said.