By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — Three times as many people voted to spend money on repairs to the local library as those who voted against the monetary assistance.

Casco residents voted, 62-22, to use $125,000 from the town’s Unassigned Fund Balance (USB) to help pay for repairs to the floor, cellar, and roof of the Casco Village Library as well as doing mold remediation in the walls.

Likewise, the vast majority of people voted to move $24,000 from the USB to increase the winter-time road maintenance contract for this season. That vote was 63-20 with three people abstaining.

Meanwhile, a moratorium on commercial solar projects passed by only 5 votes. This topic had the most discussion. When the vote was called, the final number was 45-40 with three people abstaining.

Casco held its Special Town Meeting Tuesday night. About 85 people registered to vote. All three warrant articles passed.

Following the meeting, Librarian Michelle Brenner commented on the outcome.

“I was relieved. I am pleased that people came out to support us. We have been asking our patrons to come to town meeting. It was in our newsletter and I did remind people by email today,” Brenner said. “We are happy that the town is going to help us.”

A list of the exact projects and the cost estimates is listed on the town’s website. Thus far, the library has garnered $45,000 in grants to be used toward the repairs, she said.

Brenner went to the microphone to explain why the library repairs were needed. She said that completing these repairs — some more pressing than others — is an investment in the future of the library. 

“We are here for the team to come study, for country village residents to read magazines and enjoy tea, … for readers to enjoy book club meetings,” she said.

Tuesday night’s special town meeting was the third time that residents had used the handheld clickers instead of holding up colored pieces of paper.

The solar moratorium was the warrant articles that generated the most discussion. More than a half-dozen people spoke on it.

Dave Fowler, the owner of Mainely Solar, LLC, said the moratorium would negatively impact the timeline for two proposed projects that he would like to see be successful. Those solar projects are on Carol Drew’s land 750 feet off Route 302 and Jeff Hall’s property in the woods between Route 121 and Quaker Ridge Road, he said.

“We’ve been working on the project for more than a year now,” he said.

That work includes collecting environmental data and filling out state-required paperwork. Additionally, he has been working with the utility company, Central Maine Power (CMP) to see if the capacity is sufficient in the chosen locations.

“I want a no vote. I’ve been to the [Casco] Planning Board meetings. The standards that are being proposed would prohibit any more solar projects in the Town of Casco based on how restrictive” the proposed standards are, Fowler said. “Specifically [solar equipment] couldn’t be seen from town roads, from Hacker’s Hill, from ponds and lakes.”

Both Dave Fowler and his daughter Lucy spoke about putting best management practices into place.

“If I was sure that the standards that are being proposed weren’t so prohibitive, I would support the moratorium,” he said.“My fear is that common sense won’t prevail, so I am asking for a no vote.”

Planning Board Chairman Ryan McAllister spoke. 

“Right now, the ask for a moratorium is a short-term moratorium to go through the process of putting together the ordinance,” he said, adding that should reflect what all community members want.

Having no moratorium leaves the town open, he said.

“If a solar farm application landed on the CEO’s desk next week. If it is going in behind a neighborhood, it would only be 40 feet from the neighborhood for the next 20 years,” McAllister said.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the planning board will move forward with drafting an ordinance that addresses commercial solar farm, he said.    

“To be honest, whether the moratorium gets voted down tonight or passes, the board will still work on a solar ordinance. The whole point is to give the town and the planning board the time to put together one. Whether it is a yes or no, we are still doing an ordinance,” McAllister said.

Selectman Grant Plummer spoke in favor of the moratorium.

“As you drive through the region, there are some that look like it should be there the one in Gray that’s near the Park & Ride lot. It makes sense there,” he said.

Other locations for solar farms seem less thought out, especially near residential areas, which causes the ‘not in my backyard’ mentality in people.  

“Windham is going through same struggle. Their setbacks are 0 to 40 feet because solar farms fall under a public utility facility . . .  There are a lot of communities that are trying to sort this out,” he said. 

“Moratorium —  it is terrible word. People hate to hear the word. Let’s give us a minute, rein this in so no one ends up with it in their backyard, if they don’t want it,” Plummer said.

Carol Drew is one the people who would like a solar farm in her backyard.

Time has been invested. Arduous is the word she used to describe preparing the paperwork for a commercial solar project. The town should take the normal pace to write a new ordinance rather than slap in a moratorium, she said. A moratorium is for an emergency situation, and this is not one.

“This is not a reason for a moratorium. The current ordinances were enough to approve two — one that is on town property,” Drew said.