By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — It is certainly a good habit among successful people to write down goals. However, the real progress unfolds when that goals’ list is frequently revisited.

That is what the Casco Board of Selectmen did during its second meeting of the month — revisited its list of objectives. As the discussion would reveal, some of the items on the goals’ list are being wrapped up.

For example, in 2021, the then-board all agreed that redoing the town’s comprehensive plan should be toward the top of the list. It was something that was always discussed on a regular basis, but kept getting pushed to the back burner, board members said.

This time, the town got an estimated price, and split that between two budget years. The first year, the town saved money towards hiring a firm to do the comp plan. The second year, which was 2022, the town put it out to bid and started the process of completely updating its comp plan.

Last week, Casco Town Manager Anthony “Tony” Ward went over the list of goals, which began with the comp plan. That had an anticipated completion date of May 2023 in preparation for the Annual Town Meeting in June, he said. However, the completion date will be closer to November 2023 in time for Special Town in January 2024. Another goal on the list, addressing housing opportunities, has been reviewed and outlined within the comp plan draft, Ward said.

The Berry property was on the agenda to be discussed that very evening, Ward pointed out.

“Private roads — bringing all private roads [public easements] up to 2015 standards by October 2022. That was completed,” he said.

The Route 302 corridor is another area of concern that has been addressed through the comp plan.

“The sand/salt shed is part of the bigger discussion of the master plan of public works in the area on Leach Hill Road. Will that be feasible? If so, it could be done in the spring of 2024,” Ward said.

The town is going to do a soil study on the Leach Hill lot to see if a structure, which would house people’s offices as well as heavy equipment could be built there.

Separate from the sand/salt shed is a step-by-step plan for public works, for how the town is switching from a maintenance department that bids out jobs to a more self-sufficient public works department.

Last year, Port City Architecture did a feasibility report for the Casco Fire Department, which looked at remodeling existing station or building a new public safety space. Options for the public works space are presented in the report as well.

The town has made great strides in removing dangerous buildings; and despite the lengthy legal process, at least six structures that were deemed a public hazard were demolished.  

“That is on-going, demolition. It has occurred on a couple properties,” Ward said.

Also, on the goal list is upgrading Electric Vehicle (EV) charging facilities so that users foot the electric bill, instead of it being on the town’s shoulders. 

“There was a grant for installing new ones. The federal government put out a grant application for opportunity for upgrading systems. That is what we would be aiming to do,” Ward said.

Webpage updates was on the list, too.

“We should be more consistent now that Allison [Griffin, town public relations] is on board. So, people should have no worries that something is put on Facebook or not taken down after it happens,” he said. “I would consider that a completed goal. But, [we should] come back now and then to make sure it is meeting everyone’s needs.”