By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

NAPLES — After a discussion in which two selectmen said they would rather not pay that amount right now and would prefer to hang on to the old one, the Naples Board of Selectmen decided start saving money for a new comp plan.

A while ago and more than once, Selectman Colin Brackett asked the town manager to price how much it would be to hire a firm to help the community with the comprehensive plan process.

The cost estimate is $95,000; and that price quote comes from Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), according to Naples Town Manager John Hawley.

The selectmen had been given copies of the current comprehensive plan prior to the meeting on Monday.  

“I finished reading it. It ultimately outlines stuff that still should be in place. There is some historical information that needs to be updated. The objective is still on target,” Selectman Kevin Rogers said.

Brackett explained why he favored doing a new comp plan.

“I moved here in 2004. There are other people in town [who] want a voice as to how the town moves forward,” he said.

Rogers asked, “What do you think was in there that a current resident would do different? That should be different? What direction would you want it to go?”

Rogers said $95,000 was a lot of money to spend to alter a document that is still on target.

Chairman Jim Grattelo observed, “They predicted things that are going on in town . . . I think we should start using it. We should start referring to what our comprehensive plan says,” Grattelo said. “I agree with Kevin. I am not willing to spend $95,000.”

Audience member Ed Cash said it was not an option.

“The law says every 10 years,” he said. “This thing is 18 years old.”

Brackett said, “A lot of stuff has changed.”

Selectman Rogers spoke.

“It has no teeth. It is just a guideline. To me that is not worth spending the money at all,” he said.

Planning Board member Martina Witts, who was sitting in the audience Monday night, shared her thoughts, saying that the comp plan “is continually referenced.”

“Like a study, you cannot go into it thinking you know how it will turn out,” she said. 

“If you decide not to spend the money on it right now, you almost have to promise everybody. Let us say that and let it have a value. Don’t tell us it is 20-year-old document,” she said.

Jenn Kenneally thought a comp plan would put the town in a planning position rather than in a reactionary mode. 

“We are chasing down issues. We should be addressing and driving toward the goal instead of reacting. We need to have a plan,” she said. 

Grattelo said the process relies on a pool of volunteers.

“The biggest problem is 15 or 18 years ago, you had a hell of a lot more people volunteering. The Bob Neault of the worlds — we don’t have that anymore. It requires a tremendous amount of staff work,” Grattelo said, citing another reason not to take on a comp plan.  

Rogers was still

“Using it, reading it. It should be a prerequisite for being on the planning board,” he said.

“The Select Board too,” Witts said.

She questioned the board, “You are telling us right now, it is good enough.”

Rogers said if the town cannot budget it this fiscal season, maybe it can be revisited in 2024. 

Chairman Jim Grattelo asked, “Do we want to at least start a reserve?”

Cash said there are too many things no around 20 years ago that should be addressed in a new comp plan.

“There is a whole bunch of stuff out there that needs to change and be put on the comp plan. Public works wasn’t on the plan. That should be on the plan. A full-time fire department should be on the plan. Whether we stay selectmen or go to town council needs to be on the plan. How we accept roads needs to be on the plan,” Cash said.

“It is what people are thinking 20 years from now should be like,” he said.