By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — The date has been set.

The Crooked River School Gymnasium has been reserved as the venue.

The invitations? Every citizen of Casco is invited.

The proposed Casco Comprehensive Plan will be one of six warrant articles at the Special Town Meeting on Jan. 30.

It is anticipated that the document will be adopted by residents as the new comp plan during that January town meeting.

Meanwhile, the word has gone out that residents interested in serving on the Implementation Committee. In fact, the Town of Casco is advertising for citizens who are interested in serving on the implementation committee.

Last week, the Casco Select Board came to the conclusion it would extend the timeframe that people could apply for the implementation committee application. Therefore, interested individuals can still apply. 

The process for interviewing and selecting applicant will be discussed at the board meeting in February.

Also, in related news, the Casco board also approved the hiring of a planner whose duties will include assisting with the continued comp plan process.

During a meeting on Jan. 9, Casco Town Manager Anthony Ward asked for guidance on how to proceed with filling Comp Plan Implementation Committee seats.

“This is a nine-person committee. Eight people have submitted their names before the due date. And two people submitted their names after the due date,” he said.

Ward asked the board if it wanted to only interview the eight people the met deadline or all of them or open up the request for applications.

Select board member Robert MacDonald suggested, “Let’s interview all of them. We’ve got 10.”

Vice chair Eugene Connolly agreed.

“It’s a good idea. A committee of this statue should be a full committee,” he said.

Select board member Grant Plummer said he had lot of questions about the committee.

“The State of Maine tells us we have to adopt one of these implementation committees, I am hoping they have further guidelines,” he said. 

Ward fielded that questions.

“We can provide a sheet listing what the expectations are. ‘Based on the comp plan, here is the direction, here is where the priority should be,’” he said.

After setting priorities, the committee would commence work on ordinances.

“This is going to be a robust ask,” Casco resident Ryan McAllister said.

“Maybe, the town should continue advertising for individuals to serve on the committee. The commitment they will be making — It is not just a once a month commitment. It’s important to have as big a pool as possible,” McAllister said.

Chairman Scott Avery agreed.

“The more people, the merrier,” he said.

“Half of them might not sign up once they understand what we are asking them to do,” Plummer half-joked.

The board decided to proceed with advertising vacant seats on committee in the process of being formed.

Also, during the Jan. 9 meeting, the board voted, 5-0, to pay for contracted planner services.

 “We will contact a planner. See if they have the ability to assist us not for daily operations. For Planning board to deal with more complex issues whether it is something unique or a subdivision that is substantial,” Ward said.

Simultaneously another duty of the planner will be “to assist with the implementation committee,” Ward said.

If the board is interested in having a planner in the coming years that cost can be planned into the 2024-25 municipal budget, he said.