RANGELEY — In a run-up to the summer tourism season, the Board of Selectmen granted or renewed licenses to several restaurants and organizations recently.
The board also heard an update of the airport master plan, which is in its final stages.
In a public hearing before their meeting, the board heard requests and comments from representatives of Bald Mountain Camps, Country Club Inn, The Gingerbread House, Loon Lodge, Moose Alley and Sarge’s Sports Pub.
The applications were for a special amusement license for events such as weddings, reunions and banquets, said Margie Jamison of the Country Club Inn.
Sarge’s Pub also schedules dances, Jamie Sargent said. The Gingerbread House also has live music a couple of times a year, Jamison said.
The Police Department would have reported any behavior or noise problems from any of the venues to the board and no negative reports had been received, Chairman Gary Shaffer said. The board unanimously approved the permits. It also approved liquor license renewals for Country Club Inn and Loon Lodge.
No representatives were present for the Four Seasons Café or The Farmhouse Inn and Restaurant, so action on their applications was tabled until the next meeting.
The board also renewed vendor licenses for 3D’s Seafood, Rangeley Booster Club, Rangeley Friends of the Arts, Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club and Rangeley Region Health and Wellness.
Ervin Deck presented to the board a detailed update on the Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airfield Master Plan. Deck is a representative of Stantec, a nationwide design firm and consulting service with local offices in Maine.
Deck said his team looked at airport usage and projected where the airport will be in 20 years. They did five or six working papers, which will go into a final document for state approval. Forecasts based on local demographics, tourist demand and rising cost of aviation fuel, were studied.
The team said the runway is long enough and in good repair, and runway and taxiway lights are adequate. Though a full-length taxiway is a possible addition, probably only a turnaround is needed.
Auto parking, fuel storage and snow removal are sufficient. Deck said zoning should take into consideration possible expansion, such as the taxiway, new hangars as needed and security fences and gates.
The board unanimously approved the update, which will be put into final form for submission to the Maine DOT and the FAA.
In other business at the meeting, Steve Philbrick of Bald Mountain Camps asked for an update to plans to resurface Carry Road, the continuation of Route 4 in Oquossoc.
Shaffer said the plan is to hire an engineer as a consultant so it will be done right. The engineer has to be from a state-approved list, and some state funds will be available for the project.
The board approved funds for completing improvements to the Oquossoc fishgate’s docks and walkways.
It also approved using funds from the cemetery interest reserve account to complete the automation of the cemetery database.
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