FARMINGTON — Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments presented awards at its Spring General Assembly on Thursday at the University of Maine at Farmington.
The regional planning agency, serving Androscoggin, Franklin and Oxford counties, presented Maine Organic Milling Inc. of Auburn with the President’s Recognition Award. The cooperative of 12 organic dairy farmers produces high-quality grains from local organic family farms, according to its website.
Several other awards for achievements in business development, the environment, planning and in transportation were also acknowledged.
Newly elected officers to AVCOG’s Executive Committee include President James Collins, a selectman from Livermore Falls; Vice President Rhonda Irish, town manager of Wilton; Treasurer Roland Miller, director of Economic and Community Development in Auburn; and Secretary James Doar, town manager of Bethel.
Presentations on several local issues were given, including the Androscoggin River’s recreational and economic opportunities by Fergus Lea, chairman of the Androscoggin River Watershed Council.
Other presentations included an initiative for a people-powered Benedict Arnold trail and historical preserve in the mountains of Western Maine by Larry Warren from Longfellow Mountains Heritage Trails; tourism in Western Maine by Jody Harris, associate director, Maine Center for Economic Policy; and transportation priorities by Joan Walton, community and regional transportation planner from AVCOG, and Penny Vaillancourt of the Maine Department of Transportation.
AVCOG is owned and operated by member communities. The executive committee sets policy and oversees the operations of the Council, according to its website.
Regional planning and municipal services are provided by the council with a $2.2 million annual budget funded by dues, grants and fee-for-service projects. The 17-member staff focuses on economic development, land use planning, transportation planning and environmental management according to the report.
More information is available at www.avcog.org or by phone at 783-5211.
abryant@sunjournal.com
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- New officers of the Executive Committee of the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments attend the Spring General Assembly on Thursday at the University of Maine at Farmington. From left are President James Collins, Livermore Falls; Vice President Rhonda Irish, Wilton; and Treasurer Roland Miller, Auburn. Secretary James Doar of Bethel is not pictured.
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