ROCKPORT – The Rockport Select Board will meet Monday evening, 6 p.m., at the Town Office, for a one-hour workshop to address wastewater infrastructure investments, a water resource recovery facility, and the plan to extend a sewer line out Route 90. Two closed-door sessions will follow at 7 p.m.: Labor contracts and a real estate contract.

The workshop will neither be streamed nor taped, being held in the Richardson Room at the Town Office. 

On Nov. 8, Rockport voters approved the creation of a Route 90 TIF District. The goal of this TIF District, which is to include 230 acres, is to financially support several projects totaling $29 million. According to the town’s Economic Development Project, they are:

•  Sewer Line Extension, $ 9 million. Costs related to extending the sewer lines in order to increase economic development opportunities along Route 90 from the Camden Hills Regional High School to the intersection of Route 17. Costs include but are not limited to engineering, site work and preparation, and construction. “The existing zoning already promotes commercial and light industrial development,” the Program said. “Sewer allows these lots to have increase density.”

• Sidewalk extension. $3 million. Costs associated with construction of sidewalks. Sidewalks will connect the downtown to the schools, Marge Jones park, and to Route 17. “This amenity will increase opportunities for economic development,” the Program said.

• Fiber extension: $500,000. Costs associated with broadband and fiber optics expansion projects, including preparation, planning, engineering and other related costs in addition to the construction costs of those projects. The District is primarily commercial, with demand and growth opportunity for Fiber internet. 

• Public Infrastructure Streetscape Improvement: $500,000. Costs associated with improving streetscapes in the District, examples would include down lighting lamp posts for sidewalk extensions. To the extent the streetscape project is not located in the District, it is made necessary by or directly related to the District development.

• Water Resource Recovery Facility, $16 million. All costs associated with environmental improvement projects related to commercial activity within the Town. This includes but is not limited to the construction, engineering, site work, and planning for stormwater and wastewater improvements which are made necessary by violations of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) regulations by the Town of Camden, where Rockport’s water resource recovery process is currently undertaken. The current system cannot handle the volume of flows that are generated by both Rockport and Camden. A large portion of the additional need for treatment results from activity in the Route 90 District. 

Rockport to consider ambitious Route 90 sewer/ economic development plan, ordinance and charter amendments

The executive sessions at 7 p.m. are:

AGENDA
I. Call Meeting to Order

II. Executive Session
a. Discussion of Labor Contracts pursuant to 1 M.R.S. Section 405(6)(D)

b. Discussion of Contracts connected with the use of real or personal property
pursuant to 1 M.R.S. Section 405(6)(C)

III. Adjourn

Future Meetings, Office Closures, Etc.
Monday, February 13, 2023 - Regular Select Board Meeting
Monday, February 20, 2023 – Town Offices Closed – President’s Day