COMPREHENSIVE PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE

MINUTES

Feb 26, 2003

The Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (CPAC) met at the Town Office at 7:00 PM with  the following members present: Judy Bourget, Carol Bailey, Liz Budd and Rayna Leibowitz.

Reports:

Conservation Commission: Judy and Carol reported Conservation Commission had requested information for the Sodalite regarding building permits issued to include specific information about the purposes of the permit and the location, as well as the name of the permit holder.  The Code Enforcement office and Town Manager will discuss it.  The Commission is involved with a Project Canopy project with Libby Tozier and Carrie Ricker schools which involves planting trees between the two schools.  Residents are asked to get involved and donate some indigenous trees that are about 4 - 5 feet tall.  They are currently doing a gravel pit inventory.  The regulations promulgated by DEP kick in at the 5 acre point. There appears to be no inventory showing existing mineral extraction operations for monitoring purposes.  This will also be important information in looking at reclamation and landscaping efforts.  The Trails Project is progressing with landowners being invited to ensure access will be available for walking and horseback riding to maintain a trails system in Litchfield.  Judy advised the Town Office has reported the Welcome bags for newcomers to Litchfield are almost gone.  Judy will prepare the stuffers and contact helpers to assemble them.

Economic Development: Rayna reported the bank approached about opening a branch in Litchfield is looking further into desirable and available locations.  Business surveys may be accomplished on-line if some additional work is done to make the steps come together.  There is discussion of holding a business owners reception in the spring to give them an opportunity to network.  Efforts are underway to identify and secure an interesting speaker.  Price estimates will be obtained for “Welcome to Litchfield” signs.  Sponsors may be solicited.

Historic Preservation: Liz reported that all the History of Litchfield books that were ordered were sold and names of other interested folks are being gathered so if another printing is planned, they can be contacted.  The Lewiston Sun-Journal carried an interesting article about the bones found in the Purgatory Burying Grounds Holding Vault.  The anthropological specialist has completed analysis of them and identified approximate ages and the sex of each of the people.  No information has surfaced regarding why they had not been buried, as was the normal process.  It was customary for coffins to be placed in holding vaults in the winter and burials to be performed in the spring with the ground had thawed.  The location of known cemeteries is being confirmed with the intent of organizing some work efforts in the spring to improve the conditions of several that have been allowed to fall into disrepair.  A survey of Litchfield’s older homes is being performed, together with taking digital and regular photographs for the purpose of documenting them.  This was a project started in 1975 by Shirley Small that did not get completed after her death.  Her son has picked up the project.  Another project planned is involving the middle school-age students in evaluating buildings and homes to study architectural styles and determine important features.  Other discussion had focused on the location and condition of several buildings that were once school buildings in Litchfield.  Plans will be made soon for a spring work bee at the old Town House Museum to remove artifacts, clean them, inventory and catalog them and return them to a clean(er) environment.  Additional repair work will be done on the building when warmer weather arrives.