Harpswell Information

Margaret Leonard, Harpswell Neck Rd

I received more junk-mail from Fairwinds today. I am returning it with a note that says I have never been and will never be interested in what they have to sell . I also have told them not send any further mailings to me . Having said that , if I do receive anything else from them I will consider it harassment..... It at least lets off some steam.

• 1/12

Chris Duval

After watching last night's [Thursday] selectmen's meeting, it is very obvious that our three elected representatives are determined to try and get the Fairwinds project approved by the voters, and will schedule a vote, despite the many requests they have received from Harpswell residents imploring them to stop this flawed process, and abandon this massive LNG project. We are very sure that there is going to be a vote, and that it will most likely occur in early March. They are supposedly still negotiating the lease with "the venture" but we continue to believe that nothing will get in the way of the desire of the selectmen to turn Harpswell into the home of a massive, polluting LNG terminal. Clearly, these three just don't get it.

One of the selectmen expressed the sentiment that the vote needs to be held before the annual meeting. Interestingly enough, this has also been the position of Fairwinds. So, once again, the selectmen seem to be letting Fairwinds determine their course of action.

Despite the fact that the deck has been stacked against us right from the beginning, we welcome the opportunity for a vote. By winning it, we can get rid of Fairwinds. And, there will be another very important vote at the town meeting. Selectman Weil announced last night that he will be running for his seat in March. This is a great opportunity to cast out the one selectman who (rightly or wrongly) is perhaps most closely identified with the whole Fairwinds debacle. Let's sent two messages in March -- that we want Fairwinds out, and that we want selectmen who have some sense of what appropriate growth for Harpswell is!

If you have not done so already (or even if you have), now would be a great time to consider a cash donation to FairPlay, as we will need every cent we can get for the campaign ahead. You can make a donation online at out web site, or send a check to: FairPlay For Harpswell, PO Box 209, Harpswell, Maine 04079 Thanks for the absolutely tremendous support you have given us so far. And, please continue to help in the next couple of months, as we head toward this election that will determine the very future of Harpswell!

• 1/4

Resident-name withheld

Thank you, Burr for deleting Kev White's 4th article.  And thank you too, Kevin for realizing it wasn't in good taste.  

• 12/31

Margaret Leonard

I have put last week's Portland Phoenix at Morse's Store on 123 and at the Gulf of Maine Bookstore at 134 Main St, Brunswick. Have a stack at home if anyone needs some to distribute. Call me at 833-6051 or email: mfl@gwi.net

• 12/31

Chris Weber Huber; Lexington, KY/Harpswell, ME (we hope)

We are in the process of deciding whether to keep the family's home in Harpswell. One of our concerns is, of course, LNG. To see the beauty of this special place just disappear in a flux of construction traffic, noise, huge lights is just a shame. We come from an area that did not protect its special characteristics and the awesome Blue grass horse farms are quickly disappearing into development and "the wave of the future." Our city bought this, lost the farms, the down town is still dead and now is surrounded by mediocre strip malls where the character of the town once stood. To see this happen here...where there is only just so much beauty in the world, it is finite.. is a shame. Please listen to one who has seen this happen, to lose one beautiful area of the country is shame enough, don't repeat our mistakes. Remember, your Casco Bay.. of 1000 islands. There isn't any where else like this, there really isn't. Don't sell it out, please. Don't give up your past and your future, once given up, it is gone.

• 12/29

Chris Duval

"Nobody comes right out in public and says what they¹re going to do. No one ever does, no one ever will, it¹s not going to happen. Period."

I have disagreed with much of what Peter Micciche has had to say during his time here in Harpswell promoting the "Fairwinds" project. But the above quote of his from the recent Portland Phoenix article I can agree with heartily, if he is referring to the Fairwinds project and process. In fact, I think the above statement should be adopted as the official Fairwinds mission statement. No truer words could ever be uttered about the Fairwinds project, because they never have come out and said what they are going to do, and they never will. Period.

Thank you Peter Micciche for summing the situation up perfectly!
If you would like to read the article this quote came from, you can find it by clicking  Features A year of division

Cheryl Golek

Cheryl Golek sent in a 3 page comment on ConocoPhillips which, as she says, goes beyond the PR. You can read it here.

• 12/16

Kris & Marcus Wescott

• 12/16

Chris Duval

Let me explain my reasoning a bit more regarding the Fairwinds/PTO issue [see 12/15]. I don't feel that it is appropriate for Fairwinds to be discussing what the town would do with the money from the lease if this ill considered project goes through. I think when they do so that are duping people in that they do not ever discuss the costs to the town if this project goes through

-- lobster mitigation, the additional infrastructure that will be required because of the project, the reduced property tax revenue that will flow to the town as a result of the depreciation of so many properties in the Harpswell Neck area, additional police, fire and road maintenance services that will be required, and more. They never discuss this side of the equation. In addition, they have no say in how the money would be spent, or in the specific decisions that would be made at the town meeting on how the money would be spent. So when they say things like we could build a senior center, a bike path, fund college scholarships, etc. with the money. I find it offensive. They are just pandering to the lowest common denominator.

While I understand that Fairwinds purpose is to sway votes, I don't think the PTO is the right place to do so. Let's keep politicking out of education.

Maybe they should shift their focus from swaying votes to a new purpose --trying not to slip anything by the town on the next version of the lease. Or, even better, making their arrangements for moving out of town.

• 12/16

Deb Levensailor, Great Island, Spokeswoman, Friends of Harpswell

I agree with Elizabeth Davis's 11/21 comments regarding being instruments of peace, and getting along with our neighbors.  Good job, Elizabeth.  Ultimately, I think we all want what's best for Harpswell.  We just have differing views of what "best " is.

The pro Fairwinds citizen's group, Friends of Harpswell, believes the Fairwinds proposal is of great economic and social benefit to the town, and that it will preserve the character of Harpswell.

For example, it provides the opportunity for many to obtain good paying, long term jobs provided by two of the safest, most honored companies in the world, Conoco Phillips and TransCanada.  They are well known as outstanding charitable contributors to the communities in which their facilities are located.  They will provide similar beneficial contributions to Harpswell if given the chance. 

Thanks to the Selectmen who have put in long hours trying to do what's "best" for all of us.  Friends of Harpswell commends them in their efforts and we encourage the Selectmen and Fairwinds to come to an agreement on the terms of the lease and bring this issue to a vote as soon as possible in a manner that is advantageous to both the residents of the Town of Harpswell and Fairwinds. 

• 12/15

Chris Duval

While doing the Harpswell Islands School newsletter, I noticed Fairwinds representative will be at an upcoming PTO meeting to discuss ways to spend the money, if the proposal passes. I'll be interested to hear what they come up with."

I noticed this on the "What's New" section of the this web site. Is this really true? I feel that this is completely inappropriate. First of all, it is none of Fairwinds business what we would spend their money on. Secondly, they should not be intruding on events like this when they are not even members of the community. And, lastly, it is inappropriate that they were invited to the event. Whomever issues the invitation should retract it. And, they should have had enough sense not to attend, even if invited.

  This is clearly an attempt to sway votes. I suppose we should not be surprised. Every day, more evidence is presented about just what kind of company "Fairwinds" is. This is just one more example.

• 12/15

• 12/15

Resident   (NAME WITHHELD PLEASE)   

To the Wescotts who think the town will be torn apart at the seams over 8 million dollars a year....I disagree.  I think the people of Harpswell are grown up and adult enough to be able to deal with how to spend the money. 

• 12/12

• 12/11

• 12/10 (posted a day late - sorry)

For more info contact me, Tom Allen, at 833-0562.

Rally: Fishing Families for Harpswell

To all,

Please come support Fishing Families for Harpswell this Friday at 11 AM on Basin Point next to Dolphin Marina. Fishing Families and their supporters will be gathering to show their deep concern about and opposition to the Fairwinds project. There will be a series of short (very short) speeches. We will be passing out buttons, bumper stickers and lawn signs. With any luck and any weather, the TV, radio, and newspaper media will all be covering the event. Hot drinks and snacks will be provided. Bring your families if possible. (We'll be giving our kids the morning off.) Make a sign--the most inventive is sure to wind up on the 6 o'clock news.

• 12/9

Hugh Huleatt

Having lived in Alaska for several years I thought it might be interesting to compare the Nikiski area with Harpswell as we knew it! The site Nikiski, Alaska Detailed Profile - was very interesting.

An interesting point is who owns the Nikiski area? In 1971 the "Alaskan Native Claims Act" awarded control of millions of acres of Alaska to the control of Alaskan Natives in the form of Native Cooperatives. The natives were able to select the land and opted for most of the vast shoreline. Another money grab!

• 12/7 

• 12/6

• 12/6

• 12/5

Cheryl Golek

WHO SETS THERMAL RADIATION ZONES ON TANKERS?

Fairwinds had a presentation on FERC regulations, and their permitting process and a call in to answer question on HTV-14.  I don’t remember the date but I called in with a question and I thought I would just share the conversation. Click here to read the conversation

• 12/5

Margaret Leonard, Harpswell Neck Rd.

In yesterday's Anchor someone wrote a letter listing all the humanitarian things ConocoPhillips has done for Kenai, Alaska. Before we exalt Peter Micciche and his bosses for their saintly acts, lets remember that it's not unusual for multi million dollar corporations to try to make up for their destructive and inhumane profit making ways.For example, Phillip Morris gave a million to Red Cross after 9/11, meanwhile they stay committed to spreading lung cancer around the world.

It's like saying...."If you let me chop off your legs , I'll buy you the best state of the art wheelchair." If P. Micciche represented a company that is humane as some would like us to believe, then he'd get on the phone to his boss right now and say..."Listen boss, we gave it a good shot, but we are just going to be hurting too many people. We're outta here".

• 1/4

• 11/24

  Cheryl Golek

  I had incorrectly posted a letter from Cheryl Golek. Now the revision is posted. (the second part was changed.
  You can find her comments (Golek 3 and 4) here

   

• 11/29

• 11/25

Just a thought let me know what you think.

• 11/25 (posted 11/30)

From Denis Gagnon, not really a spokesperson, just a concerned citizen

To:  Cheryl Golek,  great idea about the debate!  Thanks for your comment

To: Kevin White.  I appreciate your humor and sarcasm.  Humor calms the nerves!  We are all entitled to our opinion.  I do not deny your right.  Go for it!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh, you tricky “Friends of Whomever”. Chris Duval and Fairplay played right into your grand scheme, didn’t they? While warning folks about….

-Safety: “The government warned Friday of an increased risk of terrorist attacks …on… infrastructure such as bridges or dams as well as targeting LIQUID NATURAL GAS, chemical and other hazardous materials facilities. November 21, 2003 The Associated Press Filed at 7:36pm ET.” -- It’s comforting to know we can ignore these warnings in the future as simply silly scare tactics by the government. I’ll pay them no further heed. -- 

-Immediate economic offsets: The loss to fishing families and the economic domino/ripple effect throughout the community. -- Your good friends, the fishing families of Harpswell, wish to sincerely thank you for your concern. They appreciate that their fears are groundless. What were they thinking? With friends like you…--

-Future socioeconomic ramifications: Population growth and industrial development. -- Years of study of sprawl by government planning agencies can be thrown right out the window. All that effort wasted. Who knows what actually causes sprawl? Personally, I’ve always suspected cows. --

-Pollution and environmental concerns: Just another groundless fear tactic. -- Historically, it has never been a concern. Large scale industrial complexes are known to never pollute and have little to no effect on the surrounding area. In fact, one of the most blatant omissions in Fairwinds’ artist rendering of the site was the failure to include Bambi and his mother prancing happily through the field at the fuel depot.--

-Tourism decline: Another baseless concern. Nobody comes to Harpswell for the scenery. -- People love industrial blight. So much so, that The Disney Corporation is thinking of building theme parks along these lines. The feature attraction will be simulated terrorist attacks…explosions and everything. Maybe we can interest them in Harpswell?--

…they were actually PROMOTING Fairwinds. That is sooo clever! You folks are really smart. Of course the citizens of Harpswell (who are far from just "common") can see right through false claims and propaganda tactics. That’s why nobody in their right mind believes that this will be beneficial to the town in the long run.

Harpswellians have a long term and balanced perspective. They can see beyond the false lure of the lease money. They are not greedy. They are a caring people who are deeply concerned about their neighbors and the harm this will bring to them. They can comprehend that one town industry (and THE major town job provider) will tremendously suffer to benefit another. They understand that the lowered tax effect is cursory and temporary. They understand that allowing this facility will ultimately raise taxes as a result of increased municipal spending due to population growth and development pressures triggered by the combination of industrial growth and artificially lowered taxes. They want a safe, unfettered and quiet community where they can go to work and raise their children...all the things that Fairwinds will disrupt. They truly want to live in harmony with their fellow townspeople and are willing to wait for an alternative that is acceptable to the whole town, not just a particular segment. They know life will go on just fine after LNG is gone.

I'm certain the folks at Fairplay were surprised and alarmed by your comments and they will reverse their position immediately.

• 11/23

Cliff Goudey, Bailey Island

To Denis Gagnon,

In my opinion, you need to clarify the position of Friends of  Harpswell. What are you advocating; the proposal made by ConocoPhillips, the siting of a LNG regassification plant in general, or industrialization of Harpswell? Has your group searched out the the information the voters are seeking or are you merely parroting back the company's sales pitch? Do you plan to undertake any independent analysis of the alleged benefits to the town? If  Foulwinds were to become a reality, how would abutters, Middle Bay fishermen, and folks dependent on tourism fare. You and your group are not helping anyone if your only role is to criticize the activities and motives of FairPlay.

Thanks,

• 11/23

• 11/22

Cliff Goudey, Bailey Island

Much has been said by LNG proponents regarding the exceptional safety of their product.  They have explained its exceptional safety based, in part, on its limited flammability ratio (5 to 15 % air mixture) and that is it lighter than air.  They have suggested that because of these properties, a leak of LNG would most likely diffuse harmlessly up into the atmosphere.  Is there a scientific basis for this claim?  Let’s look.
For the rest of this article please click here.

• 11/21

Chris Duval

One theme I have heard repeated from the group "Friends of Harpswell" is that if the "Fairwinds" LNG project proposal is defeated, only a few will benefit and many more will lost. I disagree with that remark, as do many others. If the multi national energy companies get their way and this project is built, here are just a few of the people and groups will lose:

Abutters, who will see their properties rendered virtually unlivable, and their property values drastically reduced. The harm that this group would experience in almost incalculable. To most of these people, their property in Harpswell is not just a home. It is a treasured part of their lives, of who they are. Is it fair to rip this from them to save money on taxes?

The fishermen who work the affected waters, not just in Harpswell, but in Freeport, Brunswick and other towns in the area --those who work for, or supply these fishermen -- and the families of these fishermen. These people are the soul of Harpswell. I believe that there are lobster boats on the town seal -- not 120 foot tall LNG tanks. Again, is it really OK to harm these people for money?

Tourist related businesses, especially those in the Harpswell Neck area. Does anyone really think that tourism won't decrease once Harpswell becomes known as the home of a massive LNG facility?

Anyone who lives in any part of town that will be subjected to the views of 1,000 foot tankers or of the very large industrial complex, lit at night, patrolled by armed guards, spewing pollution and noise into the environment

All of those residents who will have to assume the safety risks imposed on them by a major LNG plant, built so two major multi national energy companies can increase their profits

Those Harpswell residents who will have to suffer through 2 years of the noise and clamor of construction, which, I would imagine, is just about anyone living on Harpswell neck

People who enjoy boating or kayaking in Middle Bay. Their ability to enjoy these pursuits will be severely diminished

The town itself. If we let this massive industrial project in, it will without doubt be followed by others. More big industry is sure to follow, and eventually Harpswell, Maine becomes an industrialized, blighted dot on the map.

This project is completely inappropriate for Harpswell. There are just a few of the groups and people who will be harmed by this project. The only good aspect of this is that we can stop it by voting no on January 27th (or whenever the election actually occurs).

• 11/21

Elizabeth Davis, South Harpswell

I am increasingly concerned about the nature of the discourse surrounding the Fairwinds debate in our town. Too many unkind, insulting words have been said and written by people on both sides of this issue ( I refer not so much to this website as I do to the Anchor Community Bulletin Board and public comments at televised meetings). We need to make a concerted effort to increase our level of civility, or we risk losing something that should be precious to all of us, our integrity. Personal attacks have no place in this debate.

We disagree. Some of us disagree with our neighbors and people we¹ve worked closely with for years. Some of us even disagree with our good friends. That¹s okay. Some of us will change our minds; some of us won¹t. But what would happen if we tried to understand the feelings of those around us who think differently? What would it mean if we didn¹t ascribe underhanded motives to their beliefs? We¹d have to think of our neighbors as people worthy of respect just like us. No matter how the vote turns out, on January 21st, there will be relationships that need healing, and each one of us has a part to play in that process. May we be instruments of peace in the coming days, even as we struggle with the discomfort of disagreement.

Kev White

Thank you, George, very much for your clarification on the TIF district. My writings on the subject were culled from reading the State of Maine Economic and Community Development’s source document: “Tax Increment Financing Rules” (link below) and reviewing a representative application to the state for the approval of the district. In it, not only do the rules seem to indicate that the establishment of the district must by approved by town voters as one step of the process, it indicates that the application for the district will be approved if the designated money is earmarked for certain uses. The application then lists, on a separate page, the many categories that define such usage. The definition of a TIF district was obtained from the same site.

I’m not a lawyer though, so any additional information provided by the attorney would really be most helpful.

Bear in mind I’m not an expert at this either, but research gave me the impression that the approval of the TIF by town’s people was only one step in a several step process and that the community had to qualify for the TIF. You couldn’t just say “We want a TIF to get out of paying an unequal share for the schools” and the state would just say, “Okay”. The town had to have a solid business reason for the state to allow the exception.

Everything that I’d read about the TIF indicated that it was a tax incentive program meant to attract and keep business and a tool for redeveloping blighted areas in a town (maybe a future tool for Harpswell if the LNG project is allowed?) versus an “avoid school funding inequities” maneuver…though I can easily see how it can (and in some cases, needs to…”everyone else is doing it”) be used as such. Such maneuvering has some unusual results as towns try to “work the system” in this fashion.

Further input and illumination from the attorneys would be very helpful. Thanks for your comments.

Meanwhile: Here are a few more TIF links for folks to get better educated:

http://www.mecep.org/pdfs/rep97TIFS.pdf (Maine Center for Economic Policy)

http://www.goodjobsfirst.org/research/ch6tif.pdf (Good jobs first)

ftp://ftp.state.me.us/pub/sos/cec/rcn/apa/19/100/100c001.doc (Maine Department of Economic and Community Development Rules for Maine’s Municipal and State Tax Increment Financing Rules)

Chris Duval

Dennis Gagnon' has every right to call FairPlay¹s Freedom of Information Act suit ridiculous. He is entitled to his opinion, and to express that opinion here and elsewhere. But he does have one thing wrong. As we have been over before, the 450 members of FairPlay are suing for information, not money. Our suit asks that if the town does lose the suit, that the town pick up "costs". Costs, in this case would be incidentals like filing fees -- estimated to be at most $200-$400. As I said to selectman Weil at a recent town meeting, if we do win our suit, FairPlay will waive this and we will pay for these costs. We do not want the town to have to pay

When Mr. Gagnon calls me a recent citizen, we all know that is code for "from away." Not that it's any of Mr. Gagnon's business, but I have been in Maine since 1977. I watched the tape of the roughly 20 people at the "Friends of Fairwinds" meeting the other night, and there was at least one reference to members of FairPlay being new to Harpswell. Well, some of us are new to the beautiful town we call home -- maybe that is one reason we can see everything the town could lose by going ahead with this project. Sometimes, when something is new, it¹s easier to see just how beautiful and unique it is. Many other members of FairPlay, like Walter Norton and Connie Tassineri, have had the privilege of living here for all, or most of their lives.

Friends of Fairwinds have every right to organize, enthusiastically endorse the ³Fairwinds ³ project and do whatever else they want. A few of the people at their meeting made intelligent, thoughtful comments on why this project would be good for Harps well. There is a lot of money involved, and without doubt, that money could be put to good use.

However, there were many incorrect comments made at the meeting. I can't address them all, but one sticks out. It was charged that FairPlay paid for The Fishing Families Count Too signs, bumper stickers and buttons. I am proud to say that we did produce these signs. I'm sure that everyone has seen them, as there are hundreds posted all over town, with many more going up everyday. However, the lobstermen paid for the printing of those signs. Rather that criticizing fishing families and others who choose to put up these signs, I might suggest that the Friends of² Fairwinds² join me and many others who are choosing to help our fishing families. They have hired a lawyer to help them through this difficult period, and it is costing them a lot of money. Please help by sending a check to:

The Fisherman's Defense Fund,
c/o Paul Hickey,
PO Box 386,
Harpswell, Maine 04079.

Please donate to this fund today.

Margaret Leonard, Harpswell Neck Rd

Deb Levensailor and Denis Gagnon,

In regards to the name change of your group from "Friends of Fairwinds" to" Friends of Harpswell "".....let's get real. I'm a Harpswellian and you are not my friend. A friend is someone you can count on for understanding and compassion. Do you have compassion for the folks who live in Birchmere and Edgewater? Can you empathize with my 86 year old aunt whose owned a camp there since 1960? Her place is literally a stone's throw away from the proposed site. She likes to sit on her screened in porch and read and listen to the wind in the trees. Or how about those of us that love to swim in those waters? Our ages range from 2 to 75. My father, who passed away last year, left to his kids a one room cabin in Birchmere. He had no money to leave behind, so this was his legacy and to me, it is priceless. Do you have compassion for the lobstermen who fish those waters? Can you put yourself in their shoes as they now have to fight to keep their livelihoods intact? As if it isn't tough enough for them already. Keep your original name. With friends like you, who needs enemies.

Cheryl A. Golek, Resident

I called the Fairwinds call in last night. To ask who in the Federal Government, oversees tanker regulation zones? I was told first that FERC did then, it was said the Coast Guard and then it was said the Department of  Transportation.

So who sets the regulations? Read this article from the Mobile Register.

I'm surprised that the selectmen were surprised that Fairwinds tried to renege on the originally open ended attorney's fees/development charges and put a cap on the amount...

It sounds to me like Fairwinds is not quite as sure as they used to be that this will go through and they are moving to control costs...not wanting to throw good money after bad....

If Harpswell can't trust this company's word to fork over chump change for attorney costs, what makes them think that this company can be trusted to not to try and twist around the lease agreement in another attempt to control costs? Everything's good when things are good...but if markets sour...even a little....

Might Harpswell NOT see all the money as promised?

Hmmmm......

• 11/12

Phyllis Gamache-Jensen, Resident, Birchmere

I find it interesting Fairwinds believes all the pertinent questions have been answered. I have sent Mr. Micciche several emails asking for answers to some pretty specific questions, but he's failed to answer them. He hasn't even had the courtesy to acknowledge that I sent the questions! Perhaps a public forum will force him to answer two simple questions:

1) Will the Fairwinds human resources department include language in their hiring guidelines that gives preference to prospective employees who live in Harpswell? We seem to think that one of the best parts of the proposal is the opportunity for jobs for Harpswellians; will Fairwinds commit to seeing that Harpswell residents are hired over non-Harpswell residents?

2) I would like to see their thermal exclusion zone maps. Surely such basic information was explored during the initial site review. After all, why would they pursue such a proposal if they weren't certain that the homes that abut the property were outside the TEZ? Given the lack of scale on the original Fairwinds 'artwork', I'd like to know that their TEZ measurements are, in fact, accurate.

And how about two more:

3) What is the status of the correct artwork that was promised nearly two months ago?

4) And back to employment issues. Presumable ConocoPhillips and TransCanada are in the LNG operation business, but not the LNG terminal construction business. Let's say they contract the building of the terminal out to an established LNG builder, say Chicago Bridge and Iron. Will one of the stipulations of the contract award be that CBI train and hire from Harpswell population? Will CBI be required to train under water welders, pipe fitters, deconstruction and construction specialists? Would they consider a 10% or 20% local hire stipulation in the contract before it goes out to bid?

Fairwinds has said they are open to answering all questions. I, personally, have found them to be woefully lacking in details, but we should not be surprised. This project has not been planned with any degree of detail. Even the Times Record reported that all specifications submitted are non binding. If none of the promises Fairwinds is making are binding, why should we take their word for anything?

Sounds like a deal with the devil to me.