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Natural gas plan sparks opposition at Rockland forum
By Stephen Betts | Feb 23, 2021
Photo by: Stephen Betts More than 100 people turned out for a virtual meeting of the Rockland City Council concerning a proposal to extend a natural gas pipeline to the Midcoast.
Rockland A proposal to extend a natural gas pipeline to the Midcoast was met with a huge online turnout Feb. 23 with the overwhelming sentiment in opposition to the project.
More than 100 people logged on to the Feb. 23 meeting, where Summit Natural Gas made a presentation on its proposal. This was the largest turnout for a Rockland City Council online meeting since it began meeting that way in March 2020.
ROCKLAND – A defense attorney specializing in cell tower litigation has been put on retainer for three members of the Rockland Planning Board caught up in a legal battle with Bay Communications, LLC.
Days after the Planning Board requested, in their one executive session with the Rockland City Council, that Rockland provide them with an independent attorney from the one used by the City in this matter, the lack of City response led Planning Board members to take matters into their own hands.
Using a small amount of personal money, along with private funds from sympathizers, for the $5,500 retainer, three of the four board members officially voted to retain Andrew Campanelli, of Long Island, New York, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, during a Planning Board meeting.
Sarah Thompson
(Photo by Sarah Thompson)
ROCKLAND – One burden has been lessened for the fledgling Rockland Historic Preservation Commission as it continues its work to identify local landmarks within the Downtown District and Tillson Avenue area overlay zone.
The measure granted to the commission came with hesitancy by some city officials, who recalled the origin of the request, as well as questioned the measure’s future effectiveness.
Monday, Jan. 11, City Council voted 4 – 1 (Louise MacLellan-Ruf dissenting) to enact a 180-day moratorium on any building demolition within that Downtown area.
“[The intent is] simply to give the historic preservation commission a bit of a runway to start this process,” said Councilor Ben Dorr.