Council favors Kendall’s Head purchase plan

Eastport city councillors' questions about LNG and concerns about possible loss of tax revenue nearly shot down a proposed land conservation project at Kendall's Head in Eastport, but following the council's vote of support at a meeting a week after a controversial council discussion, the proposal is still very much alive.
In an interview following the meeting, Tom Boutureira, executive director of the Downeast Coastal Conservancy (DCC), stated that the organization is "still not 100% certain" if it will be submitting an application by April 1 for the Land for Maine's Future (LMF) Program funding to purchase the land, adding that this will be a very competitive round because of the limited bond monies this time. However, he says that the council's support now has improved the chances for approval. He points out that there are other funding sources, and the organization could still proceed with the possible purchase if it does not seek LMF funding.
At the March 15 meeting, concerns were raised about council President Bob Peacock, at the March 9 meeting, having brought up the subject of the LNG in relation to the land purchase proposal. At that meeting Peacock had told Boutureira, "I'd like to know your [the organization's] position on LNG before I vote on anything." At the March 15 meeting, members of the audience felt Peacock should disclose if, as a ship's pilot, he has a financial interest if an LNG project goes forward, since the city charter states that, if a councillor has a financial interest in a matter, he must disclose that interest and refrain from voting or participating in the discussion on the matter, else he forfeits his position. At the March 15 meeting, Peacock said his vote on the matter was not contingent on the conservancy's position on LNG. He maintained that because the proposal would involve "spending our taxpayer money to give to him to buy the land," councillors therefore "have the right to ask any questions we want." However, he said, because there is the appearance of a conflict of interest, he would recuse himself during the discussion. He then joined the audience, with councillor David Morang elected as acting president.
Boutureira told the council that DCC would keep the property on the tax rolls and in Tree Growth tax status, thus preserving state reimbursement to the city for the property and no loss in taxes to the city. He said the purchase of the 51 acres from a willing seller would provide protection of shore access, scenic and recreational resources and traditional uses of the land. Public access would be guaranteed, and the property's current timber management plan would continue to be followed. For comparison, Shackford's Head State Park is 90 acres in size.
Concerning the question of the DCC board's position on LNG projects, Boutureira stated that the board has no official position and had previously declined to be an intervenor in the Calais LNG application process. He also read a letter from a local outdoor adventure program coordinator that spelled out the impact of tourism on a region, from the spending of dollars on lodging, meals, guides and local shopping, which then get spread all over town to other businesses.
However, Boutureira then stated, "Lack of municipal support, whether real or publicly perceived, can have a very detrimental effect when it comes to gaining the confidence of the LMF program that a project is worthy of its limited funds. Downeast Coastal Conservancy is withdrawing its request for a letter of support from the city council and is unlikely to submit a proposal for Land for Maine's Future funding." He noted that the manner in which a daily newspaper reported on the previous council meeting concerning the proposal, suggesting that the purchase could be detrimental to job creation, "while not torpedoing the project," did hurt the chances for approval "in a very public way."
Linda Godfrey commented it was the raising of the LNG question by a city councillor that had turned the proposal "into a controversial project" and had shot down "this gift to Eastport."
Councillor Paul Critchley stated that Boutureira had answered the council's questions, adding, "If you'd answered them last week, we wouldn't have had this meeting." Boutureira replied that he thought he had been clear at the previous meeting that DCC had not taken a position on LNG, but he was told he needed to come back with the board's position.
Councillor David Morang said the council felt that there had been time to resolve any questions and had not wanted to kill the project. "It will only benefit the city," he said. Giving some thought, Boutureira said a letter of support from the city "would be great," and the council voted 3-0 to provide the letter. Councillor Peacock stated that he had also been planning to vote for the proposal, "based on your answer on taxes."