Perry schedules public hearing, vote on tribe aviation project

Representatives of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point have formally requested the approval of a proposed airplane parts manufacturing and maintenance facility, on land annexed by the tribe from the Town of Perry. The request was discussed at a May 10 joint meeting of the Perry selectmen and tribal representatives. The meeting called by the Perry selectmen was an open meeting and was held at the Pleasant Point tribal office. The official request was delivered to the selectmen on May 11.

Perry selectmen John Spinney, Richard Adams and Jeanne Guisinger agreed to set a date for a public hearing and a special town meeting. The public hearing will be held on Tuesday, May 24, at the Perry Elementary School at 7 p.m. Following the May 10 joint meeting, a vote on a referendum question originally scheduled for June 6 was changed from a referendum question to a warrant question at a special town meeting to be held on June 7. The warrant will contain the question, "Does the Town of Perry authorize the Passamaquoddy Tribe to construct and operate an airplane parts manufacture and maintenance facility (Passamaquoddy Sipayik Aviation and Aerospace LLC)?" The question will require a simple "yes" or "no" vote. The warrant will have an addendum that will deal with the clarification of certain facts. Guisinger felt the facts on the addendum would allow Perry voters to make an informed vote.

Guisinger said Maine Municipal Association officials informed her a referendum vote would require a 45-day waiting period following the receipt of the official request for a referendum vote by the Perry town clerk, which would extend the date until July 2. Considering the question as a warrant at the special town meeting allows the matter to be considered on June 7. The tribe is anxious to receive an answer from the Perry community so funding can be secured.

Tribal Councillor Hilda Lewis said the aviation and aerospace project could offer economic development to the tribe and to nearby communities. Cliv Dore, project coordinator, said all environmental and federal laws would be applicable to the project and the company would be an equal opportunity employer.

Specific questions and answers that will appear on the addendum are: Company purpose and ownership be defined; number of jobs and type of training needed and hiring priorities; environmental issues; energy plans for the facility; specific facility siting with accurate mapping; and a phase that limits Perry's approval to this specific project.

Any commercial project on land annexed from the Town of Perry requires a vote of approval from Perry residents. The proposed project was first disclosed at a press conference in January 2005 when John Shaffer, chief executive officer of the Orlando, Florida-based company, Aviation and Aerospace Management Inc., described the current trend of airlines to outsource maintenance and repair. Cliv Dore says the tribe has developed a business plan. According to Dore, when approval is secured the tribe will start the phase of securing investors. The tribe will maintain 51 percent of the ownership of the project to qualify for advantages of minority contracting and tax-exempt status.

The planned project would be located on a 10-acre site across from the Lobster Crate restaurant on Route 190. The site would also adjoin the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal site, which failed to obtain the necessary approval of Perry voters. Dore says Shaffer will be responsible for assisting in the creation of the business and operation plan and will act as program manager working with the builder during construction. The professional aviation staff will operate the company until permanent employees are trained to take over. To the extent possible, training will be provided in the plant.

The 190,000-square-foot building would be two stories high. Solar power will be used to the fullest extent possible, supplemented by Bangor Hydro-Electric. Dore noted that a planned parking lot will now be replaced by a two story parking garage, which will be heated by solar panels.

The required funding is estimated at $17,000,000 to $19,500,000. First Selectman John Spinney said two articles inadvertently left off the list of articles posted for the annual town meeting held March 29 will be added to the June 7 special town meeting agenda. The articles include third party requests from the Eastern Agency on Aging and the Washington Hancock Community Action Agency.