Windham Town Government Liberals Attempting to Force Unwanted Sewer Project on Residents

Sadly Windham's Town Council will vote to perpetuate this fraud on Windham's taxpayers Tuesday night by sending it to referendum. Their lack of interest in getting this right for the community as a whole is appauling. When you vote this year, vote no on sewer. And when you vote no on sewer make sure to vote off any councilors who voted to put this on the ballot.

Here's another article.

pDub

Is the plan still to come south and hook up w/ PWD via South Windham/little Falls to Westbrook treatment plant or build a tretament plant in Windham ?

This is one of the off shoots of allowing to much development in No. Windham

No. Straight down 302 to Westbrook treatment. It's all a part of the Council's "North Windham is too big to fail" agenda. Sadly, they view this as a community investment. I'd like to know what the proposed return on this one is aside from subsidizing the commercial district with residential taxpayer money.

A couple thoughts. I'm not sure how sending an item to the voters is "forcing" something. It's a decision for voters. They can choose to approve or reject it. Simple.
You can find more information about the project here: http://windhamsewerproject.org

DISCLOSURE: I am a paid consultant and working to provide information for residents, businesses and other stakeholders as part of a community education and outreach plan. I have talked to numerous people in the community both for and against, and I am looking for residents who have reservations about the project to serve on a panel for an upcoming community forum on October 24 at Windham High School. Also: all residents should try to attend tomorrow night's (Sept. 18) Windham Town Council meeting. The council will be holding a public hearing on this issue. Get involved and speak up, ask questions; and if you would like more info, please message me. Thank you.

Randy, is it fair for the entire town of Windham to vote on a plan that forces the property owners only along route 302 to pay thousands of dollars in betterment fees? Connection costs? Not to mention having your property torn up by construction crews for months on end?

I don't know Randy, people put their faith in our Town leaders to craft an above-board, sound wastewater facilities plan and they have failed to do this. They have chosen to sacrifice what the project was intended to do in order to make the costs more palatable to taxpayers, which by the way is a total farce as the increase in mil rate for the original $67.8 million dollar sewer is about the same as for a $37.8 million dollar sewer. The original plan would have collected five and a half times as much wastewater and would have connected three and a half times more connected users. Face it. When the Council chooses to expand the sewer in the future, and they will, I suspect that they will not take this fact into account. They will again raise the mil rate on the uninformed Windham resident.

In terms of a vote, the Town Manager so feared doing a legitimate survey written by your firm two years ago, that when told by the Council to include a question, "Would you or would you not support sewer?", his response was "It doesn't have to be such a binary question."

Isn't a for or against vote for sewer this November a binary question that fails to get this project right for Windham's residents? Not so "simple" is it?

What the current plan basically wants to do, is have Windham taxpayers subsidize the sewer for Walmart and other large stores in North Windham.

And wouldn't a "community forum" as part of an ongoing "community education and outreach plan" been prudent before a decision will be made to even put this mess on the ballot tonight? October 24 is way to late and this is intentional. In reality absentee voting could start to happen as early as 45 days (Sept. 22) before the election dependent on municipality and when the Secretarty of State will have the federal ballots in clerk's hands. In November of 2010 absentee ballots cast accounted for 23% of the vote total statewide. What is your plan for educating these folks before they cast ballots earlier than October 24? Are they part of your "community education and outreach plan"? Worst $18,500 Windham has spent.

pDub: There is nothing intentional about the date. The proposed outreach plan was shared with the Town Council this summer at the same time the decision was made to hire me and my firm. I am not advocating for the project, nor opposing it.

Here's what we have done so far:
1.) Created a project website that is regularly updated and provides a mechanism for community feedback and commentary/questions. http://windhamsewerproject.org
2.) Designed a flyer, providing basic information about the project; information that was finalized this evening, at the September 18 Town Council meeting
3.) Discussions and contacts with reporters and media outlets that cover Windham. There have been more than a half-dozen newspaper stories about the project since July, most of which were generated independently by reporters covering several of the numerous public meetings and deliberations the council has conducted about this particular project.
4.) Contacted civic, non-profit and community groups in the town of Windham (Sebago Lake Regional Chamber; Sebago Rotary, Windham Economic Development Commission, Windham Historical Society, Windham High School, the Windham Gardening Club, the Little Sebago Lake Association and the Windham Land Trust. We have scheduled meetings for members of those particular organizations to allow members an opportunity to learn more about the project.
5.) Scheduled and arranged a community forum meeting, reaching out to opponents of the project to be represented on the panel for a public Q&A session
6.) Planning a direct mail that will review proposed fees and schedules of the proposed project for all households within the project area;
7.) Working to facilitate a collaborative public information and participation program with Windham High School students that are required as part of their curriculum to engage in community/civic participation.
I have also personally contacted each person who has voiced objection or reservation about the project, seeking their constructive feedback on this issue. Only one of those people bothered to return my repeated phone calls.
I have placed my cell phone number and e-mail contact information wiithin the public domain, urging anyone with questions to contact me. I am working to identify small neighborhood groups, churches, etc, that would like to be part of a discussion. Admittedly, the first few weeks were slow-going (understandable given the time of year and the priorities that shift with our all too short summer season.
I am being paid not to have an opinion on this issue, and it affords me the opportunity to have some really good dialogue with folks, many of whom are adamantly opposed to this project. It is not my job, nor my intention to change minds, only to provide information, in the most neutral, objective way possible.
If you peruse the website, you will see several references that repeatedly note (in bold print) that this proposed project has advantages AND disadvantages; most notably its cost. The website spells out that sewers are typically much more expensive for a homeowner over the long-term ownership of his/her home; and that septic systems offer environmental benefits when properly maintained. I was interested to learn that more than 40 percent of homes in Maine use a septic system.
See: http://windhamsewerproject.org/faqs/does-windham-need-a-sewer-system/

Windham is a growing community. It is up to Windham residents and voters to decide what direction to take. I am more than happy to meet with any group, individual or organization and will continue that offer right up until Election Day.

Edited to add: You can also "LIKE" Windham Sewer Project on Facebook to receive up-to-date annoucements and information.

I had some very pleasant conversations with several Windham residents following this evening's council meeting, and I look forward to meeting with many more residents over the next several weeks as this effort continues. Thank you.

The strange thing to me is the statement that Windham is a growing community. While in certain ways that is probably true but in others questionable.
The No.Windham commercial district certainly has in the last few years. Which is the catalyst for this project. Protecting the ground water is the primary element of desire which really trumpets
the desire to get more commercial development to feel attracted to the district. Which in my opinion should never been allowed to happen as it has.
As a former So. Windham resident the traffic etc. in No. Windham caused me to drive to Westbrook for most commercial activity after 1989 even before the commercial expansion up north.
The truth is while concentrating on No. Windham this proposal does nothing for the geographic remainder of Windham East and South.
Lessons could be learned from the past failed proposals .
The fact that the prior route has been abandoned,to Little Falls and connect there w/ exsisting line to Westbrook eliminates the potential for increased usage and thus fees to pay for it.
Good luck residents of Windham you are about to get hosed!

Bruce, Windham's population grew 14.2 percent between 2000 and 2010, according to Census data, compared to a statewide average growth rate of about 4 percent for the same time period. Certainly, North Windham's commercial district grew considerably during the same time. But like other bedroom communities in southern Maine, there are many very large parcels in rural areas that have been subdivided for various reasons (the former real estate boon, and the worsening economy), when people chose to split up and subdivide their parcels.

The town's population is now just above 17,000. Communities of those size generally have a public wastewater system. An argument for the sewer is that it will help maintain the town's rural character by focusing development and easing access to open land in North Windham, versus seeing land developed in other parts of town.

An argument against sewer is that it will aggravate certain conditions in North Windham, such as increased density. If I lived in Windham, I would be struggling with this issue. I think it's important to note that the town has been having this conversation for several years. See: http://windhamsewerproject.org/about/timeline/

Randy, that's two paragraphs of advocating and one sentence of providing a different point of view started with words like "argument" and "against". Not everyone is "against" a sewer. Just the current proposal which is a total sham and arrived at to make the costs more palatable to voters. You better work on some better arguments "against," because the last post sounded more like you were advocating for. Saying that you would be "struggling with the issue" is just a way of appearing non-biased. Randy, who signs your check?

dPub: Not sure how your analysis of my language works, but here is a suggestion for you. I urge you to consider being on the panel for the Oct. 24 community forum meeting. I assume you are a Windham resident and you have a valuable perspective. If you are even remotely interested, please message me.

My firm issues my paychecks. I am currently working on behalf of several clients all over Maine. My compensation on this project is not tied to any particular election outcome. I sincerely appreciate the significant financial costs that this project would represent if approved. I am simply the messenger, and I encourage you and other folks in windham to stay involved or get more involved in this issue. Thank you for your continued interest!

I'll sit on a panel if we can have a second community forum scheduled for Sunday, October 7, 2012 in the afternoon. I still have serious concerns about a significant number of people voting for this via absentee without having heard the whole story.

Well I can tell you who likely wrote the check to your firm. The Town of Windham. He that holds the check rules and the Town Manager's statement at the meeting last night says it all.

"When it comes to a project of this magnitude, if we wait for a good time, no good time will arrive."

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This is a shabby proposal that fails to meet its stated goals as criteria has not been provided how to measure them. I would suggest a good time to put this on the ballot is when the town has done the work to deliver a reasonable project proposal and business plan with community education and buy in. November 6 is an artificial deadline and a barrier to getting this massive expense and project right for Windham's residents.

Yeah pDub, they are trying to slip it in under the radar, hoping that most voters won't notice.

Apollo:
Please help me understand how this is "being slipped under the radar"

• 10 news news stories over the last seven weeks alone (Portland Press Herald, Lakes region Weekly and Windham independent)
• An active thread on one Maine's best political websites, As Maine Goes;
• A Facebook Page that is linked to Facebook accounts and groups throughout Windham;
• Community Forums scheduled with several non-profit and civic groups in Windham (Rotary, Chamber, Lake Associations; Land Trust, Historical Society, etc.
• A project web site that provides analytical data, maps, amortization schedules for the proposed bond, etc;
• Postings on the town's web site with direct links to the project website;
• Conversations with reporters and editors;
• Active engagement with public schools;
• Council meetings, discussion and deliberation legally advertised, open to the public, broadcast on community television station with archive links on town web site;
• Planned distribution of project flyers at community events (football games, etc.)
• Distribution of flyers at public Library, Town office and other locations throughout town;
• E-mail blasts through town's e-household newsletter...
• Conversations about sewer in Windham date back to 1990;

You may not like the information, which is perfectly understandable but really? this is how you describe "slipping it under the radar?"...If you didn't see this coming, you were intentionally looking the other way

I agree that As Maine goes is one Maine's best political websites!

Stay out of the schools. You have to be at least 17 (18 for the general election) to vote in Maine and we've already seen what happened when this information was brought to school children by the Town Manager. They wrote letters to the editor about blue babies, even though there is no danger at current levels in Windham's drinking water. Creepy how this stuff is used to scare little kids. Even creepier that our elected leaders let it happen. Keep your politicking away from the kiddies.

pDub, he didn't respond to your post. I think we've kind of proven that Randy is a paid advocate of the sewer project.

Umm, Apollo...

I have replied. Perhaps you did not like my responses, but you should be able to see them.
I appreciate dPub's perspective, and we found a place that we mutually agree: AMG is a fantastic resource for news, information and political discussion.
The plan involving working with students centers upon an exsisting program at Windham High School, where students are required to participate in some form of community service as part of the curriculum. Volunteer students who choose to be involved would have an opportunity to assist with community outreach (distributing fact sheets, helping arrange and set-up community forums, etc.)

I invite you to message me and we can meet in person if you like. I get the feeling that pDub and I have had several conversations, but his AMG monniker has thrown me off. If it's the person I think it is, he can tell you that I am not an advocate. He does not like the project, its cost or approach, which is a perfectly legitimate viewpoint and an important part of the discussion. My job is to engage him and others with different points of view so that people in Windham can get as much information as possible. I'm not sure how that makes me an advocate, but if you would like to meet me to discuss my professionalism, ethics or to get more information about the project, i would be pleased to finally meet the man behind the name. Thank you.

Randy, I don't believe you are an advocate of the sewer, but believe that the education schedule/plan advocates for its passage. Who decided and approved the schedule itself? If it was the council or town manager, they are advocates or an advocate by proxy, thus making the schedule suspect of advocacy and not education. If the power lies in your hands, then you can surely add an event to the schedule to better the education effort. I think we both can agree, this is a positive request?

I am game with sitting on an October 7 panel and second October 24 panel if you would like. I don't believe that a single event on October 24 is suitable in preparing folks to vote, as many, according to State law, could have started absentee voting as early as 45 days before the election or Saturday, September 22 dependent on when Municipal Clerks have ballots in hand. In 2010, 23 percent of ballots cast in the general election were absentee, and this is a growing trend nationwide.

pDub: i will see what I can do. There are some limitations regarding budget, schedule and other logistics.

Town Sets Up Website, At Taxpayer Expense, To Promote Sewer Project

Apollo:

From that same website: http://windhamsewerproject.org/faqs/which-is-better-sewer-or-septic/
Both public sewer systems and private septic systems offer advantages and disadvantages.

For example, a public sewer system is far superior in preventing groundwater contamination, but such systems represent an increased cost for property owners and taxpayers. For other examples of the advantages and disadvantages of both sewer and septic systems,you may view, print or download this chart:

First, you complain there is no information, then you complain about the cost of distributing the information. Wow. If you look at the section above, you will see frank language that discusses the disadvantages of a public sewer system, most notably the costs, construction impacts, maintenance, etc. Hardly, propoganda in favor of sewers....

Also, note the site is a Word Press template....very inexpensive and quite useful for this purpose.

I wouldn't disagree that a public sewer is "far superior" in preventing groundwater contamination, but there are two other types of groundwater contamination that this sewer will do nothing to curb. The proposed system does not deal with sodium or chloride because it does not remove runoff water for treatment. Further, a sewer system will increase development pressures over the aquifer increasing both of these contaminants in groundwater supplies. Your for sewer argument below illustrates that a sewer may bring additional development pressures, hence more sodium and chloride in drinking water. This is dangerous for people with hypertension. That's of course if people in North Windham were on wells, and the vast majority are not.

"An argument for the sewer is that it will help maintain the town's rural character by focusing development and easing access to open land in North Windham, versus seeing land developed in other parts of town."

In-depth article on the "education" effort.

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Regardless of all the hype and the coercions; tho power of the town council is limited by the voting populace. If the voters of Windham have NOT given their approval for this project or for the town council to make this decision for them, the council does not have the right to force this project on the populace. The taxpayers/townspeople can force the issue by demanding a public vote on this project. through local referendum. NO Federal, State or local agency has the right to force the local taxpayers to fund this issue unless they specifically consent to it. They tried it in Jonesport several years ago and were soundly defeated the DEP sponsored project. Contact the Town of Jonesport for further information on their specific issue and how it was dealt with.

I've known Randy for awhile... He's pretty conservative guy.
Though like 101 other people, he's sort of a hired gun.
That's the way it is in business. I have to run ads for Democrats and Republicans in my line of work.
Have to treat them the same as much as I hate it.

Any how... the one person I know down in Windham worth talking to is the owner of Busy Bee laundry there in one of the malls. I spoke with him about a year ago, and he went on and on about his run-ins with the state, the huge #'s he's invested in sewer systems because there is no sewer in that area.

He's the guy to talk to. His name eludes me at the moment.

The thing that amuses me the most about this whole aquifer protection argument is that most of the people and businesses in North Windham get their water from Sebago Lake, not the underground aquifer. Moreover, if the point is that in the event of the Zombie Apocalypse or some other portentous event that makes Sebago Lake water undrinkable and we actually survive, it's a fact that for all intents and purposes Maine is the Saudi Arabia of fresh water resources. There are countless options. Imagine that the Colorado River alone supplies water to 30 million people in the Southwest and Mexico. Like Maine doesn't have more significant resources than that. This scarcity argument lacks all pragmatism.

Interesting piece about Maine's water resources.

PressMan247...what do you mean by hired gun? What other types of projects has Mr. Seaver been involved in that would motivate someone to hire a gun for a non-biased "education" and "outreach" effort?