Vienna Broadband Informational Meeting - July 16, 6pm - Community Center

Vienna Broadband Informational Meeting
6 PM July 16, 2025

You've seen the bucket trucks all over town—a welcome sight, even in traffic! Construction of Vienna's town-owned fiber network is moving quickly, and we are on track to connect our first customers by early August.

To answer all your questions about the final stages of this exciting project, we are holding an informational meeting. Representatives from Axiom Technologies, our network operating partner, will be there to provide expert answers.

When: Wednesday, July 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM
Where: Vienna Community Center (at the Fire Station) on Kimball Pond Road

Have questions about underground service, Wi-Fi routers, when you’ll be connected, or what to expect during installation? We’ll have answers for you.

Last Chance for FREE Installation!
There is still time to subscribe and receive free installation. Once the construction crews leave town, the standard installation fee will be $300.

Spread the word to your neighbors! The more homes we connect, the stronger our network will be. See you on the 16th

Broadband Service Announcement

Axiom Banner

****Broadband Internet Service is Coming!**** 

Axiom is pleased to announce our ongoing partnership with the Town of Vienna to  install and operate a new fiber-optic internet system that delivers blazingly fast speeds and best-in-class reliability.   

Those interested in taking service should call Axiom to secure your installation.   Requests for service require a $99 deposit at the time of subscription.  The deposit  will be returned to the customer through their first bills for service..   For more information on deposits, please click here 

Call Axiom at 207-255-0679 to sign up for service. Secure your install today! 

Because of high call volume, getting a person on the phone is sometimes difficult  when you call.  PLEASE leave a message on the “Sales” extension with your phone  number and where you are calling from, and we will call you back as soon as  possible. 

When we call you back, please be ready with the following information: • Service address, and any installation details that our installers need to know • What speed package you would like to order (see below)? 

• Would you like to lease a Wi-Fi router from Axiom, or provide your own? • A credit card or other way to pay the $99 deposit to secure your install. 

 

Monthly Rates
100Mbps/100Mbps $59.99 per month
250Mbps/250Mbps $64.99 per month
500Mbps/500Mbp $109.99 per month 
Seasonal Rates*
100Mbps/100Mbps $611.99 per year
250Mbps/250Mbps $662.99 per year
500Mbps/500Mbp $1,121.99 per year 

*Seasonal rates are paid in full annually and reflect a 15% discount off the regular rate. Seasonal rates may be  applied to accounts that are active for six months of the year or less. 

To receive updates on progress subscribe to our mailing list here

Planning Board Meeting - May 28, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD MAY 28, 2025

The meeting convened at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were
Creston Gaither, Ed Lawless, and Tim Bickford. Glenice McKechnie was present
briefly. Creston was elected Acting Chairman in Waine Whittier’s absence.
Glenice was given a Notification of Construction permit for a deck.
The proposed solar installation ordinance was briefly discussed.
The Board voted 3 – 0 to table the discussion of the ordinance until June.
Tim outlined the results of the Tuesday May 27 meeting regarding culverts.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM.

Creston Gaither, secretary

Planning Board Meeting - April 23, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD APRIL 23, 2025

At 6:25 PM regular members Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, Tim Bickford, and Ed Lawless, along with alternate member Steve Trehu, met with Andy and Debby Coulombe on their Day Road property shown on tax map 3 as lot 32-K, to discuss their proposal to add a 4’ x 16’ deck on the easterly side of the existing cabin and to move an existing shed onto the southerly side of the existing clearing on the easterly side of Day Road, and to remove an existing outhouse.

These members then met at the Town House at 7:00 PM for the Board’s regular meeting. Steve was appointed a voting member in Alan Williams’ absence. Minutes of the March 26 meeting were read and accepted.

The Coulombes’ proposal was discussed. They provided a sketch based on their site evaluator’s drawing. It appears that the proposed expansion, including the deck, will result in 746 square feet, this being less than the 1000 sf allowed by the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. The Board agreed that the project should be subject to these CONDITIONS:

               (a). any contractor for the project must be certified for work in Maine’s Shoreland Zones.

               (b). nothing can be placed closer than 25 feet from the pond at high water mark.

               (c).   Nothing is to be excavated except as required for septic tank replacement.

The Board then concluded that, based on its on-site observations and the Coulombes’ verbal representations, and subject to a review of the pertinent flood hazard map, this project:

(1) Will maintain safe and healthful conditions;

(2) Will not result in water pollution, erosion, or sedimentation to surface waters;

(3) Will adequately provide for the disposal of all wastewater;

(4) Will not have an adverse impact on spawning grounds, fish, aquatic life, bird or other wildlife habitat;

(5) Will conserve shore cover and visual, as well as actual, points of access to inland waters;

(6) Will protect archaeological and historic resources as designated in the comprehensive plan;

(7) Will avoid problems associated with floodplain development and use; and

(8) is in conformance with the provisions of Vienna’s Shoreland Zoning Ordinance, Section 15, Land Use Standards.

The Board  then voted 5 – 0 to authorize Creston to issue a permit for this project.

The Mercer Solar Energy Systems Ordinance of 2023 as Amended March 2025 was reviewed and discussed. Changes which would make it suitable for Vienna were discussed. After about an hour it was agreed that a solar energy systems ordinance for Vienna could not be made ready in time for the Board’s May meeting as originally planned. The Board will continue work on an ordinance at future meetings. We may need the 180-day extension allowed in the recently enacted moratorium.

The meeting adjourned at 8:15 PM.

A black line on a white background</p>
<p>Description automatically generated           Creston Gaither, secretary

 

 

Informational Meeting - Culvert/Bridge projects - May 27, 2025 - 7 pm

The Vienna Select Board, 30 Mile River Watershed, and The Vienna Culvert Steering Committee are having an informational meeting Tuesday, May 27th at 7;00pm located at the Vienna community room to discuss possible grants to help with culvert/bridge projects in the town. All are encouraged to attend. 

See this document for further information

Planning Board Meeting - March 26, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD MARCH 26, 2025

The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present
were Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, Alan Williams, Ed Lawless, and
Tim Bickford. Alternate member Steve Trehu was also present. Minutes
of the February 26 meeting were read and accepted.
The possibility of a solar farm ordinance (see January minutes) was discussed
briefly. Alan will try to work up a draft ordinance for review at the
Board’s April meeting, as the May meeting might be a good occasion for
a public hearing in anticipation of a vote in June (when a selectman
election is already scheduled).
Short term rentals (see February minutes) were briefly discussed. Steve has
talked to people who live on ponds in Fayette about the problems that
may exist. Renters seem not to understand the sensitivity of the ponds.
Online investment firms appear to be marketing real estate to
management firms which rent the properties out. Steve noted that the
Fayette ordinance merely requires permits but does not prohibit rentals.
It also requires some tenant education efforts by landlords. If Vienna
creates a similar ordinance, applicability will have to be addressed,
regarding permissive rent-free uses and location (pondside or town-
wide). There was a general consensus that the Board should move ahead
with this matter, possibly after further discussion. The issues which a
Vienna ordinance should address must be determined.
It was agreed that the prospective mooring ordinance (see March 2023
minutes) can wait until the aforementioned ordinances have been
resolved.
The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.

Creston Gaither, secretary

Culvert Steering Committee Informational Meeting: 7 pm - May 27, 2025

The selectmen and the Culvert Steering Committee will be having an informational meeting:

7:00 pm May 27 at the Community Center on Kimball Pond Road

As you know, major storms have caused severe and recurring wash-outs on roads in Vienna. The Culvert Steering Committee has been working with 30 Mile River Watershed Association on some solutions for the four worst sites, on Kimball Pond Road, Jesse Ladd Road, Trask Road, and Tower Road.  30 Mile obtained ~$100,000.00 in grants for the town last year to enable development of engineering plans to create long term solutions for all four sites, and they are now working with the town to obtain grants to help fund the actual solutions. Please attend this meeting to get an update on what is planned and the anticipated costs.

Planning Board Meeting - January 22, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD JANUARY 22, 2025

The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were  Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, Alan Williams,  and Tim Bickford. Alternate member Steve Trehu was also present and he was appointed a voting member in the absence of Ed Lawless.

Minutes of the December 4, 2024 meeting were read and accepted.

The Board discussed the possibility of enacting a temporary moratorium on solar power farms in Vienna (see December minutes).The wording of the proposed article for Town Meeting was discussed. It was agreed that no public hearing will be necessary for the moratorium but  that we will need one for the final ordinance itself.

Steve mentioned a new ordinance that Fayette has enacted controlling short-term rentals (such as Air BnBs) and suggested that Vienna may want to consider enacting such an ordinance. Control of houseboats was also discussed. The State may be enacting statutes to deal with this.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 PM.

A black line on a white background</p>
<p>Description automatically generated           Creston Gaither, secretary

 

 

Planning Board Meeting - February 26, 2025

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD FEBRUARY 26, 2025

The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were  Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, Ed Lawless,  and Tim Bickford. Alternate member Steve Trehu was also present and he was appointed a voting member in the absence of Alan Williams. Also present was Eric Higgins.

Minutes of the January 22 meeting were read and accepted.

Eric Higgins owns land shown on tax map 10 as lot 38-F; he would like to remove some trees (as advised by an arborist) and remove part of an existing rock wall and install some stairs and improve drainage; he presented a sketch of the project. The Board had visited the site on August 28, 2024. The Board noted that the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance indicates that this type of tree removal does not require a permit but that it must be done in accordance with the point system outlined in the Ordinance. Eric believes that the work on the rock wall will require moving more than 10 cubic yards of material. Based on his verbal representations and sketch and contingent upon a review of the pertinent flood hazard map, the Board made Findings of Fact as outlined in the Ordinance and voted 5 – 0 to authorize Creston to issue the usual permit by letter, conditional on the following: the usual requirements for soil stabilization on the project area including any access opening for equipment, and requiring that the project contractor be certified for work in the Shoreland Zone.

Short-term rentals and the recently enacted Fayette ordinance concerning them were discussed. It was agreed that 30 Mile River Watershed Association should be consulted as to such problems as may exist in Vienna.

The meeting adjourned at 8:00 PM.

 

A black line on a white background</p>
<p>Description automatically generated           Creston Gaither, secretary