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1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail.  

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. Reviewed and signed Warrant # 3  ($117,154.53).

4. The selectmen worked on finishing the Town Report to be ready for the printers.

5. The meeting adjourned.

 AMENDED MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD JANUARY 28, 2026

The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were 

Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither,  and Tim Bickford. Alternate member Steve Trehu was also present. He was designated a voting member in the absence of other members. Also present were Lidie Robbins and Sara York of 30 Mile River Watershed Association.

Lidie and Sara met with the Board, at the Board’s request, to discuss the Swifts’ revegetation plan (see December 2025 minutes). They have visited the site and believe that more cutting has been done than what the Board had initially thought. Based on photos and neighbor reports, it appears that the entire shorefront buffer of shrubs and woody vegetation along their developed shorefront has been removed. Lidie and Sara recommended planting a buffer on the shoreline, along with planting other trees and shrubs uphill. Lidie says that Erosion Control Mulch would be preferable to wood chips as wood chips tend to wash away. 30 Mile can also make a variety of species available as live stakes to plant this spring.

Creston will check to see whether gutters or stone were required by the Board when Kirk Hiscock’s original permit for the house was issued. 

In general it was noted that as the plan mostly recites recommendations and not requirements or time lines, it isn’t really a “plan.”

Tim may be able to find examples of suitable revegetation plans or to locate people who might be able to provide such a plan.

Steve suggested that we advise the Swifts that we need something with specific time lines, goals, and requirements etc. Tim said he would draft a letter to the Swifts to this effect fairly soon.

Lidie and Sara left about 8:00 PM.

Future Planning Board efforts were discussed. Some possibilities are: 1). A short-term rental ordinance; 2). A flow chart outlining permit procedures for various land use projects; 3). Check lists for site visits etc.; 4). A formal application for Shoreland Zoning projects.

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

          Creston Gaither, secretary

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. Warrant 25 ($7664.62)

4. Warrant 1  ($110 734.13)

5. The selectboard talked with Stan Webster about the Franklin Cementry and the  need for additional repairs to headstones.  Stan requested $1650 to match the money the Cemetery  commission will be contributing.   

6. The Selectboard talked with two residents about the condition of their road.  A plan has been developed and hopefully the problem will be taken care of.

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA

PLANNING BOARD HELD DECEMBER 17, 2025

NOTE: This was a make-up meeting as the regularly scheduled November and December meetings were cancelled in view of the holidays; another “make-up” meeting had been scheduled for Dec. 10 but was cancelled due to severe weather..

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. 

Creston had advertised this meeting as a public hearing for the proposed Commercial Solar  Facilities Ordinance. Residents Stanley Webster and Joshua Markham were present for that. The public hearing began at 7:05 PM. 

It was said that the 50 foot road setback seems insufficient. Stanley also asked how the installations would be assessed for taxes. He was advised that the usual assessment process would have to suffice.

Josh said he’d rather see no commercial solar installations in Vienna at all, citing Farmington as an example of their visual impact. 

The visual impact section of the ordinance was discussed and it was agreed to leave it unchanged.

Comments made by Lidie Robbins of 30 Mile Watershed Association regarding the Swifts’ revegetation plan were reviewed and discussed. It was agreed to table the discussion of this plan until January. Waine will invite Lidie to join us for that meeting.

Kay Van Woert’s email of December 5 about the Swift parcel on Whittier Pond was reviewed and discussed. It suggests that the Planning Board should make a better effort to note State Shoreland Zoning requirements that may be stricter than Vienna’s. It was noted that the State signs off on our ordinance whenever we revise it. 

It was  noted that the Swifts’ revegetation plan has more “recommendations” than requirements. It was agreed that Board members should better familiarize themselves with the plan.

Steve reported on a recent MMA workshop he attended and said it was excellent. He completed the FOAA training offered.

The meeting adjourned at 8:10 PM.

          Creston Gaither, secretary

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. The selectboard talked with Charles about road grants and the need to raise matching funds.  

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. The select board filed paperwork

4. The select board discussed a discontinued road off from the cemetery road

5. Warrant   23 ( $200,859.45) 

6. The 2026 Town Meeting will be Saturday March 14th with voting the night before on Friday March 

7. Lisa Goucher has been hired as the new Town House Cleaner 

8. The meeting adjourned. 

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. The select board    discussed the 2026 town meeting 

4.  The select board reviewed several property cards

5.   The meeting adjourned.

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. The select board  talked with Mark and Micheal from Axiom about the budget, at this time we are doing well. Discussion over expanding into Mt.Vernon concluded the town will need to contact Maine Connectivity Authority. 

4. The select board worked on cleaning up files 

5.  The meeting adjourned. 

1. Reviewed and dispersed the mail. 

2. The selectmen read and accepted the minutes from the previous meeting.

3. Reviewed and signed Warrant # 21 ($119,288.92). 

4. The select board talk with Ed Lawless about the progress of the broadband project.

5. The meeting adjourned.