Governor and Legislative Leadership Announce Appointments for Unorganized Territory Land Use Reform Commission

Governor and Legislative Leadership Announce Appointments for Unorganized Territory Land Use Reform Commission

For Immediate Release: Friday, August 26, 2011

Contact: Adrienne Bennett (207) 287-2531

 

Augusta, Maine – Governor Paul LePage, together with Senate President Kevin L. Raye and Speaker of the House Robert Nutting, announced Friday the twelve member selections for a Commission that will advise the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry on matters relating to land use planning and regulation in the Unorganized Territory.

 

The commission is a 13-member group, established through Legislative Resolve during the First Regular Session of the 125th Maine Legislature, which is responsible for considering reforming the governance of land use planning in the Unorganized Territory and making recommendations on the role of state agencies and county government, the planning and appeals process and opportunities for increased self determination in land use planning in the Unorganized Territory. The authorizing legislation requires that the commission hold no fewer than two public listening sessions on dates determined by the commission and submit its report and recommendations to the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry by January 4, 2012. At that time the legislative Committee will hold public hearings, and conduct work sessions prior to adopting legislation.

 

The Unorganized Territories of Maine comprise about 10 million acres of the state and cover land in portions of twelve Maine counties.

 

Governor LePage has appointed Don Kleiner, Hank McPherson, Sarah Medina and Donald White to the Commission on Reform of the Governance of Land Use Planning in Unorganized Territory. Senate President Raye has appointed Gary Lamb, Tom Rumpf, Christopher Gardner and Durward Humphrey. Speaker of the House Nutting has appointed Elbridge Cleaves, Robert Dunphy, Duane Lander, and Judith Cooper East. The Commissioner of Conservation, William Beardsley, will also serve on the commission as directed by the authorizing statute.

 

“Population and economic decline in rural Maine has been on the increase for the past decade and the trend must be halted. I believe that reform of the current land use zoning and regulatory structure in the UT will result in opportunities for renewed rural prosperity, local empowerment and decision making, and a prosperous future for our children,” said Governor LePage. "These important outcomes must be coupled with productive conservation measures and needed environmental protections to secure long-term sustainability of northern Maine’s vibrant, healthy, abundant natural resources,” Governor LePage added. “I am confident the individuals I have selected have the breadth and depth of experience in a range of activities impacting the UT and will make a valuable contribution to the future of the region.”

 

“I sought out experienced people who will be thoughtful, open-minded and constructive members of the Commission on Reform of the Governance of Land Use Planning in the Unorganized Territory created by enactment of LD 1534,” added Senate President Kevin Raye. “I am very pleased that these talented individuals are willing to volunteer their time and energy to this important task.”

 

House Speaker Robert Nutting concluded, “I’m pleased to hear that this important step of the process has been completed. There are significant land use issues that need to be addressed in Maine’s rural areas, and many residents who live in these regions feel that their voices are not being heard under the current system. It is my hope that this newly formed commission will be able to take a fresh look at the ongoing concerns that they have.”

Appointees:

 Elbridge Cleaves, President of the Woodie Wheaton Land Trust to serve as representative of a regional environmental or conservation organization. Cleaves is a retired Registered Maine Forester with experience timberland and land use management experience. He has served as a member of the Weston Town Selectmen, is a registered Maine Master Guide and active in the Conservation Community. In addition to serving as current president of Woodie Wheaton Land Trust he is a member of the State of Maine Forest Legacy Review Committee.

Somerset County Commissioner Robert Dunphy, to serve as a county commissioner from a county with significant acreage in the Unorganized Territory (UT). Dunphy served six years as Selectmen of the Town of Embden, has served as Emergency Management Director, the E 911 Addressing Agent for Town of Madison, and Code Enforcement Officer, Health Officer and Plumbing Inspector for six Towns in Somerset County, in addition to numerous other public service volunteer and profession endeavors.

Washington County Commissioner Christopher Gardner, of Edmunds Township, to serve as a county commissioner from a county with significant acreage in the Unorganized Territory (UT). Gardner is Port Director for the Port of Eastport, and was appointed by former Gov. John Baldacci to serve on the Commissions to Study Energy Infrastructure, and to Review Tax Increment Financing in the UT.  He is vice chairman of Maine County Commissioners Associations Subcommittee to Study LURC Reform.

Durward Humphrey, of Benedicta Township, to serve as a resident of the Unorganized Territory (UT). Humphrey is CEO of Katahdin Valley Health Center with facilities in Houlton, Island Falls, Millinocket and Patten.  He is a member of the Aroostook County Budget Committee, representing the Aroostook UT.  A past President of the Maine Primary Care Association, Humphrey is a longtime resident of the UT.

Don Kleiner, Executive Director of the Maine Professional Guides Association to serve as representative of a statewide sportsmen’s organization. Kleiner is current President of Maine Outdoors of Union, Me. He has been previously employed with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife as Director of Information and Education and is the recipient of numerous awards for his dedication to the outdoor recreation area.

 Greenville Town Manager Gary Lamb to serve as a representative of a regional or local economic development organization serving an area that includes unorganized territory.  In addition to serving as Greenville’s town manager, Lamb serves on the executive committee of the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, and has extensive experience in regional planning, code enforcement, comprehensive planning, and conservation planning.

Duane Lander to serve as representative of a resident of the unorganized territory. Lander has owned and operated a construction company with extensive work in the UT including maintenance of dams, building roads, timber harvest and shoreline work. He has been a resident of the UT for over four decades.

Hank McPherson, President of McPherson Timberlands of Bangor to serve as a representative of a small landowner in the unorganized territory engaged in the forest products industry. McPherson has supervised land development projects before local and state regulatory and planning bodies since 1980. In addition he is the current Chairman of the Board of Directors of Farm Credit of Maine specializing in Agriculture lending.

Sarah Medina, Member Chair Maine Tourism Commission and Land Use Director at Seven Islands Land Company, to serve as a representative of the tourism or outdoor recreation industry in the unorganized territory. Medina has actively served the Maine Tourism Commission since 2005, and is current Vice Chair of the Landowner Sportsman’s Relations Advisory Board. She is current involved with the North Maine Woods, Inc., Maine Wilderness Guides Association Board of Advisors, Allagash Waterway Management Plan Advisory Committee, Forest Resources Advisory Committee at the University of Maine, served on the Dixmont Planning Board, in addition to dozens of other similar endeavors.

Tom Rumpf of Brunswick, to serve as a representative of a statewide environmental or conservation organization.  Rumpf has served as Associate State Director of the Nature Conservancy since 2002.  A forester, he previously worked for the Maine Forest Service and directed Maine’s Spruce Budworm Program in the 1980s. He is a former Freeport town councilor and has been in active in local conservation and economic development issues.

Judith Cooper East, of Calais, to serve as the regional planner from a council of governments in a county with significant acreage in the unorganized territory. East is the Executive Director of the Washington County Council of Governments. In that capacity she directs the regional planning office serving organized and unorganized municipalities. She was previously a Senior Planner at the Maine State Planning Office and is an American Institute of Certified Planner.

Donald White, President and CEO of Prentiss & Carlisle Co., Inc. and President of the Maine Forest Products Council to serve as a representative of a large landowner in the unorganized territory engaged in the forest products industry. White received the Austin H. Wilkins Forest Stewardship Award in 2010.

 

 



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