Alna selectmen want public feedback before they change fees for permits and services. The fees, last changed in 2017 or 2018, have been falling short of the town’s costs to fulfill the requests, First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said in the board’s meeting at the town office and over Zoom Jan. 25.

The town’s costs for these over the last year have run between $6,000 and $9,000, and fees have brought in an average of less than $4,000 each of the last two years, Pentaleri said.

The proposal covers more than three dozen items for internal plumbing, disposal systems, building, shoreland, flood hazard development, wireless communications, after the fact fines, and a new, tax inquiry fee: $5 a property record “plus any third-party expenses,” the proposal states. Among other items, every type of internal plumbing fee would double, and the minimum residential building permit fee would go from $100 to $250.

Second Selectman Linda Kristan checked what Wiscasset, Damariscotta, Newcastle, Richmond, Buxton, Sanford and Benton charge and found the proposed Alna fees “very balanced. I’m happy with (them),” she said.

“They look reasonable,” Third Selectman Charles Culbertson said.

Full lists of the current fees and the proposed ones are in the news section of alna.maine.gov

Also Jan. 25, the board named Erik Mitchell to the planning board following Beth Whitney’s resignation; accepted the 2023-24 contract with Midcoast Humane for animal shelter and related services for $1,058, up $20; and announced a March town meeting vote for a cemetery trustee to a three-year term. Unlike other elections – held at the polls the day before the open meeting – Pentaleri said this seat is decided in the open meeting, with nominations from the floor. He encouraged people to consider serving. “My understanding is that there’s not a huge level of effort involved ...”

“Mike Trask's term ... is ending, and he has decided not to continue,” Pentaleri explained in an email response.