Credit line draws questions, comments in Alna

Alna selectmen agreed Jan. 25 to a tax and revenue anticipation note, or line of credit. Before the 3-0 vote, the plan drew mixed reactions from the public.    On questions from resident, fire chief and candidate for road commissioner Michael Trask, First Selectman Ed Pentaleri said the point of the note was to be confident the town could pay its bills. “We’re doing this now because we don’t want to get caught by surprise. (This) is the responsible thing to do.” Pentaleri recalled a note the town took out last year was repaid in September. This one, effective Feb. 1, will be from Bath Savings Institution at 5.41% interest on a credit line of up to $480,355, he said. But the town will only borrow what, if anything, is needed, and the interest would be on only what is borrowed, he explained.   “I just don’t believe that you can sign, right now, without the permission of the voters of the town of Alna,” resident Ralph Hilton said. A March 2023 warrant article voters passed is that permission, Pentaleri said. This has been run by town counsel, “so I think we’re completely legitimate,” Pentaleri said.   “Well, I find that hard to believe,” Hilton said.   Participants discussed possibly rewording the annual warrant article to clarify what it authorizes the board to do and when.   Trask said the town should be raising more of an overlay annually, to avoid paying interest on a note. Pentaleri said he completely agreed. Trask asked if the board anticipates needing to use the new note. Pentaleri said he did not know, but Treasurer Amy Stockford contacted him in December and suggested a note.   Resident Honor Sage and Third Selectman Coreysha Stone both said they would support it because Stockford did. “I’m all in ... I think she’s got the best handle ...,” Sage said.   Also Jan. 25, the board extended for another 180 days the moratoriums on siting, installation, operation, permitting and approval of any commercial or community solar facility and any new mineral extraction facilities and operations, or the “expansion of existing, actual, and substantial mineral extraction facilities.”  Pentaleri congratulated Jasper Ludwig and Brian Haskins for The Alna Store’s James Beard Award nomination for best new restaurant. “It’s a really big deal for people who are involved in that world, and I know that Jasper and Brian have worked very, very hard for that recognition.” Pentaleri said final nominations would be announced April 3 and winners, June 10. “So Alna is kind of on the map again,” he added. And he reminded residents of the free, “Alna Movie Night” at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3 at the fire station for a showing of Doreen Conboy’s documentary, “Currents, Courses & Streams, Alna, Maine: Histories of a Backwater Town.”