In Alna Wednesday night, March 27, Central Maine Power got selectmen’s approval to exceed posted weight limits on Rabbit Path and Lothrop roads to bring its clean energy corridor project across the town line from Whitefield. Work on the Alna stretch would start soon, a project representative told the board.

“They’re looking to start as soon as Monday (April 1),” New England Clean Energy Connect spokesman Troy Thibodeau said. “We’ve been holding at the Alna line for a while ... so you’ll probably see some activity very soon.”

It was the board’s second specially called meeting on the requested exemption from the posted weight limits. 

March 27, some residents noted the work would happen even it had to wait until the roads were no longer posted. And Thibodeau said project permits require CMP to fix roads it damages. “The (agreement’s) benefit to the town is ... you have some say in how the road is fixed,” he said.

Some roadwork is already planned at a Lothrop Road knoll where the pavement meets the gravel, he said. “We’re going to have to make that more gradual, before we can even get anything down there. So, hopefully it’ll help things like drainage,” Thibodeau added.

Also March 27, selectmen talked about suggestions that have come in to have a committee look at the mining ordinance voters rejected at town meeting. According to the March 27 discussion, the topic will be on the board’s April 4 agenda, along with Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit’s presentation of its budget offer. 

Ed Pentaleri, in his first meeting since losing the first selectman’s seat to Nicholas Johnston, reviewed pending projects including the Egypt Road bridge replacement. He said he is thrilled to be resuming retirement, but wants to help in any way he can for the projects to succeed.

And in his first meeting on the board, Johnston told residents he grew up in Wiscasset, has been involved with the Civil Air Patrol, is easy going, and would like to hear from anyone.