11/18/08. Victory Day Legislature's Transportation Committee rules right way the first time on Sears Island:
NO PORT = NO PRESERVED PARCEL...
NO PRESERVED PARCEL: NO PORT.
A perfect catch-22
Audio recordings of speakers at the November 18, 2008 meeting of the Legislature's Transportation Committee in Augusta. At the meeting the final report of Sears Island Joint Use Planning Committee and the perpetual conservation easement over 2/3 of the island were considered by the committee. Above photo: Senator Christine Savage (R Knox County) has submitted an amendment to the Committee's decision to Senator Dennis Damon (D-Hancock County), the Committee Chair, who is entertaining debate in the photo. The amended committee bill "accepted" the final report of the Sears Island Joint Use Planning Committee, but then, using the Transportation Committee's legislative authority over Sears Island decisions, directed MDOT to refrain from granting a conservation easement to Maine Coast heritage Trust over the eastern two thirds of the island until the state has secured an operative container port. Listen to each presentation, discussion ang the final decisionmaking
Get a single recording of full hearing (MPBN)
Robert Grindrod, Montreal and Maine Railroad
Karen Tilberg Dept of Conservation
Committee discusses Senator Savage's proposal
Committee continues discussion
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Audio recordings of the June 25, 2008 public meeting Sears Island Joint Use Committee
Brian Nutter, MDOT, and others discuss Sears Island "4(f)" issue at JUPC meeting 2/8/07.