For two years now, Thomaston had huge turnouts at the polls and at last year’s town meeting. Why? Because the former Maine State Prison property, called “Thomaston Green,” was up for grabs. The June 14, 2023, Town Meeting violated fire safety regulations by allowing more than 300 people to cram into the Lura Libby room at the Town Office. Most left after the votes on the first 3 articles, which carved “Thomaston Green” up into 3 pieces: a park in perpetuity, a clinic, and a Fire/EMS station.

What’s happened since that emotionally charged meeting?

A temporary Ad Hoc committee formed to recommend improvements to the Select Board for the newly created Thomaston Green Park.

One and one-half acres was sold to Knox Clinic, which continues to plan for its 10,000 square-foot facility. (They missed the last scheduled update to the Select Board.)

The proposed Fire/EMS station has an estimated cost of about $8 million for a 12 to 14,000 square-foot facility according to the April 2024 Thomaston Fire Study Report. (To defray the costs, the Town will apply for $1-2 million of assistance from Senator Collins’ office.)

At a recent Economic and Community Development Meeting, a member asked whether those structures will be built. Jon Eaton, Vice Chair, responded, “In both instances, are they going to come up with the money to do it?”

As of June 2024, the “Thomaston Green” remains unchanged for the 22nd year since the prison was demolished and buried on site.

What’s on the docket this year?

Article 3 recommends that the Select Board be able to negotiate with Georges River Land Trust (GRLT) for a conservation easement for Thomaston Green Park. Why is that necessary? Because the Planning Board, and others, say that “in perpetuity” is not legally defensible.

They’re right.

The only way to legally protect that approximately 10 acres is through a conservation easement, which prohibits development unless it matches the conservation and recreational purposes the voters approved.

Why GRLT?

Because land trusts are experienced in managing and protecting conserved land, and GRLT is our “neighborhood” land trust. Note: they would not be the owners, simply the holders of the conservation easement.

Also, within Article 21 for Downtown/Green Revitalization Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District, $26,000 is allocated for Thomaston Green Park. That brings electricity and water to the gazebo, does some landscaping, and adds some benches. Still unanswered are parking, bathrooms, ongoing stewardship of Thomaston Green Park, and for that matter, the other four parks in Thomaston.

Let’s not forget about security cameras when we’re talking about bathrooms and parking.

In January, the Select Board voted to use $6,000 of the $30,000 TIF funds for security cameras for Kiln Park and the Public Landing. At last year’s town meeting, the explanation for those funds was to upgrade and improve parks, specifically Mill River Park and the Mall on Main Street.

At the January 8, 2024, Select Board meeting, I asked why the cameras weren’t being paid for from the “security” budget.

The response was that there wasn’t a “security” budget. But there is a Public Safety budget. I’m told that even though there isn’t a line item in the FY25 Public Safety/Police budget, security cameras should fall under “Equipment” for which $20,000 is being requested this year.

The rest of the town warrant deals with money and power: moving money between Tax Increment Financing accounts, borrowing it, spending it, including a quarter of a million dollars on town-owned properties, increasing budgets from last year in almost every department, granting the Select Board certain powers, and amending ordinances.

The details of all 37 articles are in the May issue of the Thomaston Newsletter found on their website.

Finally, nothing is certain except death and taxes. Yes, we all saw significant increases in property taxes this year. The explanation was that the last re-evaluation was in the late 2000s, and we were due. This year there is a 4.5% increase proposed for public sewers, with a 2.5% increase thereafter.

On June 12, the Town Manager doesn’t expect crowds at this year’s town meeting, calling the past two “anomalies.”

So, if 300+ people show up on June 12, the meeting likely will have to be rescheduled to find a larger venue.

Will there be fireworks before the 4th of July at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 12? Or will Thomaston continue to be “all quiet”?

Kathleen Norton lives in Thomaston