RANGELEY — In a joint meeting with the Budget Committee, the Board of Selectmen focused Monday on recommendations from the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee and reviewed a preliminary cost estimate from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office for law enforcement coverage.
The Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee has recommended three actions: updating Rangeley’s zoning map; auditing the town’s existing Zoning Ordinance to identify compliance with current state environmental laws; and reviewing the municipal environmental setbacks and coverage tables.
The committee’s goal is to be proactive, not reactive, as the state rapidly implements zoning changes that began in early 2026, including updates affecting material changes, buildable lots and attainable housing.
According to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, Title 38, which governs Maine waters and navigation, defines protected zones as all land within 250 feet, measured horizontally, of the normal high-water line of any great pond or river; the upland edge of a coastal wetland, including areas affected by tidal action; and the upland edge of designated freshwater wetlands. It also includes all land within 75 feet of the normal high-water line of certain streams.
The town has an 18‑month timeline that began Nov. 3, 2025, when the Board of Selectmen adopted the committee’s bylaws to begin implementing the approved plan.
Town Manager Joe Roach said he anticipates the three recommendations will be distributed to the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee by mid-April.
Further information on zoning rules is available on the Town of Rangeley and the Maine Mandatory Shoreland Zoning websites.
In other matters, Roach said he met last week with Rangeley Police Chief Richard E. Caton IV, Franklin County Administrator Amy Bernard and Franklin County Sheriff Scott Nichols to clarify the board’s request for a preliminary cost estimate for full‑time Sheriff’s Office coverage.
The current estimate is based on a 160-hour-per-week coverage plan, which is required under county union rules. Under the plan, coverage would pause from 1 to 6 a.m., when a sheriff’s deputy would be on call instead of on patrol.
“The county would assume responsibility for at least two of the town’s four police vehicles,” Roach said of the scenario.
“I should also reiterate that the town is fully staffed and add that the town is party to a collective bargaining agreement that covers many of its employees, including police officers,” Roach said, comparing the town’s current round-the-clock coverage to the option outlined by Nichols.
During Monday’s meeting, Roach addressed several questions that had come up earlier, including what the county would charge for a lieutenant to serve as a liaison, whether a three‑year agreement is possible and whether Rangeley would receive any tax credits given what it pays in county taxes.
Roach reported that the property revaluation is on schedule, with work now wrapping up on the assessment of properties sold between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2026.
Property values are being estimated using the cost, income or sales comparison approach. The mass appraisal method uses a market-adjusted cost model that reviews building features to determine improvement value, checks those values against comparable properties to ensure consistency and then adds land value to produce the final assessment for each parcel.
The rates will change based on the real estate market, and not all properties will change at the same pace.
A more thorough explanation of the 2026 property revaluation process can be found at the Town of Rangeley Document Center.
Rangeley will move forward with purchasing celebration banners without the word “over,” reading simply “250th Anniversary,” and will “be a uniform and sharp presentation that (will) not detract from the (new) American flags,” Roach said.
The Rangeley Historical Society will also provide downtown holiday banners for the anniversary celebration, and new American flags will be placed on lighted poles throughout town.
There was also discussion about auctioning the banners created for the town’s 250th anniversary after the celebration to recoup some of the cost or donating the proceeds to charity.
The first draft of a new artificial intelligence policy has been reviewed by a lawyer and approved by the board. It takes effect immediately and will be updated frequently.
Additional town meetings are scheduled for this month:
- Tuesday, March 24: The Board of Selectmen EMS Study Workshop with the Plantations.
- Tuesday, March 31: A public hearing on the budget for selectmen to hear and consider public input before finalizing the warrant for the annual town meeting.
The Board of Selectmen meets regularly on the first and third Monday of each month at the Town Office. The meetings are livestreamed.
