RANGELEY — The Rangeley Police Department was recognized Tuesday for completing the Maine Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, a distinction that Brunswick Chief of Police Scott Stewart presented at the Board of Selectmen meeting.
The accreditation requires departments to meet 164 standards.
Stewart, who also serves as president of the Maine Chiefs of Police Association, said Rangeley received “glowing reviews” and exceeded expectations for integrity, leadership and service by voluntarily undergoing the accreditation process.
According to the Maine Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, accreditation shows that a law enforcement agency is meeting and maintaining high standards of professional excellence and accountability.
The program requires agencies to comply with life, health and safety standards, as well as standards mandated by statute or other controlling legislation.
Before an agency is accredited, it must demonstrate compliance through written documentation, along with observations and interviews conducted by the accreditation team.
Accreditation is renewed every three years.
Nearly 40 police departments in Maine are accredited, including those in Farmington and Jay.
Rangeley Police Chief Richard Caton IV accepted the award on behalf of the department.
In other matters, selectmen were told that Rangeley’s revaluation assessments are on schedule.
The work is being carried out by RJD Appraisal of Pittsfield, which serves as the assessing agent for 62 communities in Maine.
Property revaluation notices are expected to be mailed June 26, with review hearings set for July 6 and July 13.
Taxpayers who want to discuss their assessment may request a session with the assessing agent. Each session will run 15 to 20 minutes and may be held in person, by telephone or by email.
The tax commitment hearing is scheduled for the end of July.
The collected assessment data will be used for the 2026 tax season, which begins April 1. Additional information is available on the town’s website, and appeal forms are available on the Maine Board of Property Tax Review website.
Town Manager Joe Roach reported that rebuilding the Rangeley Planning Department is requiring significant, ongoing staff effort to maintain public services while also managing training needs.
Roach said he is proposing a director of community development, planning and codes in the fiscal 2027 budget to “strengthen the department and reduce its vulnerability to turnover; namely, the loss of institutional knowledge.”
He said adding the position in July would help safeguard the long‑term character and operations of the Planning Department.
Selectmen also agreed to table all paving projects for this year after residents raised concerns about higher asphalt costs tied to rising oil prices.
Roach said the town may rebid the work, noting arguments on both sides: oil prices could drop, reducing asphalt costs, while labor costs are expected to continue rising, which could make the projects more expensive if delayed too long.
Feedback on the emergency medical services study has focused on slow response times and the possibility that too few licensed ambulance drivers are available to respond on‑site.
For example, if an ambulance arrives with two emergency medical technicians and the call requires both of them to be with the patient in the back of the truck, someone else must drive the ambulance to the hospital.
It is common practice for a firefighter or police officer to step in and drive the ambulance when that happens.
While there is no staffing shortage under the current MaineHealth contract, Roach said the discussion now centers on managing expectations for — and possibly improving — response times, as well as exploring ways to strengthen cooperation with existing Fire Department services.
The Airport Commission is also discussing a potential new hangar as part of the ongoing taxi lane design project at Rangeley’s Stephen A. Bean Municipal Airport.
A sketch from Stantec, a global engineering and design firm based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has been completed for a possible new hangar layout. Weather conditions last fall caused a crack in the sealant and pavement.
The taxiway project is expected to begin in May or June, when temperatures are better for groundwork. Designs include exploring a north-south hangar orientation to take advantage of sunlight year‑round.
Leases on the existing hangars bring in $9,000 a year for the town and expire in 2028, setting up a future discussion about potential rate increases. Roach said six parties have already expressed interest in the new hangars. The master plan for the hangar area is estimated to be three to four years out.
The Scenic Byways plan for Oquossoc originally called for removing the information kiosk located there. After a discussion between Roach and the Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, the decision was made to keep the kiosk and instead spruce up the structure.
Roach requested authorization from the board to move forward, and selectmen approved the request.
