By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — It’s been 13 years since Casco’s Comprehensive Plan has been updated.

It appears that a revitalized comp plan could be on the horizon — a year or two from now.

Earlier this month, Interim Town Manager Town Manager Don Gerrish asked the Casco selectmen to list the top needs of their town. 

Almost everyone expressed a desire to take on the big project of doing a comprehensive plan to update the one done in the 1980s. 

“The key point here is your comp plan is the overlaying document that all ordinances and everything flows from. When you are out of sync and things needs to change, you really need an updated comp plan,” Gerrish said. 

The goal of doing a comp plan is one that will take planning: both financially and logistically. This goal dovetails with the objective to get more citizens involved as volunteers. After all, doing a comprehensive plan requires the involvement of many community members. It will also require saving about  $50,000.

On Tuesday, the Casco Board of Selectmen heard some of the details about completing a comprehensive plan 

The town’s comprehensive plan was last done in 2003 with an update in June 2007, according to Gerrish. 

Most likely, the cost will be between $50,000 and $60,000, Gerrish said.

He said he had a zoom meeting with Greater Portland Council of Government (GPCOG).

“They are willing to assist us in this process. They have some funds available for doing the information gathering. They just finished with Gray. That was a two-year project,” Gerrish said. “This is not something that is done overnight.”

“For us, we should think about funding $50,000 to $60,000 over two years,” he said. 

“A comp plan — it is time-consuming and you need to have public members who are willing to make the commitment,” he said.

He mentioned that with COVID-19 restrictions might keep comp plan in planning stage rather than public meetings phase. But, he did suggest that the town allocate the money and go out to bid early. 

Gerrish recommended that the money come from the Undesignated Fund Balance. Therefore, it does not impact the taxpayer immediately. 

“We should look at the Undesignated Fund Balance. That would be good use of it. A good way to not raise the money,” Gerrish said. 

“The bigger componentwill be needing to fund it. It’s a lot of money but it should, according to state planning office, last 10 years,” he said.

Chairman Thomas Peaslee commented. 

“It sounds like a lot of money. But if you look at all the years that we didn’t do it . . .” he said. 

In 2003, a comprehensive plan committee had been formed which included 11 people plus members of the planning board and some of the selectmen. 

Selectman Robert “Bob” MacDonald stated he was willing to take on a role of responsibility. 

“I am willing to step up and say, ‘Let’s get going,’ ” he said.   

On Dec. 1, when the selectmen went around the table and talked about goals, MacDonald agreed that the comprehensive plan should take a front seat.

“I looked at the comp plan. It is so far out of date. It was last updated in 1983. We should be looking at it every 10 years,” MacDonald said. “Comprehensive planning issues should be on the top of our planning list to move forward. We are so far behind every town in our area. It is just not funny.”

Selectman Scott Avery also weighed in.

“The comp plan — we are so far behind the eight ball, it’s scary,” he said. 

Like fellow selectmen, Holly Hancock listed the comp plan. 

“Our comp plan was done in 1983 so that needs to be updated,” Hancock said.  

“Obviously, we need more volunteers on committees,” she said.

Chairman Thomas Peaslee had the comp plan on his list of town’s to do’s.

“A comp plan — we have talked about it every year since I’ve been here,” Peaslee said.