Section H Public Facilities and Services This section reviews the existing public facilities and services provided by and available to the citizens and businesses of the community. Focused on estimating future needs based on anticipated growth and economic development, current facilities and services will be analyzed to determine if those facilities and services adequately serve the needs of the town. The goal of this section is to plan, finance, and develop an efficient system of maintaining and upgrading public facilities and services that will accommodate the town's needs over the next ten years. GENERAL MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION Milo is part of State Senate District #27, State House District #026 and US Congressional District #2. The town has a selectpersons/town meeting/town manager form of government where the town manager is responsible for the day to day town management and operations. The office of selectperson is an elected position, with elections for staggering three year terms are held at Town meeting in March. The town manager also holds annual appointed offices of tax-collector and welfare director. The Board of Selectpersons is comprised of five-members. Each member serves a staggered three-year term. Selectpersons meetings are typically held the first and third Thursday of each month, or as needed. The town's fiscal year ends on December 31. Approval for the budget is achieved through the annual town meeting/election that is held on the second Monday in March. More information regarding financial operations of the town can be found in section J- Fiscal Capacity. BOARDS AND COMMITTEES The Board of Selectpersons makes annual appointments for local offices and appointments to short and long term local boards and project committees as needed. Many municipal appointments are filled on a volunteer service basis. The countless hours devoted by civic-minded volunteers are an integral element of the town’s ability to maintain quality local services while striving to minimize local tax burden. Annual Office Appointments including the following: Clerk, Deputy Clerk, Tax Collector, Deputy Tax Collector, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, General Assistance Administrator, Fire Chief, Police Chief, Police Officers and Reserve Police Officers, Road Commissioner, Animal Control Officer, Code Enforcement Officer, Plumbing Inspector, Building Inspector, Assessing Agent, Constables, Election Wardens and Clerks, Registrar of Voters, Deputy Registrar of Voters, Local Sealer of Weights and Measures, and the Tree Warden. Multi-Year Appointments include the following: Planning Board (Five Seats with One Elm Street Advisory Committee (Ten Seats) Alternate) Penquis Solid Waste Corporation Board of Planning Board of Appeals Directors (Three Seats) MSAD #41 Directors (Five Seats) Evergreen Cemetery Trust Advisor Committee Trustees of Milo Free Public Library (Seven Seats) Trustees of Milo Water District (Three Seats) Date 4/2/2007 Town of Milo Comprehensive Plan H-1 Section H Public Facilities and Services The town's Planning Board consists of five members and meets as necessary to review and decide upon any development proposals which require their review pursuant to state and/or local law. The majority of local ordinance administration is carried out under the jurisdiction of the local shoreland zoning ordinance. The town maintains the services of a certified local code enforcement officer. The Local Appeals Boards have powers over local review and decision making responsibilities pursuant to state and local law. The appeals board role plays an important function in the defensible administration of locally adopted land use ordinances. Tax abatements are handled by the Board of Selectmen and any continuing appeals go to the County Commissioners Office in Dover-Foxcroft. MSAD #41 Directors set and decide policy to govern the administration of local education in accordance with local preference and applicable federal and state law. The Trustees of Milo Public Library oversee the operation of the public library. The Trustees of Milo Water District oversee the operation and maintenance of the public water and sewer systems serving the town. The Penquis Solid Waste Corporation Board of Directors arranges service to provide for the safe disposal of oversize bulky waste materials including waste wood, construction/demolition debris, metal goods and brown goods; including furniture, televisions, and electronic waste. Committees include the following: Budget Committee Comprehensive Plan Committee Harris Field Advisory Committee Evergreen Cemetery Trust Advisory Committee Housing Committee 1. The Budget Committee reviews the Town Manager’s proposed annual budget in conjunction with the preparation of the annual town meeting warrant. 2. The Comprehensive Plan Committee oversees the development of this Comprehensive Plan. 3. The Harris Field Advisory Committee involves itself in keeping the fields and tennis courts in a condition readied for recreation activities. 4. The Evergreen Cemetery Trust Advisory Committee watches over the investments to provide maximum self sufficiency in the expenses of the cemetery. 5. The Housing Committee serves as the steering committee for CDBG applications and administers the program, if funds are awarded. Date 4/2/2007 Town of Milo Comprehensive Plan H-2 Section H Public Facilities and Services MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS/FACILITIES Milo Town Hall The Milo Town Hall is located downtown on Pleasant Street. The facility houses the offices of the town office, police, fire, and recreation departments. Milo Public Library The Milo public library facility is located in the center of downtown on Pleasant Street. The first Public Library in Milo was established by the ladies of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (W.C.T.U.). The library began in the home of Mary Hobbs, and then was later moved to a room in the Odd Fellow building. When the WCU Public Library Association felt their rooms were no longer adequate, the association applied to the Carnegie Corporation for a Carnegie Library Building. The town first had to purchase a building lot and vote a sum of money for maintenance. Trustees were elected and the Milo Fee Public Library Corporation was formed. The ground was broken for the building in May 1922 and the new library was opened in 1923. On January 5, 1989 the then library director Catherine Ellison had the library entered upon the National Register of Historic Places in the State of Maine, which means it is recognized as a part of the historical and cultural heritage of our nation and should be preserved as a living part of our community life and development to give a sense of orientation to the American People. Library Patrons are not limited to residents of Milo, patrons travel from Atkinson, Brownville, Lagrange and other regional communities to utilize this resource. In addition to over 18,000 volumes of fiction, non-fiction, and reference materials, the library has three computers for patron use and all are connected to the internet, and participates in the Inter-library loan program connecting itself to the University of Maine library network. Town Garage The town garage, located at Knowles Avenue is a 5000 sq ft structure that was built in 1960. An addition to the original structure in 1976 was built to accommodate the town’s packer truck. Milo Highway Department has seven full time employees and one part time position. These positions range from equipment operator to general laborers, a foreman serves as the overseer of the department. Undeveloped Land The following is a listing of undeveloped land owned by the town: 1. 85 acres on Stanchfield Ridge (landlocked) 2. 2 40 acres parcels on Red Farm Road 3. 35 acres on Hobstown Road 4. 155 acres on Park Street Date 4/2/2007 Town of Milo Comprehensive Plan H-3 Section H Public Facilities and Services MUNICIPAL SERVICES Town Office The town manger is responsible for administering the town's routine business and each department head reports directly to the town manager. Staffing of administrative services of this facility include the following full-time employees: town manager, town treasurer, town clerk and town secretary. Police Protection The Milo community is fortunate to have its own police department, with protection available around the clock. Back-up services are provided when needed by the Maine State Police and the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Department. Other law enforcement agencies provide enforcement and protection within their specialties including the Maine Warden Service as part of the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, and the Maine Forest Service. The Milo police department is staffed by a full-time police chief. In addition, there are two full- time officers and seven reserve officers serving Milo’s law enforcement needs, all of whom have attended the Maine Criminal Justice Academy. The department purchased a replacement police cruiser in 2003, a 2003 Ford Crown Victoria YEAR MAKE MODEL/TYPE LIFE EXPECTANCY 2004 Ford Crown Victoria 3-5 years 2006 Ford Expedition 3-5 years 1986 Chevrolet Blazer 3-5 years The State Police and Piscataquis County Sheriffs’ Office have some jurisdiction over municipalities and provide assistance to the Milo Police Department when necessary. Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office provides the dispatching services for Police, Fire and Ambulance. Fire Protection The fire department consists of one station located at the Town Hall. The department includes 30 volunteers and a full-time volunteer chief. The Milo fire department is served by a full reporting structured volunteer fire department. The department consists of a full time chief, three assistant chiefs, three captains and four Lieutenants. There are currently 36 slots for volunteers who report directly to the chief and supporting staff. The department has entered into mutual service agreement with the town of Brownville and Piscataquis County, while maintaining contractual fire protection for the towns of Ornville, Ebeeme, Katahdin Iron Works, Lakeview Plantation and the Town of Medford. Milo's hydrant system is controlled and maintained by the Milo Water District. The system is in adequate overall condition.