Sangerville's Shocking Social Media Move: What You NEED to Know Before It's Too Late!

Sangerville is taking steps to improve community engagement as it works to renovate its Town Hall. At a March 4 select board meeting held at the local fire station, the building committee discussed establishing a social media presence, aiming for greater transparency and public involvement in the renovation process. The board agreed to draft a policy that will be reviewed and voted on in a future meeting.

In a recent email to Interim Town Manager Michelle Nichols, committee member Melissa Getchell raised the idea of creating accounts on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. After consulting with the Maine Municipal Association, Nichols confirmed that social media can be a valuable tool for community education and reducing misinformation. “You can kind of control what goes out,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of having a structured policy in place.

However, Nichols warned that while monitoring content is possible, comments from the public must remain open, even if they are unfavorable. “You cannot shut off comments,” she said. “You need to have that open, even if you don’t like them you can’t delete them.” Following this guidance, it was suggested that only designated town representatives should manage social media accounts, emphasizing the need for a professional and consistent town image.

Select Chair Jeff Peters expressed his agreement, stating, “I think if we’re going to enter into something like this, we need a policy to regulate it for sure.” Nichols plans to look at policies from other towns to tailor a suitable document for Sangerville, ensuring the town’s interests are protected while engaging with the community online.

In other discussions during the meeting, the board addressed solid waste disposal options. Currently, Sangerville is part of the Mid Maine Solid Waste Association, utilizing a transfer station located at the Dexter/Corinna line. However, many residents have expressed interest in the Dover-Foxcroft facility, which is closer and has comparable fees. Peters suggested including a related warrant item in an upcoming town meeting to gauge public interest in potentially switching disposal facilities. “I would feel really better if the people of Sangerville made this decision and not the select board,” he stated, noting the differing waste disposal arrangements among residents.

On the topic of road maintenance, the town received a single bid for road grading from Harris Kubricky, totaling $24,600. This figure exceeds the approximate $18,000 budgeted for the project. CEO Steve Harris indicated a willingness to work with the town to lower costs, possibly by delaying the start date for grading. The select board plans to consult with the budget committee to strategize on funding and potentially award the bid at their next meeting on March 18.

In related business, a contract for mowing was formally signed with resident Orman Gray, who submitted the lowest bid of $18,000 for maintaining six designated areas, including the Veterans Memorial Park and several town cemeteries. Peters remarked on the positive feedback received for Gray’s work last year, which contributed to the decision to retain his services.

Lastly, a written report from Fire Chief Matt Blockler, who was attending a training session, indicated that the fire department has added one new volunteer and is actively seeking more members. Sangerville currently has a roster of 20 firefighters and 5 junior firefighters, with a proposed budget of $77,000 and a reserve of $40,000. In comparison, nearby towns like Guilford and Dover-Foxcroft have larger departments and higher budgets, with Guilford employing 27 firefighters at a cost of $110,000 and Dover-Foxcroft featuring 42 firefighters with an operating budget of $800,000.

As Sangerville moves forward with these initiatives, the focus on communication and community engagement through social media, along with improved waste disposal and maintenance strategies, highlights the town's commitment to enhancing public services while fostering a collaborative relationship with its residents.