Maliseets look to separate from town

By Jennifer Ruth  
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians have announced their plans to branch off and become an independent governmental entity separate from state and municipal governance.
    The Houlton Town Council publicly recognized the Band’s desire for autonomy during its Monday night council session and supported their decision by submitting a letter to the state legislature in support of their right to be independent.
    “Frankly, they have done a good job of building a solid government and in generating good programs and services for their members,” explained Town Manager Doug Hazlett. “Our relationship with the Maliseets has been strong and productive and we certainly want to keep it that way.”
    Hazlett presented councilors with a letter, which states that the town of Houlton will consent to the release of more than 177 acres of Band land located on the Foxcroft Road where the Band’s housing development and other community facilities are located. Hazlett said it wasn’t up to the council to agree to the release, but they could show their support by reaffirming their support to Augusta.
    “The letter that we’re offering tonight is the consent of the town, as the Maliseets address the issue with Augusta,” he explained. “This is something Augusta would have to decide, it isn’t something the council can vote to do. We felt it was a good move to go on record with the Legislature as they begin their session in January.”
    The letter also states that the town will claim no jurisdiction or authority over the Band’s territorial land and will not levy taxes or request payment in lieu of taxes on this land. The town will provide no municipal services on their land, unless contractually agreed by the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The letter goes on to say that since the Band’s territorial land and residents will have no governmental relationship to the town of Houlton, the band will be responsible for their own municipal needs such as: ownership and maintenance of all roads located on territorial land; the development and implementation of building codes and ordinances; code enforcement; the management of contracts such as cable TV and Pine Tree Waste; SAD 29 cost allocations for residents of territorial land; municipal services such as vehicle registration, voter registration, elections, vital statistics; the assessing of land and property values on territorial land as well as the reporting of those values to the state; the Houlton Police Department will have no jurisdiction over Houlton Band territorial land and general assistance services for territorial residents.
    There are two conditions that the town wants the Maliseets to consider in exchange for this. First, the Band owns 74 parcels of land located within the town of Houlton and the town manager is asking that for the concurrence of Houlton’s elected officials prior to the creation of any additional territorial land concerning those parcels. Second, that the creation of a separate Houlton Band governmental entity should not impose restrictions or sanctions upon the town of Houlton beyond those empowered by the federal government, state or other local governmental bodies.
    “We value our relationship with the Maliseets,” said Hazlett. “We have a good working relationship and we have potential to do even more things in partnership in the future.”
    The issue has been discussed in executive session and Hazlett said the general consensus was that “we’re at a point in time with the Maliseets that this is good for both parties.”
    Efforts to reach the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians for comment prior to presstime were not successful.