Ombudsman would help cut red tape
To the editor:
As a local businessman, I would like to thank LEAD, WAGM-TV and the area Chambers of Commerce for sponsoring one of Governor LePage’s “Red Tape Audit Discussions” in Presque Isle. The Governor was represented by Mark Ouellette of the Department of Economic and Community Development; he was attentive and took notes!
As developers of energy infrastructure projects at the former Loring Air Force Base, we have experienced some development obstacles that an enlightened business-minded state government can help to overcome. Two of the more important time/money obstacles for any business are: regulatory uncertainty and legislative uncertainty.
A possible solution to address these two time/money killers would be the introduction of a Maine Ombudsman’s Office. The Ombudsman would provide a single point of contact for all State of Maine legislative and regulatory licenses, permits, rules, regulations, guidelines, etc whereby a business would be assigned an individual to help developers, engineers, financiers (and even attorneys!) navigate through state legislative and regulatory waters from development concept to commercialization. The Ombudsman could also serve as a central point of contact for state financing programs such as may be available through the Finance Authority of Maine, DECD, and other agencies.
Thanks also to Governor LePage for sending someone up to the County from Augusta. This has for sure been a good start for the LePage Administration.
Hayes Gahagan
Loring Companies
