Staff Writer
CARIBOU — The Northern Maine Development Commission Executive Board of Directors met Sept. 10, for a thorough meeting. The board approved the Agency- wide Revenue and Expenditure Statement for the period ending Aug. 31, 2009, during the presentation of which Robert Clark, NMDC executive director, updated the board on the state of community and county membership. According to Clark, most of the communities are represented while communities lacking representation are small. Comparing NMDC with other similar commissions, Clark informed the board that NMDC is doing quite well with membership.
Duane Walton, NMDC director of business finance, presented the board with the Loan Review Committee Report, and board members approved appointments to the loan review committee. The board also approved ratification of a service contract.
Clark presented a report of the Northern Maine Finance Corporation and the board approved the revised agreement to provide clerical and management support services. It was approved with one abstention.
Leslie Jackson, NMDC tourism and graphic design specialist, presented the board with a report of the Aroostook County Tourism Committee. During her presentation, she displayed the various mediums used by the committee to promote tourism in Aroostook County, informing them that specifically on http://www.VisitAroostook.com, local businesses need to access the site themselves to enter their information.
The board observed a presentation on the Brownfields Assessment Program and approved the authorization to apply for a brownfields assessment grant, and discussed a possible National Scenic Byways Designation for the Saint John Valley.
They also discussed a PUC grant program for Municipal Energy Efficiency Projects and received federal and state legislative updates.
