MADAWASKA, Maine – Village planning meetings set for Jan. 24 in Van Buren and Jan. 25 in Madawaska have been canceled and will need to be rescheduled, after one of the participants in the sessions had a health issue. Maine Department of Transportation officials hope to reschedule both meetings to a date in February, but a specific date has not been set.
Maine DOT spokesperson Paul Merrill said on Tuesday that the meetings of the Village Partnership Initiative were canceled due to a sudden illness with a consultant scheduled to attend.
The Village Partnership Initiative lets communities work with Maine DOT and engineers to revitalize their downtown and village center. Village centers are defined as areas having a speed limit of 30 miles per hour or less, and providing goods, services and housing. They also contain at least one religious or civic facility. Through the program, municipalities can obtain grant funding for these projects.
The Van Buren meeting was scheduled for Jan. 24 at 6 p.m. at the town office. It was set to be part of a regularly scheduled town council meeting. Madawaska’s meeting was set for the next day, Jan. 25, at the Madawaska High School Cafeteria at 6 p.m. Members of the public were invited to attend both meetings and share any feedback or recommendations they may have about roads in town.
Maine DOT officials and consultants would then use the feedback to develop a plan that improves safety and accessibility for walkers and cyclists while also supporting long-term economic development plans.
Consultants with Portland-based Gorrill Palmer were set to present during both the Madawaska and Van Buren meetings.
Maine DOT Regional Planner and Tribal Liaison Jarod Farn-Guillette said that new dates and times for the meetings will likely be announced next week.
