Image Id 686995 for Node 257075
Address: 10 McDonald Drive, Boothbay
Occupation: Retired, haven't worked in 25 years
Education: Post graduate Center for Mental Health, Forensic Clinical Social Work Program, School of Social Welfare (master's) at State University of New York (1974-1976).
Political History (Board, Committees): First time locally
Clubs/Organizations: New York State Society of Clinical Social Work Psychotherapists; American Group Psychotherapy Association; Eastern Group Psychotherapy Association; National Association of Social Workers
Considering the position you are running for, what do you feel are the three most pressing issues (350 words or less):
In 2023, the Water District took 41 million gallons of water from Knickerbocker and Little Knickercocker lakes. In 2024, 51 million gallons were taken. This is the maximum allowed by permit. In the past, there were two projects to run a pipeline from Sebago Lake or Sabbattus Lake to the Camden Hills. Neither one went anywhere. The District has been amiss in forward planning. The treatment system was run almost faultlessly on a daily basis. The previous administration, with impending retirements, was not interested in solving an emerging quantity problem. There is a plan to lay a pipeline off the peninsula. The lowball price for this would be $20 million. This would be financed with a bond issue. At the cheapest, this would be indebtedness to the tune of $1.2 million a year with interest and administrative charges. At the end, there would be a balloon payment of $20 million. What the District would do is roll it over to another bond. If we were to go this road, we would have a meter counting every gallon, which we would pay for. There will be no help with government grants for the foreseeable future.
Decades ago, we solved the emerging problem with the establishment of a watershed area. When Knickerbocker came online, we closed the wells in East Boothbay. The water had a serious problem with iron fouling. This can be solved. Historically, the wells produced 100,000 gallons a day. It's unfortunate that West Harbor Pond was not included in the watershed. Its water is brackish due to leaks from the Gulf of Maine. If we rebuild the dam and protect it from King Tides, it would give up many millions of gallons of water. It would be possible to balance all the water because, in truth, these three bodies of water are really the same and gravity flow would work.
Any other thoughts on why you are running or what you can bring to the office?
We moved to Knickerbocker in 1976. I have been a keen observer ever since. A lifetime ago, I was a geology major and never used it. In addition, for four years I operated a filtration system just like we have. It was a 50,000-gallon recycling facility. There is a lot of expertise available from the lab in East Boothbay. Also, my neighbor is a recently retired expert hydrologist who had his own firm with clients like Exxon Mobile, Perrier, etc. These folks should be consulted. If handled properly, this water system would be the envy of the state. It could become a jewel.