The
Gray Secession Committee kicked off their petition drive this week at an
informational meeting held at the Raymond Fire Barn, an early step in an estimated
2-year process aimed at several neighborhoods seceding from the Town of Gray
and joining Raymond. The area includes the west shore of Little Sebago Lake and
Little Sebago Lodges on the north to Northern Oaks on the southern boundary.
Some residents refer satirically to the area as “Graymond.” A map showing the
proposed new boundaries was presented at the meeting and is available on the
committee’s Facebook page.
The
topics were many and varied: Redrawing boundaries, town services, private roads
and sense of place, were all discussed at an informational meeting sponsored by
a group of Gray residents calling for what committee member described as a
“divorce.”
The
5-member group cites geography as the main reason for a separation. Committee
president Jennifer White says residents living in the secession area have to
travel through Raymond to access Gray town services, such as the town hall,
transfer station and schools, which for most is a 20 to 25 minute drive.
“We
have an identity crisis,” according to White. She said residents from those
neighborhoods access commercial services in Raymond and Windham, and “we’re in
an area where Gray doesn’t have a great deal to do with us. I feel we’re a cash
cow for the Town of Gray.”
Committee
vice-president David Getchell said talk of secession has been raised several
times over the years, but the last round in disagreement with the town over a
section of Gore Road in Gray became the impetus for the current action. The
town, he said, has long been reluctant to maintain a short stretch of Gore Road
due to uncertainty over public easement and ownership issues. Frustration has
mounted because the two sides have failed to reach any kind of agreement. Gray
town officials say they are confident a settlement can be reached, but
according to White, funds for the work are not included in the current budget.
Many
who attended the meeting signed the petition to initiate the process of
separation. Others who spoke disagreed with the effort, saying the committee
lacks specific information on the on the advantages of joining Raymond.
According to White and Getchell there is a probability of lower property taxes
and a certainty that town and school services would be closer and more
convenient. They said Raymond offers curb-side trach pick-up and recycling,
although some private roads have pick-up at a centralized point. Gray residents
take their trash to the town’s transfer station which also accepts large items,
such as appliances for a fee.
A
possible disadvantage to switching towns would involve snow plowing. Raymond
plows only public roads. The large number of private road neighborhoods in the
proposed secession territory now serviced by the Town of Gray, would have to
form associations, charge dues and hire private contractors, a move that would
reduce the lower property tax advantage.
Gray
town officials have indicated they hope to reach an agreement with the
secession committee. White said the committee has conducted talks with Raymond
officials who say they can make no guarantees, but that some issues would be on
the table for discussion.
At
stake for both communities according to research by the secession committee, is
some $77 million in property valuations including 171 year-round residential
properties, much of it shorefront.
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| Click Here to Apply |
Additional
information on the petition drive and the committee’s efforts are available on
the Gray Secession Committee Facebook page.
