York Town News
Selectmen: voters will decide on Stonewall Kitchen grant request
By Jennifer L. Saunders
YORK - Stonewall Kitchen will not be moving anywhere.That was the message officials of the local gourmet food manufacturing and retail company shared with the Board of Selectmen at its meeting on Monday, Jan. 29.
That was the official word even before the selectmen voted to move forward with the company's request that the town endorse its application for a $400,000 federally-funded Community Development Block Grant.
The explanation came after reports last week in an area newspaper indicated Stonewall would move its production component to Rochester, N.H., if the grant was not approved.
Selectmen Chairman David Marshall confirmed the assertion by a Stonewall Kitchen official that there are no plans to leave York. Marshall said he has spoken with officials in Rochester, who confirmed Stonewall has not contacted anyone there about moving production across the state line - though they said they would welcome the company with open arms.
A warehouse facility is currently located in Rochester, but Stonewall's factory and flagship store are located on Route 1 in York.
The selectmen's action is actually just the first step in the process. A special election will now be scheduled in advance of the April 6 deadline for the grant to allow local voters to decide whether to support the use of the funds toward Stonewall Kitchen's plan to create 20 new jobs in the York facility and replace aging equipment.
Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission Economic Development Director Chuck Morgan explained that because the funds are federal dollars, they must pass through a municipality and not be paid directly to the business, thus the need for the town's endorsement of the grant.
At Monday night's public hearing, only a few residents spoke. An abutter expressed concern about added traffic or cutting on the site, which Stonewall officials said will not be the case, as the expansion of the workforce is happening within the current facility through the formation of a second shift.
Morgan and the selectmen also clarified confusion during the hearing, explaining that these are not funds that come to the town to support any business, but are applied for by businesses across the state. If awarded, the CDBG grant would represent $400,000 of Stonewall Kitchen's planned $1.2 million project to create new jobs and upgrade production equipment and capacity.
Stonewall officials confirmed they pay a little less than $80,000 per year in taxes to the town.
Fran Koerschner, co-director of the York Community Food Pantry, spoke in favor of the request, citing the support Stonewall Kitchen has given to the pantry and community, as well as the need for new jobs in the area.
"A hand-up is always better than a handout," she said. "… I think it's a win-win situation for York."
Marshall pointed out that if residents and selectmen make it difficult to operate in town, York will risk losing those businesses like Stonewall Kitchen that have chosen to locate here rather than in more economic development-friendly areas like Dover and Rochester, N.H.
Vice Chairman Dwight Bardwell agreed.
"I don't know why in the world we wouldn't want to help a local business become an even more successful one," he said, pointing out that York assumes no risk and Stonewall is paying all costs associated with the special election. "… It's money that's going to go somewhere else if they say no."
The vote was unanimous to support putting the request before the voters in April.
In other business, the board approved the date for the Third Annual York Beach Criterium as Sept. 14; approved the redemption of tax liens from 2002 through 2004 for the Ramsdell properties, and approved cooperative agreements with the Maine Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration for emergency relief road repair funding for Route 91 and Shore Road, stemming from the Mother's Day storm last year. The town's estimated share in the costs for the two projects on Route 91 and the one on Shore Road is $32,500.
Town Manager Rob Yandow also reminded residents that the second installment on this year's tax bill is due by the close of business at Town Hall this Friday, Feb. 2.
