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Questions were raised at the June 7 Select Board meeting about whether trucks from the Farmer’s Market are kicking up dust at the contaminated former tannery property and whether the market should be moved.

CAMDEN — Questions were raised at the June 7 Select Board meeting about whether trucks from the Farmer’s Market are kicking up dust at the contaminated former tannery property and whether the market should be moved.

The Select Board placed the former tannery property on the agenda as a discussion item.

Planning & Development Director Jeremy Martin said a report on options for cleanup of the tannery site is posted on the town website. The report notes that soil along the riverwalk contains higher than recommended levels of arsenic and lead for park use, and mercury in excess for activities such as residential or park use. The upland area contains arsenic at concentrations too high for residential and park use, and lead too high for residential use. The report contains more details on the levels of contamination.

Martin said the town cannot study all of the soil on the site. It has been studying samples of the soil.

Vice Chair Alison McKellar said some of the riverwalk areas have not been tested.

Select Board members asked if the town should post signs or a fence to protect citizens.

McKellar questioned whether it was safe to drive on the site with dust blowing around.

Martin said the Farmer’s Market will have to relocate off that lawn area, saying it has become worn there from the vehicles and some of the grass has died. There was discussion about whether the market needed to just move to another part of the tannery property or to move off the lot entirely, and whether this would be a temporary fix.

Board Chair Bob Falciani said it was important for the town to be transparent about this issue without magnifying or exaggerating. He said as to posting signs and fences, that is an operations issue to be decided by town employees, not the Select Board.

Tom Resek of the Friends of Tannery Park had spoken during the public comment portion of the meeting, saying the Friends are now a nonprofit organization, though not yet 5013c because that would prevent the organization from getting involved in referendum campaigns.

Nancy Caudle-Johnson had come with signs supporting turning the tannery into a park and said the Select Board has not responded to what the people want. She urged residents to vote “no” on town meeting questions 15 and 16 dealing with the tannery.

When she attempted to speak during a later discussion, Falciani said, “We’re not getting into a back-and-forth on a non-agenda item, Nancy.”

Later during the Select Board discussion of the tannery, Resek questioned why town leaders delayed in using EPA funds to clean up the park. He argued it cannot be sold until it is remediated.

Martin said the town is going to get a clean up done and that the grant money will be spent in the most efficient and appropriate way. Falciani pointed out that how the clean up is accomplished depends on the future use of the property, which has still not been decided with finality.

McKellar said she has been frustrated by the changing narrative concerning the tannery. She argued the riverbanks have been tested and found to be contaminated as well.

She said she was looking forward to the vote of the townspeople in the town meeting on whether to give the town government authority to enter an agreement to sell the property to Mike Mullins for “maker” buildings. That would give the Select Board guidance on the wishes of the voters.

The clean-up options, according to the report, are either complete soil removal, which would be expensive ($643,900) or a soil cover system with targeted soil removal for about half the cost.

In other business, the board approved the victualer license for the VillageSoup food truck on John Street. The plan is to have outdoor picnic tables at the site.

The board voted to increase parking fines from $10 first offense on a given day, $30 second, and $40 third to $20, $40, and $50, with a $50 fine for ongoing violations after that.

There was discussion of going to $30 for first offense. Select Board member Marc Ratner expressed concern that this would be changing the tenor of the town and be a little severe.

The board approved a $100 annual fee for un-hosted short-term rentals.

The board also approved plans for Maine Department of Transportation improvements along Mountain Street.

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