Planning Board Meeting - September 23, 2026
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD SEPTEMBER 23, 2026
At 6:20 PM Regular members Waine Whittier and Creston Gaither, along with alternate member Steve Trehu met with Ned and Kay Van Woert on their Whittier Pond property shown on tax map 11 as Lot 67 to consider their application for a Shoreland Zoning Ordinance (SZO) permit for a boat dock on legs they have designed and built. Steve was designated a voting member in the absence of a quorum.
After this site visit the Board went to the Town House for its regular meeting,
which began at 7:00 PM . Bruce Feathers was also present. Minutes of the
August 26 meeting were read and accepted.
Bruce asked for a Notification of Construction (NoC) permit for a house to be built outside of the Shoreland Zone on his Tower Road property shown on tax map 5 as lot 19. He presented a SSWD permit and was issued a NoC permit, and left at 7:20.
Some recent NoC permits were briefly reviewed.
A Permit by Rule from DEP for rip-rap on the Harpine lot on Moore Court on Flying Pond and shown on tax map 10 as lot 42-F was briefly reviewed.
The Harpines’ application for replacing the shed on said lot was discussed. SZO requirements for this were reviewed. It was agreed that in August 2025 the Board had visited the lot and found sufficient reasons for not requiring the shed to be moved farther back from the pond than the 27 feet now proposed. Creston will send them a letter stating that 1). the Board is modifying its usual site visit requirement as it was there in 2025; 2). the Board is concerned about the rip-rap described in the aforesaid Permit by Rule and would like to revisit the site to consider this, and believes a SZO permit will be required for this.
Waine will ask Lidie Robbins of 30 Mile River Watershed Assoc. whether a DEP Permit by Rule supersedes local SZO rules.
The Van Woerts’ application was discussed. Findings of Fact were made using the form the Board has begun to use for site visits and SZO applications; it was voted 3 – 0 to approve the permit subject to the condition that the new dock is to be removed each year.
Draft # 2 of the proposed Short Term Rental Ordinance was reviewed and discussed at length, with several changes being adopted. The phrase “Only one STR” in “Sect. III Licensing Criteria” seems to potentially preclude campgrounds, etc.; this should be discussed further.
Steve will create a new draft incorporating tonight’s revisions.
The meeting adjourned at 8:55 PM.
Creston Gaither, secretary
Health Officer Newsletter November 2026
Mount Vernon and Vienna Health Officer Newsletter November, 2026
Beth Trehu, MD
Measles Outbreaks Continue to Increase; Make Sure you and your Family are Vaccinated, Especially if you are Traveling Out of State for the Holidays!
From the Maine CDC Health Alert Action Network:
Continued elevated measles outbreak activity across North America poses an ongoing risk of measles infection in the United States. Measles cases have been reported in almost all states in recent months and are not limited to states reporting larger outbreaks. The highest risk of infection is in unvaccinated people who come into contact with those who are infected. This increased risk is particularly concerning for those too young to be vaccinated and those unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
This is especially important as we head into the holiday season, when you may be traveling to spend time with family or friends in other states. There are currently 6 reported cases of measles in Maine, 6 in Penobscot County and 1 in Somerset County, but some states have many more, for example, Florida has 148 and Pennsylvania has 1237, up from 11 and 6, respectively, in 2024.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) reiterates the importance of measles vaccination. When planning to travel internationally, the U.S. CDC recommends early vaccination for children ages 6-11 months old. Children over 12 months of age and adults with no evidence of immunity who plan to travel internationally should receive the first dose of MMR immediately, with a second dose 28 days after the first dose.
The Maine CDC also recommends an early dose for children ages 6-11 months old when traveling to a domestic area where a measles outbreak is actively occurring, or when they anticipate having close contact with non-immune visitors from areas of the U.S. with measles cases.
If you would like to know the status of measles outbreaks at your holiday destinations, ongoing measles outbreaks at the destination of travel can be determined through the “Real-time measles updates from states” section of the US CDC Measles Cases and Outbreaks website. For a snapshot of recent measles cases at the county level, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health has created a US Measles Tracker, which has a recent case viewer with county-level information.
FYI; when children are given vaccine between 6-11 months of age, this is considered “dose zero,” which does not count towards the routine two-dose series. These children should also get dose one at 12-15 months and dose two at 4-6 years, for a total of three doses.
If you suspect a case of measles, notify your doctor immediately. Cases of measles must be reported to the Maine CDC.
Stay safe and healthy this holiday season!
Health Officer Newsletter October 2026
Mount Vernon and Vienna Health Officer Newsletter October 2026
Beth Trehu, MD
Two topics this month: Flu and COVID vaccines and Heating Assistance
Heating Assistance- thanks to Amy Perez-Blaisdell for sharing this information. Oil and gas prices continue to climb due to the war in Iran. Keeping our homes warm this winter is going to cost even more than usual. Here are some resources for assistance with heating and other things to keep you warm, safe, and healthy this winter.
Maine State Housing Authority Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
Community Concepts
KVCAP
Flu and COVID vaccines
Now is the time to get your Influenza (Flu) and COVID vaccines; you can get them both at the same time. You can walk into any pharmacy and request them or make an appointment in advance. They will ask for your health insurance information but there is no cost. Keep yourself and your family healthy this winter!
Health Officer - September 2026 - infectious disease and food-borne illnesses
September 2026 Mount Vernon and Vienna Health Officer Newsletter
Did you mother or grandmother ever tell you that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure? She was right, especially with regard to infectious disease and food-borne illnesses. Unfortunately, the federal government has been neglecting its public health duties in both respects, by promoting misinformation about vaccines and by making severe cuts in monitoring of outbreaks of food-borne illnesses. Because of this, in the past year, from measles to cyclosporiasis, Americans are experiencing unprecedented levels of preventable diseases. Fortunately, the Maine CDC is part of a network of state CDCs that are continuing to follow accurate scientific data to keep their citizens safe and healthy.
Here are the facts:
Vaccines save lives
Maine will continue to follow the guidance of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on childhood vaccine recommendations, despite President Trump’s executive order on childhood vaccinations. You can find the AAP recommendations at this link:
https://downloads.aap.org/AAP/PDF/AAP-Immunization-Schedule.pdf
Over the years, many myths about vaccines have spread online. Here is a look at some of the most popular: where they came from and why they are not true. Here is some useful information for parents from the American Association of Pediatricians on Common vaccine myths & the facts behind them.
Vaccines & autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
How did the myth start?
In the 1990s, a doctor in the UK published a study with just 12 children that claimed the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine caused autism. Soon after, scientists found the study was poorly done and based on false information. The journal retracted (removed) the study, and experts agreed its findings could not be trusted. This doctor has since lost his medical license.
Since then, many large studies around the world have shown that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. Still, the study scared many parents and led to fewer children getting vaccinated.
Measles was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 after millions of children had received the vaccine. After fear spread from the false study, vaccination rates dropped and measles made a comeback. There are now frequent measles outbreaks in the U.S. again, and our country is about to lose elimination status for the disease.
Why is this myth still popular?
Some people think that inflammatory bowel disease is triggered by the MMR vaccine and causes autism. This idea comes from the original false paper that started the myth.
Many posts against vaccines on social media present this is a fact, even though it was proved false. Those posts ignore scientists found the paper was wrong, and the hundreds of studies showing the safety of the MMR vaccine.
Other people think the MMR vaccine causes autism because children get the vaccine around the same time they are screened for and diagnosed with ASD —between 18 and 30 months of age. They confuse cause and coincidence.
What are the facts behind it?
Just because two things happen at the same time or one after the other, it does not always mean one caused the other. Increasing evidence shows that, even though autism signs show up around the same time children get the MMR vaccine, autism started before they were born.
Researchers studied the possibility of a connection between the MMR vaccine and autism carefully and for many years. They concluded the MMR vaccine does not cause autism. They also found the vaccine against measles doesn't cause inflammatory bowel disease.
Vaccines & thimerosal or mercury
How did the myth start?
Thimerosal is a preservative added to certain vaccines. It stops germs from growing in vaccine containers. It contains a type of mercury, but not the kind that harms your health.
The myth started with confusion between two different types of mercury: methylmercury and ethylmercury. Thimerosal contains ethylmercury, a type of mercury that does not stay in the body. Thimerosal does not have methylmercury, the kind of mercury that stays in the body and makes you sick.
Online content against vaccines has made popular the idea that thimerosal in vaccines causes neurological damage in children.
Why is this myth still popular?
Many people know that mercury in some fish can be harmful, so when they hear about mercury getting inside the body through vaccines, they think it’s the same substance.
Social media posts against vaccines ignore the difference between the mercury that can make us sick and the mercury in vaccines, which can’t harm us.
Social media posts against vaccines often ignore this difference and use frightening images or stories to get an emotional response.
What are the facts behind it?
Mercury is in nature all around us—in the air, soil and water. There are two very different types of mercury: methylmercury and ethylmercury.
Thimerosal contains ethylmercury. The body quickly processes and eliminates this type of mercury. It does not build up in the body and, as a result, it does not make you sick.
Thimerosal used to be in a lot more vaccines, but since 2001 it’s only in some flu vaccines—less than 4% of them. Cases of pediatricians still using the flu vaccine with thimerosal are rare.
Parents can ask if the flu vaccine their child is going to receive has thimerosal. But keep in mind that most pediatricians use the vaccine without thimerosal already.
Hundreds of studies have proved that thimerosal has never caused neurological problems. Not before, when it was present in a lot more vaccines, and not now, when only one of them has it.
Getting multiple vaccines in a short time
How did the myth start?
Some parents worry that getting several vaccines at one visit is too much for a child’s body. This idea comes from thinking vaccines work like medicine, where taking too much at once can cause harm.
Why is this myth still popular?
Seeing your baby get several shots in one visit can feel overwhelming. Social media posts against vaccines often use this fear to claim vaccines overload a child’s immune system, even though evidence shows otherwise.
What are the facts behind it?
A child’s immune system is strong and constantly learning. Every day, it handles thousands of germs from food, air and play. The number of germs in vaccines is very small compared to what children face naturally. Getting more than one vaccine at a time does not weaken the immune system. It helps protect children sooner and with fewer doctor visits.
Vaccines & SIDS
How did the myth start?
Babies receive many of their first vaccines between 2 and 4 months of age. This is also the time when sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is most common. Because the timing overlaps, some people believe vaccines might cause SIDS.
Why is this myth still popular?
When something serious happens after a vaccine, it can be scary and confusing. Social media posts against vaccines often focus on timing alone and ignore scientific evidence.
What are the facts behind it?
SIDS is not fully understood yet, but something we know for sure thanks to scientific studies is that vaccines do not cause SIDS. In fact, vaccinated babies may be at a lower risk of SIDS.
To help prevent SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends safe sleep practices, such as placing babies on their backs and using a firm, clear sleep surface.
Remember
When reviewing facts about vaccines for your child, make sure you check the source. Have a high level of suspicion if you don't recognize and trust the original source of the content.
And you can always verify information by going to credible sources like HealthyChildren.org, AAP.org and, of course, your child's pediatrician.
Source: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/immunizations/Pages/default.aspx
Update on Cyclosporiasis
As of August 7, 2026, Maine CDC) has identified 27 confirmed and probable cases of cyclosporiasis in 2026. Ten of those cases are among individuals who consumed produce in Maine directly associated with the multistate iceberg lettuce recall. As a result, Maine now meets the current national definition for inclusion in the multistate outbreak.
As I wrote last month, the best prevention is to wash fresh vegetables before eating. And buy local!
Planning Board Meeting - June 24, 2026
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD JUNE 24, 2026
The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, Ed Lawless, Alan Williams,and Tim Bickford. Mark Rains was also present. Minutes of the May 27 meeting were read and accepted.
Regarding the Board's discussion with Neil Sotirakopoulos about his Tower Road land shown on tax map 11 as lot 26 (see May minutes); Waine noted that a portion of the parcel lies in the shoreland zone, though the project area discussed in May does not.
Mark Rains said that his real estate agent is concerned that the lot he wants to sell might have to meet a minimum lot size. He was advised that it would not, and that its sale would not create a subdivision requiring Planning Board approval. Creston will send Mark an email confirming the Board's position on these questions.
Jill Swift's email of today regarding her revegetation plan was reviewed. It was agreed that plantings should be done by hand as she had said was her intent in May. The Board still wants trees planted (also by hand). The Board is sympathetic to Jill's opinion that the numerous saplings now coming up will protect the site but finds that saplings are not mentioned in the point system with which we are working. Waine will draft a memo to Jill about all this.
It was agreed to table the short-term rental ordinance discussion until Steve Trehu can be present.
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 PM.
Creston Gaither, secretary
Health Officer - Cyclosporiasis
In response to concerns I have heard about the US cyclospora outbreak and the recent arrival of Canadian wildfire smoke, I am sharing the following information with you.
Cyclosporiasis:
The national outbreak of cyclosporiasis has been in the news. Unfortunately, the US CDC took this potentially severe disease off their tracking list last year, and the CDC is so understaffed that they are scrambling to get updated data, so it is difficult to really know the source, although one current subject of investigation is iceberg lettuce from a particular producer.
Cyclosporiasis is a gastrointestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called cyclospora. Symptoms of cyclosporiasis typically begin about 1 week after exposure. Onset of symptoms can occur 2-14 days after being exposed. The most common symptoms include watery diarrhea, which can be frequent, along with loss of appetite, weight loss, bloating, nausea, and fatigue. Less common symptoms include low-grade fever and vomiting. Without treatment, symptoms can follow a remitting-relapsing course that can last from a few days to a month or longer. Illness can be severe, but is not usually life-threatening. If you have these symptoms and they don’t resolve quickly, please seek medical assistance.
The Maine CDC reports 2 documented cases as of July 14, 2026, which are not linked to the nationwide outbreak. It is probably wise to avoid prepared salad mixes and iceberg lettuce from supermarkets. It’s a great time to buy fruits and vegetables from all the wonderful local farms in our part of Maine. Regardless of where you buy your fruits and vegetables, you should always wash them before preparing or eating.
Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke
It seems that smoky July skies are becoming the norm here in Maine. The increasing heat and extreme weather caused by climate change are increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires in the western US and Canada, and the prevailing winds blow it our way.
The Maine DEP has a real-time map of air quality that is updated every hour. You can find it at this link
The air quality forecast, along with a chart containing recommendations dependent on the level of pollution, can be found here
Planning Board Meeting - May 27, 2026
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD MAY 27, 2026
The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were
Waine Whittier, Creston Gaither, and Tim Bickford. Alternate member Steve Trehu was also present, as were Jill Swift, Mark Rains, and Neil Sotirakopoulos. Steve was appointed a voting member in the absence of other members. Minutes of the April meeting were read and accepted.
Neil Sotirakopoulos wants to install some plumbing at the end of his driveway on his Tower Road land shown on tax map 11 as lot 26; this is not in the shoreland zone; he was advised that he will need a SSWD permit from Plumbing Inspector Erin Quimby.
Mark Rains asked about any regulations that might apply to the construction of a driveway from Mountain Road onto his property near the Plymouth Line shown on tax map 10 as lot 75. Tim outlined the process of getting a road address for it. Mark was advised that Vienna appears to have no requirements regarding driveway widths or setbacks outside of the shoreland zone.
Regarding the Swift parcel on Whittier Pond, Waine’s email responding to Josh Platt’s email of April 22 was briefly reviewed. Waine distributed copies of Josh’s “Slope Replanting Recommendations - April 2026.” Point allotment outlined in the “South Side of Stairs” section of the recommendations was discussed. Jill noted that Section B already has a few large trees, and that planting fewer trees than Josh recommends might avoid some potentially damaging soil disturbance. It was agreed that the trees to be planted should be somewhat small. Jill said that hand planting without heavy equipment is planned. She would like to get the trees planted soon and avoid disturbing sensitive areas with Erosion Control Mix.
In general the Board agrees with the Plan with these modifications:
1). Required planting by sector to be smaller trees that will be monitored by survival and growth: Sector A: 3 trees; Sector C: 3; Sector D: 5; Sector E: 5; Sector F: 0.
2). Hay berms will be maintained this year but replaced by erosion control berms during 2027.
3). Live stakes planted last year will be monitored and replaced.
4). Tree plantings are to be completed by November 2026. Gary Ladner of Gardiner is contracted to do this (he is said to be certified for shoreland zone work).
The Code Enforcement Officer is to inspect the site annually. Jill says they have installed the gutters required in the permit issued to Kirk Hiscock in 2005.
Waine will draft a letter outlining all this and get it to the Swifts.
The meeting adjourned at 8:45 PM.
Creston Gaither, secretary
Planning Board Meeting - April 22, 2026
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE VIENNA
PLANNING BOARD HELD APRIL 22, 2026
The meeting began at 7:00 PM at the Town House. Regular members present were
Waine Whittier, Alan Williams, Creston Gaither, and Tim Bickford. Nathan Paling was also present. Minutes of the March meeting were read and accepted.
Nathan Paling asked about his Crowell Pond property, shown on tax map 2 as lot 2C-1; he would like to build a dock more than 30 feet out and over a wet swampy area to reach water a kayak etc. can float on. He was advised that the Board would have to discuss this as to whether, and under what circumstances, we can waive the 30 foot length requirement found in the Shoreland Zoning Ordinance. No formal action was taken.
Waine’s recent letter to the Swifts and Josh Platt’s response were reviewed briefly.
Waine’s condensation of Steve Trehu’s site visit checklist was reviewed. The consensus was that it should work well.
It was agreed to delay discussion of a short-term rental ordinance until Steve is present.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM.
Creston Gaither, secretary