Recently, it was announced in a local press report that Maine’s Department of Corrections (DOC) is planning to construct a women’s pre-release center on the campus of the Maine Correctional Center (MCC) campus in Windham. Many Windham-area residents expressed concerns that the DOC was attempting to unilaterally move forward with a large-scale construction project without the opportunity for public input by our community. Sharing those concerns, I, along with Representatives Bryant and Corey, wrote to the DOC urging them to move swiftly in organizing public forums for the Windham-area community.
I am happy to say that after
meeting with the Commissioner of the DOC, he was understanding and apologetic;
and, he agreed to delay final decisions on the entire project until there was
an opportunity for public comment. To that end, he has scheduled three public
meetings: March 18th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Maine Correctional
Center; March 21st from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Windham Town Hall; and March
28th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Windham High School.
Public forums are a central
component of any project undertaken by a public entity. It’s an opportunity for
the public to participate in a conversation about the changes to their
community.
There’s no doubt that
constructing a $10 million building that houses 78 inmates will create a
significant impact on the area. As a former long-time member of the state’s
Criminal Justice Committee, I know it is important to provide opportunity for
prisoners to gain life skills and further their education before they are
reintegrated to the community. But I realize that my experience and knowledge
base with criminal justice issues is unique.
So, I encourage each of you to
participate in the process--whether it’s just by attending to learn more about
the project and more about what MCC does--or coming with your list of questions
and concerns. Either way, it is through your involvement, that we ensure our
community reflects our preferences. If you can’t make it, please feel
free to contact me at diamondhollyd@aol.com or (207) 287-1515
with any feedback or concerns that you may have.
Also, a quick congratulations and thank you to Maine’s
Department of Transportation (MDOT) for repairing Babb’s Bridge so quickly and
three months ahead of schedule. You may remember, the bridge was damaged by a
hit and run driver who caused pretty significant damage. We all appreciate the
MDOT’s attention and cooperation.