Rangeley panel approves Birds of a Feather art sale for July 3 after town-manager caution

The Rangeley Park Commission voted May 28 to approve an event permit for the Birds of a Feather gallery arts-and-crafts sale on July 3 after hearing a town-manager memorandum raising questions about the Furbish trust’s prohibition on for-profit uses of the town park.

The commission’s chair read the town manager’s letter saying the permit application lacked sufficient information to ensure the event would not generate private profit and recommending the Aquatic Park as an alternative site. Commissioners, however, said past practice has allowed nonprofit-associated events such as the Blueberry Festival and that the gallery’s show fits the parks’ civic-entertainment uses.

“I think it’s a great event. It puts you in the center of town on a busy day,” one commissioner said, adding the show helps surrounding downtown businesses. After an amendment to specify the Birds of a Feather gallery on July 3, a motion to approve the permit was seconded and approved by voice vote; the transcript does not record roll-call tallies.

The commission acknowledged the town will consult legal staff about the trust language before future decisions but moved to allow the event to proceed in the town park for this year. The chair said members want to avoid “a circus or carnival atmosphere” yet support community-oriented arts programming.

Next steps: organizers should expect follow-up from town staff about any documentation needed to show nonprofit affiliation or other information relevant to compliance with the Furbish trust. The commission did not record a formal roll-call vote in the meeting transcript.