Welch recusal holds up Poland Spring, Fryeburg deal
The chairman of the Maine Public Utilities Commission has recused himself from a case involving Nestle Waters North America, the owner of Poland Spring, and the Fryeburg company that supplies it with water.
The Portland Press Herald reported PUC Chairman Tom Welch’s recusal now puts the case on hold because the commission lacks the quorum required to make a ruling on the 25-year contract that would give Poland Spring a steady supply of water from Fryeburg Water Co. Commissioner Mark Vannoy, who worked as a project manager for Wright-Pierce on about 20 Nestle Waters projects, recused himself from the case over a month ago. Welch had been Nestle Waters’ attorney until 2011, when he joined the PUC.
The paper reported the commission will be unable to make a decision on the controversial case until either a commissioner retires or the Legislature approves changes that would allow the appointment of alternates.
Opponents of the contract, who say the deal would give up Fryeburg's valuable resource for less than it's worth, had called for Welch’s recusal. Proponents of the contract say such business partnerships have served the town well and that the 25-year deal would continue that trend.
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