Opinion ID: 1925984
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: adequacy of spo review

Text: [¶ 14] The Sewer District contends that the 1996 amendment to section 1252 is merely procedural, and that the new enactment only authorized the SPO to review an appeal of the Town's decision, deferring to the Town's findings, in order to supplement the original record of the dispute. [¶ 15] Section 1252 provides that the SPO: (1) may seek additional information from any of the parties; (2) shall conduct an informal hearing based upon any information the SPO considers necessary; (3) must make a decision that includes findings of fact regarding whether the sewer extension proposal is inconsistent with adopted municipal plans and ordinances regulating land use; and (4) shall issue written assurance if the proposed extension is not inconsistent with the municipal plan, regardless of whether the municipality denied the request. See 38 M.R.S.A. § 1252(7)(B) (Supp.1999). Accordingly, the SPO is authorized to conduct a de novo hearing on municipal denials of written assurance. [¶ 16] Where the SPO acted as a factfinder and decision-maker, we review the SPO decision directly. See Stewart v. Town of Sedgwick, 2000 ME 157, ¶ 4, 757 A.2d 773. See also Downeast Energy Corp. v. Fund Ins. Review Bd., 2000 ME 151, ¶ 13, 756 A.2d 948 (stating that [w]hen the Superior Court has performed an appellate review of an administrative decision, `we directly review an agency's decision for an abuse of discretion, error of law, or findings not supported by the evidence.' (quoting Fryeburg Health Care Ctr. v. Department of Human Servs., 1999 ME 122, ¶ 7, 734 A.2d 1141, 1143)). [¶ 17] Section 1252 states that the SPO may request any additional information, and may receive any information it considers necessary. 38 M.R.S.A. § 1252(7)(B)(1-2) (Supp.1999) (emphasis added). The SPO was fully aware of the Sewer District's opposition to the extension, and noted such opposition in its supplemental decision. The SPO, guided by its own statutory procedures, considered that factor, along with all of the other evidence submitted, and determined that the proposed extension was not inconsistent with the Town's comprehensive plan. [¶ 18] As discussed above, section 1252(7)(B) contemplates a non-deferential de novo review by the SPO. Here, the record demonstrates that the SPO considered the Town's views. Specifically, the SPO recognized the comprehensive plan's: (1) policy of support[ing] the Ogunquit Sewer District in operation of its sewage disposal systems; (2) statement that the sewer plant will be capable of handling the waste water flow [of the Town] for approximately 20 years; (3) desire to protect groundwater and to provide sewer service to future developed areas; and (4) statement of the Town's intention to limit the future growth of transient housing. In addition, the SPO considered the plan's growth projections in estimating the Town's future sewer capacity needs, and discussed the Town's articulated reasons for denying the Sewer District's initial request for written assurance. These factors indicate that the SPO understood the Town's interpretation of its comprehensive plan, and thus the SPO did not abuse its discretion in determining the importance of that interpretation in the process of making its independent evaluation. See Downeast Energy Corp., 2000 ME 151, ¶ 13, 756 A.2d 948. The entry is: Judgment affirmed.