WINSLOW -- FPL Energy has yet to get Winslow Planning Board approval to move forward on its plan to breach Fort Halifax Dam this summer.

But that situation could change Thursday when the energy company goes before the board once more.

Town Manager Michael Heavener is looking into the availability of federal funds to help relocate residents of Dallaire Street. Owners of those homes, which are perched on a riverbank of questionable stability, may be in jeopardy when dam removal drains the lake created by Fort Halifax.

All of which points to the large impact -- at least potentially -- the planned breaching of the 100-year-old hydroelectric facility has on the community.

"It has been in the paper," Heavener said of the dam-removal issue, "and I think folks for the most part are aware the dam will be removed and as a result of that there will be some issues and things that need to be addressed."

Controversy surrounding Fort Halifax Dam started six years ago when FPL Energy announced its intention to breach the dam.

Opposition materialized almost immediately, led by Rep. Kenneth Fletcher, R-Winslow, a homeowner on the lake formed by Fort Halifax. Fletcher formed the group Save Our Sebasticook.

Fletcher and his wife Mary Ellen Fletcher have been untiring in advocating for a solution that would preserve the dam and permit the passage of sea-run fish on the Sebasticook River.

Ken Fletcher is a member of the Planning Board, but has recused himself from the board while planners review FPL Energy's application to remove Fort Halifax.

The energy company needs Planning Board approval in order to move forward on dam removal.

At last month's meeting, FPL Energy lawyer Matthew Manahan made clear that his company is eager to get started on the project.

"I just want to be clear," he said at the meeting, "that we hope that the board will move along and will do anything it can to move this along."

But as it turned out, the board had time to deal with only one of several key issues before the meeting ended.

Planners requested that FPL Energy go beyond its application and remove much more of the dam than it had planned.

Board member Elery Keene said he is uncertain about the energy company's feelings regarding that request.

"Matt Manahan said something about how they might want to find another alternative to that," Keene said, "so I don't know what is going to happen there."

FPL Energy has not responded to several requests for interviews since the last Planning Board meeting.

Heavener, meanwhile, said he is content to see the process through -- however long that might take.

"Myself, personally, I have no deadline," he said. "I'm just hopeful the process will be done in such a manner that the end result is what should be done, whatever the right thing is."

The Planning Board meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the town office.

Colin Hickey -- 861-9205

chickey@centralmaine.com