By Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine - Board members of a conservation program say Maine Gov. Paul LePage's decision to withhold money is ruining its ability to preserve public land.
Land For Maine's Future board member Neil Piper says LePage displayed "outright disdain'' by withholding the $2 million. He says projects awaiting funding will be delayed or derailed completely without the money.
Piper made the statements on behalf of the board at a Tuesday meeting.
He says future meetings of the board will be "fruitless'' if LePage doesn't stop interfering.
Land for Maine's Future distributes voter-approved bond funds to conservation programs. About 30 applicants who are seeking money were alerted about the freeze this month.