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By Diana Bowley, Of the NEWS Staff - GREENVILLE - Town officials agreed Wednesday to develop a gravel access road and a gravel taxiway at the airport to pave the way for future hangar development.The two projects initially will be funded through the airport project reserve account. Much interest has been expressed for additional hangars in the Greenville Airport, but the town first must file a site location of development permit with the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. Town Manager John Simko said Friday that the engineering firm of Dufresne-Henry is now working on this permit application as part of the runway reconstruction project. The permit is expected to be submitted to and approved by the DEP by April 2003, which would allow for hangar development in the spring. At least seven people have expressed an interest in constructing a hangar at the airport, according to Simko. There are presently eight hangars on town-owned land at the airport and another two on private property. To recoup the town's cost for the access road and taxiway, Simko has proposed to divide the cost evenly among all of the remaining lots available for lease and added as a one-time surcharge to the new leases. Selectmen also discussed fire protection contracts for unorganized townships. Because of the development under way in Frenchtown, board members say that township should be added to the town's coverage area. Greenville currently provides fire protection to Harford's Point, Big and Little Moose Townships and Lily Bay Township. Because different formulas are used by the Piscataquis County commissioners regarding services provided to unorganized townships, Greenville officials plan to review those contracts to ensure the town is being compensated the same as others. A merit wage increase proposal suggested by Simko was tabled until all five board members could be present. Only three selectmen attended this week's meeting when Simko proposed that in addition to the standard cost-of-living raise, a merit increase be given to employees who "score" over a certain value on their annual evaluation. He has recommended a 1 percent merit increase the first year. |