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By Diana Bowley, Of the NEWS Staff - GREENVILLE - Town officials inched closer to construction of a new municipal building Wednesday when residents approved the purchase of a Mindon Street property.In one of the better-attended but least-publicized meetings, about 30 residents agreed to appropriate up to $42,000 for the purchase of a dilapidated building and land at 7 Mindon St., across from the municipal building. Town Manager John Simko said the property, which is listed for sale at $60,000, would be home to a new municipal office building. If the purchase price can be negotiated, town officials plan to demolish the "eyesore" that is on the property, and to ask residents for permission to construct a new office for municipal functions. The police and fire departments would stay in the current municipal building. Municipal officials have been working for several years to address space needs and safety issues in the municipal building, which is shared by the town office, code enforcement office, and fire and police departments. The town has about $222,000 in reserve for a new facility. "This building is a disgrace as a town office and the space those girls [town office employees] work in is a disgrace," Selectman Bonnie DuBien said. DuBien called the Mindon Street property a perfect location because the town would not lose any parking space. Resident Roland Wortman said he had a difficult time with the proposed purchase of the property, which included some wetland. "I feel that is a lot of money to buy a piece of property you're not going to do a lot with," he said. Also approved at the special town meeting were the sale and exchange of properties and the purchase of a trail groomer and drag. Residents authorized selectmen to sell to abutting landowner Gary Dethlefsen an approximately 2,442-square-foot town-owned parcel located next to the municipal parking lot. The move allows Dethlefsen, who owns and operates Maine Mountain Soap and Candle, to have a conforming lot and the flexibility to expand his business. Dethlefsen, who has agreed to pay all closing costs including an appraisal, also is willing to give the town a permanent easement for a recreational trail that is under consideration through the community, according to Simko. The appraisal will determine the purchase price of the property, he said. Residents approved an even exchange of land off Route 15 at the proposed site of the Natural Resource Education Center. To receive Department of Transportation funds for a well, septic system and parking lot for the proposed center, the town had to retain about 3.7 acres at the site. The vote approved Wednesday simply allowed the town to move its parcel closer to the state-owned rest area. Approval also was given to municipal officials to borrow up to $146,000 to finance part of the purchase of a snowmobile trail groomer and drag. Simko said town officials hope to repay the borrowed funds with a USDA Rural Development Grant and a state capital purchase grant. The idea for the purchase, he said, is the same as when residents approved the borrowing of $100,000 in 1995 for the purchase of two snowmobile groomers. The amount ultimately was repaid by grants and donations. Questioned by Wortman on the town's responsibility should the grants not be forthcoming, Simko replied, "The town is on the hook for this." A concern about the liability of volunteers who groom the trails also was raised, but Simko explained that these individuals are covered under the town's policy should an accident occur on the trail. In final action, residents authorized selectmen to apply for several grants and, if awarded, to accept the funds. |