MINOT — Selectmen received copies of concept plans for a major expansion to the town’s central fire station Monday.
The plans call for nearly doubling the size of the building with a 2,640-square-foot addition. It would include a third apparatus bay, several offices, a kitchen, bathrooms and a large training/meeting room.
The total project cost, as estimated by Smith, Reuter, Lull Architects of Lewiston, is $432,000. This figure includes $360,000 for construction and the rest for administrative costs and contingency reserve plus various fees and services.
Voter approval would be required for the project to go forward, Town Administrator Arlan Saunders said. Voters likely would be asked to support a 10-year bond to finance it, he said.
“The building should serve the town’s needs for a lot longer than that,” Saunders said.
Looking toward the fire station from Woodman Hill Road, the addition would extend to the right, toward the old ball fields. The plans may be viewed at the town office.
In other business, selectmen directed Saunders to contact Matt Callahan, chairman of the town Budget Committee, to arrange for two committee members to assist in preparing RSU 16’s budget for the 2012-13 school year.
The RSU 16 committee has asked for representatives from the Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland budget committees to participate in crafting a budget. In addition to being educationally responsible, the committee wants it to be something townspeople can support fiscally. This year, it took four votes over six months before a budget was approved.
Selectmen also responded to Planning Board Chairman John Geismar’s query about whether the town’s ordinances need any attention. They asked him to attend their next meeting on Dec. 27 to discuss adopting the Property Assessed Clean Energy ordinance at the next town meeting. The ordinance makes it possible for residents to apply for low-interest loans to make energy efficiency improvements to their properties.
Selectmen also met in executive session to select a replacement for Connie Taker, retiring town treasurer. The name of a person selectmen intend to hire will be made public at the Dec. 27 meeting. That would allow the person to properly inform their current employer.
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