POLAND — Town Manager Bradley Plante told selectmen Tuesday night that the Conservation Commission raised enough money in private donations to purchase the 32-acre Furman property, which is key to the development of a town hiking-trail system.
Owner Jennifer Furman had agreed to donate half of the property’s appraised value of $65,600 and sell the property to the town for $32,800.
Plante said the total raised was about $34,200, which should be enough to cover other expenses associated with the purchase.
When selectmen gave Conservation Commission Co-Chairmen Fred Huntress and Don Stover permission to raise the money, the intent was for the project to go forward without cost to Poland taxpayers.
The additional $1,400 will be used to pay the town’s expenses for mailing information on the fundraising effort to townspeople and holding a town meeting.
Another stipulation of the transaction called for the sale to be completed by the end of December.
Selectmen set the Conservation Commission’s deadline to raise the remaining funds to the end of October in order to give the town enough time to hold a special town meeting before the end of the year. Selectmen are required to call a town meeting when acquiring a property.
Selectmen are expected to approve an official warrant at its Nov. 18 meeting for a special town meeting to be held Saturday, Dec. 6.
Huntress publicly thanked the estimated 62 people who donated the funds.
Stover said the Town Office staff were most helpful with the mailing and handling donations as they came in.
In other business, selectmen approved the purchase of new fire engine at a cost of $431,724, to be paid prior to construction to Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis.
Fire/Rescue Chief Mark Bosse told the board he sent out eight bid packages and only received one complete response. However, by comparing the cost for Poland’s new apparatus with what other towns around the state are paying for similar equipment, he said he was confident the bid was competitive.
He estimated the firetruck, which is replacing Engine 3, should be available for delivery in six to eight months.
Selectmen also approved Code Enforcement Officer Nick Adams’ request that they declare the building at 329 North Raymond Road a “dangerous building” and set a public hearing on it for Dec. 16.
Plante also announced that a TIF workshop will be held at 4 p.m., Monday, Nov. 10, at the Poland Fire and Rescue Station. Laura Santini-Smith, the state’s TIF program director, will explain the purposes of Tax Increment Financing projects, and how they work. Local business people, town board members and any interested citizens may attend.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
