WOODSTOCK — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday declined an offer from the Maine Department of Transportation to buy the old state highway garage on Route 232 for $120,000.
Early this year, Lorrinda Connelly and Norm Haggan with the MDOT offered the 40- by 80-foot building to the town for $125,000. The building hasn’t been used since the state built another one on Main Street in Dixfield 10 years ago.
In March, the board voted against pursuing the purchase.
Town Manager Vern Maxfield told the board in September that MDOT said if the town cut a check rather than pay in installments, the price could be substantially lower.
Selectmen said they were interested in housing two PACE ambulance employees in the building to provide 24-hour coverage to Woodstock, or use it to store the town’s extra vehicles.
The MDOT later put the garage on the real estate market for $150,000, Maxfield said.
The board made a counteroffer of $90,000 for it.
Maxfield told the board Tuesday evening that the MDOT responded with a counteroffer of $120,000.
“I guess at this point, I just need to know if you want to send back another counteroffer, or if you’re done with the whole thing,” Maxfield said.
“Well, I’m done with it,” Chairman Ron Deegan said.
He said he believed the town could purchase a modular for a “relatively cheap price and attach it to the Woodstock Fire Station, which would give the PACE employees a place to stay.”
He asked Fire Chief Kyle Hopps if that would be a good solution.
“It could work, as long as the attachment meets all of the fire codes,” Hopps said.
The board agreed to look at their options over the next two weeks and continue discussion at its next meeting Nov. 17.
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