WOODSTOCK — The Board of Selectmen on Tuesday began reviewing the warrant for the annual town meeting in March.
Town Manager Vern Maxfield pointed out to the board that in an effort to explain some of the larger questions on the warrant, he drafted explanations that would be included on the warrant and the town report.
One of the questions includes asking residents whether they wish to purchase a 40- by 80-foot building from the Maine Department of Transportation for $65,000 to store extra vehicles, and possibly house two PACE ambulance employees who provide 24-hour coverage to Woodstock.
At the beginning of 2015, Lorrinda Connelly and Norm Haggan of the MDOT offered the garage 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.
The old garage is at 366 Route 232.
The MDOT later put the garage on the market for $150,000, Maxfield said.
The board made a counteroffer of $90,000.
MDOT responded with a counteroffer of $120,000 and the board voted against pursuing the purchase.
Maxfield told selectmen at the following meeting that MDOT decided to offer the building to the town for $65,000, with the condition that it be used for transportation purposes.
Selectman Mike Nadeau said that the warrant looked “awesome,” and that he was glad to see the big-ticket items at the beginning of the warrant.
“A lot of towns try and leave their big items until the end to make people stay through the whole meeting, and it doesn’t always work,” Maxfield said.
Chairman Ron Deegan lauded Maxfield for the explanations he provided with the bigger warrant questions.
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