JAY — Resident Dot White told selectpersons Monday her dream of having a gazebo built at the Town Office property is “slowly dying.”
Her comments came after selectpersons told her there is not enough space and property setback for plowing snow. There is also no electricity or other amenities and no money. And with the close proximity to a residential neighborhood, noise could be a problem.
“I am so disappointed. I can still look for another location,” White told them. “I will still dream on.”
Board Chairman Terry Bergeron said he was sorry for her disappointment.
Selectpersons did suggest she work with the Recreation Committee to build a gazebo at the French Falls Recreation Area.
White presented the idea to selectpersons years ago. Within a short time $3,000 was donated. She has been raising money slowly but has never held a major fundraiser.
She became preoccupied getting her degree at the University of Maine at Farmington and let the idea slide, she said. Now that she has her degree, she is going to concentrate on the gazebo.
She looked at sizes of gazebos and could go with a 15-foot one, if necessary.
Ever since she was a little girl, she said, she always wanted to have a gazebo. Before she dies, she said, she would like to get it built.
A gazebo lends a friendly atmosphere, she added. Farmers markets, country music and other musical performances, and weddings could be held there, she said. It could also be decorated for the holidays. Townspeople could come together to build it and save money, she said.
Selectperson Judy Diaz said the town’s Recreation Committee is working on a pavilion at French Falls, she said. A winter festival was held on Feb. 17 there and drew a crowd and the trails along the Androscoggin River have been rejuvenated. Musical performances were held on a makeshift stage there this past summer and they were well attended.
“My concern is who is going to take care of (the gazebo), Diaz said.
“We will have to have a plan for that,” White said.
There were previous discussions to have the gazebo built across the road on property at the Jay Plaza and at the Historical Society property at the top of Jay Hill, but that didn’t happen.
“Would you have any interest in talking with the Rec Committee?” Diaz asked.
The whole idea is to have the gazebo visible for everyone to see it, White said.
Former Selectperson Tom Goding told White if she had the gazebo built at French Falls, a sign could be put up so people would know where it was.
“Location, location, location,” he said. “If you put it down there you would have enough people to volunteer and get it done.”
Bergeron recommended White attend the Recreation Committee meeting at 6 p.m. on March 21 at the Town Office.
Dot White of Jay, center, told Jay selectpersons Monday she was disappointed there is no room on Town Office property to build a gazebo. White discusses the proposal with former Selectperson Tom Goding, left, as town Public Works Director John Johnson, back near door, and resident Clinton Coolidge, right, listen at Town Office. (Donna M. Perry/Sun Journal)
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