MECHANIC FALLS — The Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to authorize Town Manager Vic Hodkins to sign a letter of intent to sell the former medical building at 22 Pleasant St.
The 5-0 vote followed an executive session.
Hodgkins did not disclose the name of the potential buyer, citing confidentiality.
The building opened as an urgent clinic in 2004 under Central Maine Healthcare in Lewiston. It closed in 2017.
The Mechanic Falls Town Council voted unanimously Monday night to authorize Town Manager Vic Hodkins to sign a letter of intent to sell the former medical building at 22 Pleasant St. The building was once considered for town offices. Leslie Dixon/Advertiser Democrat file photo
The town purchased the building in November 2017, financed with a $500,000 municipal bond. It intended to convert it into a town hall to replace the Municipal Building on Lewiston Street, the former high scool.
A structural engineer later determined the building was inadequate to house all municipal offices, including the Police Department and the library.
The town has been trying to sell the building since.
In other council matters, the issue of eliminating the residency requirement for the town manager was taken up. The council directed that a public hearing be held at a special council meeting Wednesday, March 23. Following the hearing, the council will vote whether to have voters decide the issue at the polls June 14.
Hodgkins said the town’s attorney, Kristen Collins of Preti Flaherty of Portland, indicated the residency stipulation can be amended without forming a charter commission.
As part of the proposed change, wording that requires town employees to reside within 10 driving miles of town offices would also be removed.
In other business, the council approved using an estimated $71,968 from the town’s allotment from the American Rescue Plan Act to convert 102 streetlights to energy-efficient LEDs with RealTerm Energy. There is $131,104 available.
The council also approved the purchase of a new bucket loader from Milton CAT in Scarborough for $123,500 plus a trade-in of $50,000 for the 2012 John Deere loader. Money will come from the Highway Equipment Reserve Account.
Hodgkins also announced the following new town employees: Police Officer Nate Brindley, Deputy Town Clerk Joan Ryan and Water Department worker Garret Whalen.
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