By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
HOULTON — The Houlton Town Council gave its approval on Monday night for the Riverfront Park Committee to go ahead with its fund-raising efforts for a public restroom facility.
The council reserved the final approval of the project and its construction until the fundraising is complete. If the project is canceled for any reason, all funds raised will be returned in full to the donors. The location of the restroom facility may be in the park or another location may be determined by the council and Riverfront Park Committee.
“I suspect it may take a couple of years to raise the money,” said Town Manager Eugene Conlogue. “We may be able to develop some alternatives to look at as far as location that work better for everyone. Yet, the money is being raised toward that purpose, as opposed to taxpayers having to pick up the tab for the construction.”
Conlogue noted that public restrooms are an interest to a lot of people.
“This is an opportunity to pursue it while the interest is there at relatively no risk to the town,” he added.
Chairman Paul Cleary asked what entity would handle the donations — Town of Houlton, Riverfront Park Committee or Vital Pathways?
Bob Anderson, president of the Riverfront Committee, noted all funds would be handled by Vital Pathways since they are a non-profit organization.
“I wanted to make certain the councilors understood that the cost of construction — assuming we can raise the money — “donors” will take care of the construction, it is really the ongoing operation of the restroom facility that will eventually be a cost to the town. We don’t foresee that happening for at least two years it is all subject to us having some success at raising the funds to do it.
“This restroom is not a new idea,” Anderson added.
When the Riverfront Committee was formed in 1999, the committee hired a consultant, who formulated the plan for the park.
“This public restroom idea was in that original plan,” said Anderson. “It happened to be on the tail end of what we call Phase III of the project. We’ve done the other things that were visualized in that plan.”
The restroom facility was designed to be in the park to accommodate those people who use the park.
The measure passed 4-1, with Councilor John White, Jr. opposed.
“The only issue I see [in the setup of the wording of the proposal] … if we authorize the fundraising and they raise the funds and come back in two years, as a council it is almost like you are obligated to say OK you got the money. How can you look at them and say you raised that money, but now we can’t do it.
“Voting on this, in my opinion, is like voting yes to do the project,” White added.
“My ears have been bent a fair amount in the last two weeks,” said councilor Dan Peabody. “It is not a popular project. I think, unfortunately, the rest area [on the North Road] is a burden to the town and what John has mentioned many times that an $8,000 bill turned into a $52,000 bill. I think the taxpayers are nervous that maintenance is going to be [higher than anticipated].”
Peabody would like to see the council fund the restroom facility in Riverfront Park as opposed to the Tourist Information Bureau.
“It is something the town owns,” he said. “The day we stop funding the rest area if it closes, the state locks it up, we don’t own it. That’s the difference.”
Cleary offered to fellow councilors to give the committee a chance to raise the money and then revisit the issue to make the decision if the town can afford it or not when the fundraising is complete
“Maybe they could raise enough money to maintain it,” added councilor Phil Cloney.
“That is a good possibility, too,” agreed Cleary. “We don’t know how successful they can be.”
Conlogue believes it is a project worth pursuing.
In other business:
The council approved liquor licenses for Chester L. Briggs American Legion Post No. 47 and for BAR IV, LLC doing business as The Horn.
Council approved victualer license to BAR IV, LLC doing business as The Horn.
Council approved Knights of Columbus license for operating beano/bingo on Oct. 10.
