LIMESTONE, Maine — The Limestone Selectpeople met for a relatively lengthy meeting that was also relatively silent for town residents attempting to view the gathering at home, as the video camera’s microphone malfunctioned and temporarily reverted the signal back to the silent film era. They were, however able to watch as the selectpeople receive an update from Limestone Town Manager Donna Bernier on plans for the new Limestone Manor boarding home.
It had been previously suggested and approved through a town meeting that the estimated $5.2 million dollar structure would be erected on town-donated land roughly behind Kelley’s Gun Shop and the Albert Michaud Park. After examining the site a few weeks back, boarding home officials made a decision to position the new building in a more visible location, upslope from the town-owned land.
The desired land belongs to the Weatherhead family, who town representatives discussed a land sale with a few weeks back.
Bernier reported to the selectpeople that the Weatherhead family has given the town two options for purchasing the land: option 1 is for a 16.6-acre lot for $6,500 per acre for a total of $107,900 and option 2 is for a 10-acre lot at $7,500 per acre for a total of $75,000.
The selectpeople agreed to pursue a price on a different parcel of land in the town in addition to arranging a meeting with the Weatherhead family to discuss options 1 and 2.
A public hearing will be held tonight regarding the potential purchase of the Weatherheads’ land for the new boarding home facility, following a budget meeting at 5:45. After the public hearing regarding the proposed land purchase, another special town meeting will be held at 6:15 regarding whether or not to close the Burgoine Road during the winter months.
In other Selectpeople news, the board reviewed and approved a union contract for the Limestone Highway Department that encompasses union employees from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2011. The board also reviewed and approved funding from the Maine Urban Rural Initiative Program.
The selectpeople made appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board for 2010-11, which included Kristy Pelkey, Jim Leighton, Brent O’Neal, Laura St. Pierre, Ernie Smith, Cindy Butler and Michelle Albert.
In her manager’s report, Bernier informed the selectpeople that a public hearing and a special town meeting will have to be scheduled for a planning grant through the Department of Economic and Community Development and that the Limestone Fire Department will be receiving a 1994 Chevrolet rescue truck. The selectpeople approved placing the town’s former rescue truck out to bid with a starting price of $1,500.
Bernier also informed the selectpeople that bids will be accepted for the furnace replacement of the Municipal Building until Aug. 18 and mentioned that the town’s trash removal services should be posted and put out to bid in order to give all the refuse collectors in the town of Limestone an opportunity to provide service to the town.
Bernier also brought to the attention of the selectpeople the erroneously appointed replacement on the budget committee to replace selectperson Tom Devoe. While Bev Edgecomb was appointed during the last meeting, it should be Clifford Rhome who fills the position, according to Bernier. Bev Edgecomb will instead serve the budget committee as an alternative.
The next meeting of the selectpeople is scheduled for tonight at 6:30 following the two public hearings.
