BUCKFIELD – The Buckeneers football team must gather 70 signatures by May 3 to get an article to raise $2,500 on the annual town warrant, selectmen advised Tuesday.

The new policy dictating the inclusion of “out of the ordinary” articles proposed by residents was passed by selectmen a couple months ago.

Residents wishing to have an article included in the town warrant are required to obtain signatures of at least 15 percent of voters who cast ballots in the last gubernatorial election. The policy has come into play one other time in the last two months.

According to team representative Steve Hayes, the Buckeneers are in the process of forming a varsity football team with Dirigo High School and will be requesting a donation of $2,500 from the three towns in SAD 39. Residents in the Dirigo school district will also be asked for a donation.

Town Manager Cindy Dunn cautioned Hayes that some residents may ask why the organization is asking for funds again, after coming to voters for a “one-time donation” for the Junior Varsity Buckeneers at town meeting three years ago.

“I fully expect that will be asked,” Hayes said. “At the time we asked for the money, I fully expected we’d never have a varsity team. I couldn’t have foreseen this opportunity three years ago.”

The Dirigo/Buckfield varsity team has not, as yet, been officially named. The team will have informational packets available before games begin in the fall.

“It’s funny, when I was in school the two rival teams were Dirigo and Buckfield,” said Dunn.

“It was a knockdown, drag-out competition,” said Selectman Oscar Gammon. “Didn’t matter if it was baseball or football you played it the same way.”

Selectmen also passed a policy for the use of the recreation field behind the municipal center by the new varsity team.

In other business, Dunn informed selectmen that the proposed highway garage site plan, floor plan, and structural plan for a salt and storage shed have been sent to seven engineering firms and seven design build contractors for bids.

Bids are due at the town office on May 9 and will be opened at the May 13 selectmen meeting.

A public hearing is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 5, at the Municipal Building to discuss the building permit, Lot Dimension and Setback Requirement Ordinance and the Board of Appeals Ordinance. Both will be voted on at annual town meeting in June.

A second public hearing/informational meeting will be held on May 14 to discuss the proposed highway garage project bids.

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