AUBURN – Auburn City Councilor Bob Mennealy can cross one name off his e-mail list: Councilor Kelly Matzen has set up his computer to block notes from Mennealy as soon as they arrive.

“I don’t think he was trying to get away with anything,” Matzen said. “I just think he was inviting people to take part in a discussion that is better suited for City Council chambers.”

Matzen said he made the decision late one night last week after receiving several e-mails from Mennealy asking questions about city TIF districts.

“I’m just trying to present all the facts,” Mennealy said. “I think that there is information out there that is contrary to what we are hearing in council chambers, and I’m trying to get all of the information on the table.”

Garage bids tabled by board

BUCKFIELD – Selectmen unsealed the four bids received for the proposed highway garage project last week, voting to take no action until asking townspeople about construction options.

Fourteen invitations were sent to engineers and design build firms throughout the area. In an attempt to narrow their choices for designing a cost-efficient garage, selectmen chose to invite bids from engineers and design-build firms.

Just one bid, submitted by Professional Engineering Design of Norway, fell within the proposed budget.

Town Manager Cindy Dunn said the board would like to keep the engineering costs at around $8,000, with the total cost of the project, including salt storage facility, site work, gas/diesel pump and security fencing at around $200,000.

Family flees fire

AUBURN – A Wood Street family fled their home last week when fire flared up on the second floor, sending smoke pouring from the eaves of the house.

Firefighters made quick work of the blaze at 10 Wood St., but part of the building sustained fire, smoke and water damage.

The couple and a grandchild who live in the house escaped without injury. Wood Street runs between Summer and Winter streets, near Union Street bypass.

The first police officer to reach the scene Tuesday reported seeing flames in a second floor window.

Thick smoke rolled from the eaves.

Firefighters smashed out windows and attacked the flames with jets of water. Crews manning firetrucks surrounded the house, on Wood, Summer and Parker streets.

Veterinary hospital back

FRYEBURG – Veterinarian Scott Johnson can’t say enough good things about the way the community has helped out since fire consumed the Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital April 25.

Because of the help, the hospital was able to relocate to a new space and was back up and running eight days after the fire.

Two days after the fire, a client who is a real estate agent found a vacant building for the veterinary hospital to rent at 85 Portland St. in town, and other clients have “really gone above and beyond,” bringing blankets, donating shelving, painting and cleaning the new temporary space.

It hasn’t just been clients of the vet hospital, either.

“So many people in the community have helped us, even people from other towns, to get back on our feet,” Johnson said.


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