City may refinance pension debt

The city will consider selling $1.2 million in bonds to close out a debt with the Maine State Retirement System.

Finance Director Jill Eastman said paying off the debt would save the city about $318,000 over the next 14 years and as much as $127,000 for fiscal year 2004.

Eastman said that all communities that belong to the state retirement system were required to begin paying the debt in 1996. Auburn still owes about $1.2 million. That money is used to pay for retirement for city employees.

Councilors are scheduled to vote on the plan at the council’s June 23 regular meeting.

– Scott Taylor
Gray:
SAD 15 chief seeking job

SAD 15 Superintendent Michael L. Wood is one of three finalists vying for a similar post at Nashoba Regional High School in Massachusetts.

The position covers the towns of Bolton, Lancaster and Stow.

Wood, who has been at SAD 15 for four years, will meet with representative groups of parents, students and staff members there during the week of June 9, followed by a final interview on June 16 and 17.

A new superintendent is expected to be named by June 20.

This is the second time in recent months that he’s been in the final running for a similar post in Massachusetts. He said earlier that he is seeking to be closer geographically to his family. SAD 15 Board Chairman Sarah McCleary verified that he’s seeking the position.

– Ellie Fellers


Poland
Special Olympics gets go-ahead

The Planning Board gave Maine Special Olympics approval to build a storage building at Camp Tall Pines Tuesday night.

Phil Geelhoed, representing Special Olympics, the owner of the camp, said the structure would be 24-by-30 feet.

He was told that the fire chief has requested additional information.

– John Plestina
Poland
Farm market’s plan approved

The Planning Board accepted a sketch plan Tuesday night for a new farm market on Route 11.

Peter Bolduc proposes to open Harvest Hill Farm Market in a nearly 800-square-foot building. He said he hopes to move into a larger building later.

Questions were raised about the safety of people entering and leaving the parking lot. The speed limit on Route 11 at the site is 50 miles per hour, and many vehicles travel in excess of 60 miles per hour.

“The selectmen would have to petition the (state) Department of Transportation to do a speed survey” before there would be any possibility of the state lowering the speed limit,” said Town Manager Richard Chick.

– John Plestina
Durham:
Town’s new center almost ready

Milt Simon, chairman of the Durham Eureka Community Center Committee, reports that the center will soon be open for public use.

In addition to the completed interior work, two propane furnaces have been purchased and a handicapped bathroom has been installed, he said. However, the building itself is not yet handicapped accessible.

Simon said that once the building is open for public use, the committee anticipates that operational costs will be borne by the town.

The once flourishing Eureka Grange, the seventh oldest in the state, disbanded several years ago due to lack of membership. The town then purchased the hall.

A group of volunteers mounted a drive to save and renovate the dilapidated building, which lacked plumbing, as a public building. All the work that has been done on the building has been done without town funds by a small group of dedicated volunteers who have given their time and skills as well as donations of money and materials.

Durham:
Hearing set on amendments

The Comprehensive Plan Committee has completed its work on proposed ordinance amendments and will hold a public hearing July 14 to hear public comment, according to Committee member Terry Kirk.

Selectmen have approved July 30 as the date for a special town meeting to vote on the proposals. Both meetings will be in the Fire Station meeting room instead of the school gymnasium due to construction at the school.

– Connie Footman
Durham:
Shiloh Road bridge closed

A crack in the Shiloh Road bridge wall and a subsequent washout underneath the roadway has resulted in the closing of the bridge. Traffic is being rerouted over the newly paved Leighton Road, said Road Commissioner Clifton Larrabee, who told selectmen he had now posted Leighton Road for trucks over 23,000 pounds because the heavy truck traffic was damaging the new pavement.

Selectmen have agreed to spend not more than $8,500 for temporary repairs. Larrabee said that money would come out of one of his existing road accounts and would have to be replaced at a special town meeting.

The town, anticipating the need to eventually replace the bridge, has been setting aside money in a special account. However, it hasn’t been established when there will be enough money available for a new bridge. It had been anticipated repairs would begin on June 9, but that has been put on hold pending additional information.

– Connie Footman