FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted Tuesday to allow bike racks to be installed downtown. The board also adopted a written policy allowing nonprofit organizations to hang banners on certain town property.
In addition, selectmen asked Town Manager Richard Davis to send a notice to the Farmington Fair association asking it to set guidelines on events to curtail unwanted noise.
Selectmen voted 4-0, with Mark Cayer absent, to let the Downtown Business and Professional Association install about eight inverted-U bike racks on downtown sidewalks. The board also set conditions for installation, which included checking with businesses to make sure they want the racks installed near their buildings, keeping an appropriate amount of sidewalk open to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act, and not impede snow removal.
Public Works Director Mitch Boulette said he had no problem installing the racks close to the buildings. That way they wouldn’t be in the way of the town’s removal of snow banks along the outer edge of sidewalks.
Association President Mike Blanchet said the organization wanted to keep the sidewalks safe, clear and accessible to the general public.
He also noted that the association was getting a good deal through the Maine Department of Transportation. The racks retail at $320 each and the association only has to pay $80 per rack.
The association did request that the town help with installation.
Boulette said it would only take his crew about 20 minutes per rack to install.
The board voted 3-1, with Chairman Mary Wright opposing, to continue the practice of letting nonprofit agencies and groups display banners announcing events on the island at Bridge and Water streets, at the intersection of Farmington Falls Road and High Street and at Philbrick Park in Farmington Falls.
The banner size limit would be 16 square feet.
In response to a complaint about noise from the fairgrounds, in particular about boom boxes, and a proposal for the town to adopt a noise control ordinance, selectmen opted to seek a voluntary agreement with the fair association to monitor events and set guidelines to limit obnoxious noise late into the night.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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