FARMINGTON – Selectmen voted Tuesday to apply for a grant to partially cover building a roof over the walkway at the Municipal Building’s rear entry.

But selectmen tabled action for the second time on installing a new street light in the vicinity of the Farmington Congregate Apartments at Orchard Park.

Town Manager Richard Davis told selectmen that there have been some near misses when ice and snow have slid off the municipal building’s roof on to the walkway.

The standing seam metal roof is very steep on the building, and prone to sudden releases of snow and ice buildups, Davis said.

One area where these sudden avalanches occur is at the rear entrance to the building, which is heavily used by employees and members of the public, he said.

Davis suggested a shed roof be built over the walkway to keep it clear in the winter and prevent mishaps.

One of three businesses, he called for estimates, sent in an estimate of $4,085 to build a 22-foot by 6-foot single pitch roof with metal roofing over the walkway.

Selectmen agreed to apply for a Maine Municipal Association grant that could pay up to $2,000 of the project. The remaining money would come from the town’s land and property improvement account.

In other business, selectmen took no action on installing a new street light on North Street.

The administrator of assisted living congregate apartments at Orchard Park had sent a letter to selectmen that stated some tenants expressed a safety concern that the road is very dark in the area near the front entrance and that they do not feel safe walking or being outside after dark.

The apartments open onto North Street and there are two security lights near the building.

There is currently one streetlight at the bottom of North Street toward Perham Street as well as one at the building’s entrance on Orchard Street but there is no other light present until one reaches the corner of North and Anson streets.

Police Chief Richard Caton III had examined the area and sent memo to selectmen and Davis on his findings.

He noted that the two lights at front of the apartments have low wattage.

“If the wattage was increased,” Caton wrote, “then there would be more light helping the situation.”

He also recommended that the apartment management add a bright security light near the road that would also help the lighting situation. On Orchard Street, the complex appears to have more light due to brighter security lights, Caton wrote.

Caton noted that if similar lights were on the North Street side, the problem might be alleviated.

Selectman Dennis Pike agreed with Caton.

However, Pike said he wanted to wait to see if new lighting corrected the situation before he voted because it is a safety issue.

The town normally only installs street lights at intersections.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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