Selectmen decided Monday night to meet with the Greene Historical Society on Nov. 17 to discuss the future of the old Town House.

The society has considered using the century-old former municipal building for storage and as a meeting location for several months.

Sally Hebert, who serves as society chairperson and deputy town clerk, said the society recently met at the Town House. She requested that selectmen meet with the society’s board in hopes that details of an agreement for permanent use of the building could be drafted.

“Those of us who were born in Greene or have lived here for some time are proud of its heritage,” Hebert said. She said she recently visited several other municipally-owned historic buildings that are used by historical societies. Two are in Monmouth and Wayne. “They are all historic buildings. They are all very different,” Hebert said. “In the long run, I envision having the Town House open on a regular basis, staffed by volunteers.”

The board also discussed increasing the hours the town office is open to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Mondays; and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays with no closure for lunch breaks. Staff would stagger their hours.

– John Plestina

Town Manager Stephen Eldridge said there would be no increase in the number of labor hours. Selectmen took no action. The issue will likely be revisited later this month or in December.

Also, the board appointed Kathy Grefer-Kirkland to the serve the remainder of a vacant, one-year term as an alternate Planning Board member until March. She is the former chairperson of the Board of Appeals.

Selectmen accepted guidelines set by the state Department of Human Services for general assistance. Eldridge said people receiving assistance from the town will receive slightly more.Lewiston:

$1.2 million grant for security

More than $1.2 million in U.S. Department of Homeland Security funding to enhance response and preparedness capabilities is being disbursed to Androscoggin County and several of its cities and towns.

The money is part of $4.4 billion earmarked for police and fire departments around the nation that was put into the fiscal 2003 federal budget.

It will help counties and towns pay for planning, training exercises and other costs associated with increased security measures.

In all, $1,271,041 is going to emergency responders in Androscoggin County via a larger federal grant to the state Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management.

LaBonte’s loved ones appreciative

LEWISTON – For the friends and family of Gerry LaBonte, this autumn has definitely been about rebuilding.

A team of physicians have been repairing the 43-year-old’s shattered bones and internal damage. Meanwhile, a crew of volunteers has been rebuilding the home that LaBonte was working on when the roof rafters came crashing down Oct. 15.

The irony has not escaped LaBonte’s loved ones.

“His life is being rebuilt as the house is rebuilt,” said Karen LaRoche, LaBonte’s fiancé. “It’s beautiful. It’s awesome. We have to thank everyone who has helped us out.”

Special town meeting to discuss TIF

LISBON – Selectman have set Dec. 9 as the date for a special town meeting to consider a proposal to create a tax increment finance district for Enterprise Electric.

A longtime Lisbon Falls business owned by Jim and Claire Kelly, the firm is expanding into a 27,000-square-foot building on Capital Avenue in the industrial park.

The 20-year TIF deal, which has an estimated value of $1.37 million, will allow one-half of the property tax paid to be returned to the firm to be used to help pay for the building.

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