MINOT – Efforts continue to put a plan for expanding the Minot Consolidated School to a vote at March town meeting.

The proposed expansion, which would cost the town more than $2 million once financing charges are added to the $1.8 million construction estimate, is an update of the plan rejected by voters at a special town meeting in November 2002.

This expansion, which would include building a performing arts center, renovating the existing administration area and making other site improvements, including additional parking at the school, is not to be confused with the modular classroom addition the school committee indicated it will consider as it prepares its budget request for March town meeting.

While the committee appears to be set on requesting the modular classroom addition, and only that, a group of parents interested in bringing the full development project to fruition is preparing to petition selectmen directly in order for the matter to go to a town vote in March.

Last week, Harold Bridgham, a member of the parent group, left a draft copy of a petition calling for a vote on the school expansion with Town Clerk Nikki Verrill with a request that selectmen check the petition to make sure it is properly worded.

Presented with the draft petition Monday night, selectmen questioned whether the matter should be placed on the ballot as a referendum vote on Friday, March 5, accompanying the votes for municipal officials, or placed on the general warrant to be voted on only by those attending the Saturday, March 6, session.

Selectmen agreed to forward the draft petition to the Maine Municipal Association for assistance in making sure the questions were legally proper.

Uncomfortable that they might be stepping on school board toes, selectmen also agreed to ask MMA about the implications of a school issue going directly to them.

“We’re kind of in the middle of this thing. After all, this is an addition to a building they (the school committee) run,” said Selectman Dean Campbell.

Campbell and Selectman Steve French said they would meet with the committee to let it know of the board’s intentions first hand.

In other business, selectmen learned from Code Enforcement Officer Ken Pratt that enforcement cases against Sharon Maheux and Michael Hill will be heard in court on Jan. 7. Selectmen also directed Pratt to issue a stop-work order to the owner of property near the junction of Death Valley and York roads. The property owner has no plumbing or building permits.

Road Manager Arlan Saunders told the board that 18 town roads have suffered washouts as a result of the two rainstorms that followed substantial snowstorms. Saunders estimated he has spent more than $20,000 to date on repairs. He added that he won’t be able to correct all the storm-related problems until spring.

Fire Chief Steve French reported that five of the town’s pumps plus a generator, were on loan to the town of Canton, per a mutual aid agreement, to help with the severe flooding caused by ice jams on the Androscoggin.

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