RUMFORD – Selectmen delayed action on extending the sewer line along Franklin Annex until they get more information on plans for locating a mobile home park on the road.

Also on Thursday, they awarded the contract for a new roof for the downtown fire station.

“We want a commitment from the trailer park. If they don’t do it, we probably wouldn’t run the sewer line there,” said Selectman Jolene Lovejoy.

Gary Casey had asked the board to consider running the line an additional 1,000 feet that would allow one or two more houses to be hooked into the municipal sewer system, as well.

Costs for running the line just beyond the proposed trailer park, where 12 new mobile home sites have been proposed, would cost about $52,000. To extend another 1,000 feet would boost that cost to $280,000. And to run the line the entire 3,420 feet of Franklin Annex would cost $350,000.

Selectmen aren’t sure they want to spend that much of the sewer department’s money.

Selectman Jim Peterson, when making the motion, also asked for a poll of households already on the road who would be interested in hooking into the system.

Casey, who is also the Planning Board chairman, said his board plans to hold a public hearing on the proposed mobile home park before any action is taken by planners.

The board awarded the contract for removal of the 3,700-square-feet of asphalt roofing on the fire station and for the installation of a new membrane system to Demmons Roofing of Portland at a cost of $15,700. Six bids were submitted with costs ranging as high as $26,250.

Fire Chief John Woulfe had said earlier that the work will likely begin by the end of March and take about two weeks to complete.

In other matters, Town Manager Robert Welch said he and MeadWestvaco are working on an agreement that would allow public parking on the paper company-owned lot next to the former Agway. Welch said one contingent would be immediate withdrawal of public use if the company should need the parking space.

The board also:

• Approved a donation of $200 that will allow a Mountain Valley High School boy to attend Dirigo Boys State.

• Set two public hearings to consider changes in the town’s bylaws for 6:30 p.m. on April 15 and 22.

• Granted a parade permit to the Snowshoe Club to hold a St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 14.

eadams@sunjournal.com

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