MECHANIC FALLS – A proofreading oversight has prompted the need for a special town meeting this month so that voters can decide the outcome of a $286,000 bond proposal.

Town Council members unanimously remedied the mistake during their regular session Monday by scheduling a June 22 special town meeting. The meeting will start at 6 p.m. and be held in the Elm Street School multipurpose room.

Town Manager Dana Lee’s budget message, which was included in the annual report, made reference to the bond proposal. However, the town warrant lacked any articles asking for voter approval at the May 18 annual meeting.

“We all looked through it, and none of us noticed that it was missing,” said council Chairman William Diehl.

The bond, if approved by voters, would finance repairs to 15 additional roads and recreation areas for $286,000. If approved by voters, the total debt to the town would be $315,083, to be paid off in five years at 3 percent interest, according to Lee’s report to the Town Council Monday.

Lee estimated that the town could fix the problem areas in one year for half the cost of scheduling repairs over 10 years.

The savings would come from dealing with repairs before they became too severe and by avoiding cost inflation over time. Six projects, ranging from $2,000 to $17,500 each and totaling $67,000, would require only overlays if addressed now, Lee’s proposal said. Another $150,000 would be added if the delayed repairs require full road reclamation.

Town staff already has identified eight areas that have deteriorated beyond simple repaving and patching. Those individual projects range from a $4,000 job to a $60,000 job if dealt with now.

In addition to the repair work, the bond would finance a recreation storage and restroom facility for $16,000.

Town streets proposed for bond funding are Patterson, Libby, Yates, Cross, Lower Perkins, West Chestnut, East Chestnut, Maple, Mitchell, Summer and Spring. Other areas proposed for repairs are the ice rink and tennis court.

Voters approved $71,000 in May for four road projects that were included in the normal public works budget. Those repairs deal with the Town Hall and Fire Department parking lots, the Public Works Department yard, and a portion of Elm Street.