FARMINGTON – Selectmen approved a proposal to apply for a Community Development Block Grant to extend a town water line after a public hearing Tuesday.

The project would extend the line of the Farmington Village Corp. 1,500 feet to serve the Ethel Walton, Hazel Thompson and Deer Crossing Apartments off Titcomb Hill Road. It is expected to cost $467,000. Of that mount, $347,000 is to come from the grant and the from the apartment complexes.

Selectmen voted unanimously to apply for the grant. Mary Wright was not in attendance.

A second public hearing was held to discuss applying for another Community Development Block Grant to repair the Walton’s Mill Dam off Temple Road.

The dam has structural problems, according to Town Manager Richard Davis. He said engineering cost is estimated at $160,000. The town would need to raise $12,500 in matching funds if the grant is received, and fund an additional $63,111 to complete the project.

A grant through the federal Land and Water Conservation Act for $34,000 will also be considered, as will private sources of funding. Davis said a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s hazard mitigation plan is also possible.

The dam needs an overhaul to stop deterioration. If it is lost, Davis said, so too will be Walton Stream Park, and property damage downstream is also possible.

Selectmen voted to apply for grants to fund the dam repairs.

State Sen. Chandler Woodcock and state Rep. Janet Mills discussed tax reform with selectmen, presenting them with a working copy of the tax-reform bill lawmakers are considering. Mills encouraged officials to look closely at the spending cap proposals in the 20-page document.

“The Chamber (of Commerce) has done a clever thing,” she said. “They’re really putting our feet to the fire.”

If legislators cannot pass a tax-reform bill before the session ends, the proposal may be brought to statewide referendum, if petition signature requirements are met, she explained.

“If we let it go to referendum, it’s a failure of government,” she said.

Woodcock said it’s a complicated issue.

“To think we’re going to have this worked out by January is optimistic,” he said. He said he has core values upon which he will not compromise – raising the sales tax, for example.

“Unlike Chandler, I’m a compromiser to get things done,” quipped Mills.

“Unlike Janet, I have core values,” responded Woodcock laughing.