By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

OTISFIELD – The Board of Selectmen may recommend that an anticipated $150,000 in stumpage income be used to help build a recreation center to replace the community hall on Route 121.

A state Labor Department inspection found numerous minor safety violations that selectmen say prompted the seasonal closure of the building in September rather than October. The routine inspection earlier this year cited deficiencies in lighting, circuit breakers and staircase railings. The building was constructed in 1909.

Mark Cyr, board chairman, said the town had the option to temporarily close the building, rather than spend money to correct the violations within a specific time.

He said the possible construction of a building has been under consideration for some time. “Since we’ve been discussing it, we chose the option to temporarily not use the building,” he said.

Beyond the safety violations, Cyr said the town has “outgrown” the community hall in East Otisfield village. He would like a new building that could host year-round events and offer more parking and a full kitchen.

The bids for the forestry work could be posted within the next three weeks. Cyr said selectmen should confirm the stumpage income number at their regular meeting next week.

The issue of whether to use the income to upgrade the existing community hall or construct a new building will be presented to residents at the town’s annual meeting in March.

“We can spend money and fix up the old community hall or build a new one,” Cyr said. “We’re leaning toward building a new facility, and we understand it might have to be built in phases.”

If voters choose not to direct the income toward the existing building or a new one, the money could be added to the town’s surplus to reduce tax rates, Cyr said.

Gary Tougas of the town’s Government Study Committee said selectmen have overlooked maintenance in general at the town’s buildings. He said it was “hard to accept” Cyr’s statement at a Sept. 21 selectmen’s meeting that the community hall was not closed due to lack of maintenance.

He added that the community hall’s early closure forced the Firemen’s Association to hold its annual dance on Oct. 22 at an alternate location in Oxford.

“That’s what’s driving my concern,” he said. “Will we be able to have the dance in town next year?”

Tougas cited an August 2003 report by the Town Property Review Committee that recommended specific repairs and renovations to several town buildings, including the community hall. The recommendations included new roof shingles and an upgraded electrical system.

“There were recommendations in that report about the town office, for example. None of those have been done,” he said. “I think maintenance in general has been overlooked.”

Tom Nurmi, a selectman who is a member of the property review committee, said that prior to the report’s issuance two years ago, residents had already voted down spending a significant amount of money to upgrade the community hall.

Cyr said the Firemen’s Association also did not enter the date of this year’s annual dance on the town calendar, and the dance has already been held three times at the fire station.

He said a new recreation hall that would be available for numerous groups such as snowmobile clubs, 4-H programs and organization suppers could make the project eligible for grant money. “If we adapt it to many different people, that would lend to grants,” he said.

Tougas said a new recreation hall would be “great,” but that selectmen are operating in a reactive mode rather than planning ahead for what would be an ambitious project. “What is their plan? That is my issue. Until they have a full and complete plan, in writing, they can’t really do that,” he said.