By Winslow Durgin,Special to the Sun Journal

MECHANIC FALLS – Completion of the reconstruction of Elm Street will have to wait until the town is in a more stable financial situation, said Town Manager Dana Lee said at Monday’s council meeting.

The town’s application for a $400,000 Community Development Block Grant was turned down recently. That money would have helped toward the $1.2 million cost to completely redo the street from the Elm Street School to downtown.

Driving the cost up is the need to replace old water and sewer pipes along the street’s final 3,000 feet. Lee noted the project didn’t make sense unless the need to separate storm water out of the sewer system is addressed.

“For a grant, you need to have solid commitments upfront for the local match,” Lee said.

The town couldn’t make that commitment because it has bonded a number of capital projects lately, the new water tank off Standpipe Road was the most recent. Now is not the time, Lee advised, for the town to undertake more bonded indebtedness.

School Committee Member Dave Griffiths asked the council what the cost would be to have the town wired so municipal meetings could be broadcast on local cable television.

Griffiths noted that the Union 29 School Committee, which has members from Mechanic Falls, Minot and Poland, last week voted to hold its future meetings at the Poland Regional High School because meetings held there are televised to all of Poland and about half of Minot.

Assistant Town Manager John Hawley said he had looked into equipping the town to televise public meetings and the problem was not cost.

“I spoke with an Adelphia representative and was told I should hold off until after the Time Warner takeover. So we’re stalled, for now,” said Hawley.

Hawley indicated he would resume efforts once the takeover is complete.

In other business, the council agreed with Lee’s assessment that the town’s bucket truck should be taken off the road and directed that it be sold.

Lee said the truck is used only about five to 10 days a year mainly for changing traffic lights, streetlights or putting up Christmas decorations. Lee said the expense to insure and maintain it just isn’t worth it.

Council members suggested that the Fire Department’s ladder truck could be used or Lee could rent a bucket truck as needed.

The council also agreed to a January workshop to go over a plan to upgrade computer software, meeting changes recommended by Northern Data Systems, and to examine the town’s investment and fund balance policies.

The council approved donating $300 for the town’s 15th annual “Santa for the Kids” program. Lee noted that this year the Optimist Club is helping out with a couple of families.

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