WILTON – Selectmen voted Tuesday to accept a proposal by Western Maine Community Action representatives that, if voters agree, will put $16,887 from Wilton’s share of the sale of High Street house into a revolving loan account to provide aid to low-income Wilton families.
WMCA representatives Fenwick Fowler and Irv Faunce first put the question to selectmen at a meeting in early February, but they voted against it. Selectman Keith Swett said Tuesday he had originally opposed putting the money into the community action group’s revolving loan account, in part because of an admission by the organization that it already had $130,000 that was not being used.
Faunce said that the group is revitalizing its loan program, adding that WMCA is reviewing 12 applications for low-interest loans, recipients of these are spread out over three counties. The loans help lower-income families afford home-improvement projects, including making homes more energy-efficient and more structurally sound.
Wilton originally became involved with 9 High St. years ago, when the town contributed to the purchase of the building using a federal Community Development Grant earmarked for affordable housing.
The money Western Maine Community Action gave back to Wilton this year from the sale is still federal grant money, and Faunce and Fowler told selectmen in early February the town is obligated to use the nearly $17,000 in grant-eligible activities, regardless of whether they voted for of using the WMCA revolving loan account.
Selectmen asked Town Manager Peter Nielsen to put together a list of “CDBG-eligible” programs during their last meeting. On Tuesday, they reviewed the list. After the review, Selectman Rodney Hall, who voted against giving the money to WMCA in February, said that after carefully considering all the town’s options and obligations, he felt comfortable working with the community action organization.
Selectmen voted unanimously to accept Western Maine Community Action’s proposal, upon voter approval at the annual town meeting. They also asked that, in the proposal Faunce brings before voters this summer, he include plans to periodically report on the Wilton loan account to selectmen.
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