Board: Mechanic Falls council

Met: Monday night

Playground equipment

Issue: Town Manager John Hawley reported that he has until Nov. 30 to apply for a 50/50 grant to replace the town’s playground equipment next to the building leased by Head Start.

The scoop: While the playground equipment is worn out, this year’s budget has no money earmarked for its replacement. Noting that the playground is also used by the Summer Rec program, while ball games are played on the neighboring field, councilors authorized tapping the municipal complex reserve account, provided Hawley can secure the 50/50 grant to halve the $15,000 price tag.

Up next: If the deal goes through, Hawley hopes to line up volunteers to help install the equipment next spring.

Resignation

The scoop: The council accepted resignation of longtime council member Marchian Crane effective Oct. 30, and appointed Nancy Richard as his replacement. Two weeks ago, Joyce Crane tendered her resignation from the School Committee, and Katie Bryant was named her replacement. In their resignations, Joyce and Marchian Crane noted that they will soon be moving out of town.

Up next: By town charter, the terms for Richard and Bryant will expire at next spring’s municipal elections.

Fire Department boiler

The scoop: Hawley reported that he used the surplus from the public works/fire department roof project to replace the cracked boiler in the fire department portion of the building. He said it was rather lucky that the roof bid came in under-estimate.

Ecology school

The scoop: Concerted efforts by town and school officials ensured that sixth-graders could attend a four-day conservation school at Ferry Beach this fall. Traditional grant support for the trip vanished after this year’s budget was set but the council made up the final thousand dollars needed by taking that amount from the contingency account.

Historic Signs

The scoop: Historical Society President Eriks Petersons gave the council signs, which hung in the old Mechanic Falls Railroad Depot Station from 1928 to 1952, for display in the municipal building. The signs were given by Richard and Carolyn Vigaeant, whose father was the depot’s last train master.

Up next: The Vigaeants will speak on life in Mechanic Falls from the 1930s to the 1950s at the Historical Society’s Oct. 20 meeting. The meeting will be held at 10:30 a.m. in the municipal building.