FARMINGTON — Selectmen agreed Tuesday to take to town meeting voters a request for help in applying for and administering a Community Development Block Grant for 82 High Street.

Volunteer efforts started 20 years ago when an 82 High Street Board of Directors formed and purchased new mobile homes to replace older trailers in what was then a trailer park with two adjacent apartment buildings on what is now Sawtelle Lane.

After 20 years, some of the mobile homes need renovations such as new roofs and other work to conserve energy. The homes have been evaluated and deemed sound, ready for rehabilitation, Code Enforcement Officer Steve Kaiser told the board.

The town will seek a CDBG grant of $250,000 to rehab the 17 mobile homes on Sawtelle Lane, located off High Street, the site that is called 82 High Street. That is the first phase. A second phase will tackle the apartment buildings, Kaiser said.

The Rev. Scott Planting, chairman of the 82 High Street board, along with several board members and residents, attended the meeting to share how the board’s partnership with Western Maine Community Action and the work and commitment of volunteers and residents has turned the site into a community.

Resident Gail Greenman told the board, “It’s nice to have a nice area to be proud of.”

The residents are participating and working together to provide a sense of safety and well-being for each other, another volunteer told the board.

Police calls to the site have decreased by 80 percent, Selectman and Sheriff Dennis Pike said.

It is now filled and there is a waiting list of those wanting to live there, Planting said.

Volunteers are seeking a “green project” to conserve energy by least 20 percent the first year and more the next year, he said.

“We want to rehab the 17 mobile homes to last for another 20 years,” Planting said.

In other business, the board heard updates on the status of properties at 103 Bridge St. and one on the Town Farm Road.

The board reviewed court papers prepared by town attorney Frank Underkuffler to seek compliance on safety-related repairs from Joel Batzell, who owns the Bridge Street property.

“(Underkuffler) feels filing is necessary and it needs to come before a judge,” Kaiser told the board in light of the safety issues for people living in the building.

He said he believed two people who couldn’t be served eviction notices were still living there, plus the owner. Kaiser also said he didn’t think any repairs had been completed.

Batzell told the board and the cable station viewing audience that the issue could be resolved outside expensive court action. He blamed the news media for the problem.

The board also reviewed an action plan, as previously requested by the board, for clearing the 331 Town Farm Road property owned by Katherine Gajdukow and occupied by her and Keith Melancon.

The board set a date of June 1 to have the work completed.

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