FARMINGTON — While selectmen reviewed a proposed gift of parking, staircase and walkway use from Franklin Savings Bank on Tuesday, they realized the gift was better than first anticipated.

Along with the 12 parking spaces in the new proposed public lot on Front Street, FSB would also allow evening and weekend parking in a new 12-space lot it is creating for employees on the east side of Front Street and in two 17-parking spaces it owns on the west side of Front Street.  There is no overnight parking allowed in any of the lots, Peter Judkins, FSB president, told the board.

The material reviewed with town attorney Frank Underkuffler explains the terms of the gift for voters who will need to accept or reject the proposed public parking lot use during the annual town meeting April 2. The proposal includes a covered stairway from the Front Street lot up to the back of FSB’s parking lot on Main Street. The public would use a striped walkway along FSB’s lot to Main Street, connecting the two streets.

As a member of the Budget Committee and now a selectmen, Ryan Morgan thanked Judkins for the offer.

“There’s always been an issue of parking (in Farmington). It makes sense to join the two streets,” he said.

Front Street has become a part of the downtown and is no longer just another side street, Selectman Jon Bubier said.

Under the terms agreed on by the town and FSB, the bank will absorb the cost of construction of the lot, a covered staircase and a walkway through its back parking lot to Main Street. The bank would also accept liability for those using the parking spaces, stairs and walkway. It also would take responsibility for future maintenance of the stairway.

The town would assume responsibility for snow removal, sanding, salting and litter/garbage removal in both the parking lot and staircase. According to the legal terms, the town would pay FSB the amount equivalent to the taxes assessed on the property, but in essence, one cancels out the other, Underkuffler said.

For the evening and weekend parking in Franklin Savings lots, the bank takes care of maintenance, snow removal and liability allowing the town to use it for an amount equal to 25 percent of taxes assessed on lots.

After-business hours in these lots includes from 6 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to midnight on Saturday and Sunday.

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