HARRISON — A proposal to spend $30 million to upgrade the Cumberland County Civic Center probably won’t get the support of the town’s selectmen, judging by an informal discussion Thursday night. The five selectmen agreed to take a formal vote at their October meeting.

“It’s a shame we can’t take a stand at this meeting,” Selectman Bill Winslow said, following remarks made by Selectman Lisa Villa, who recently served on the county’s budget advisory committee.

Villa said the chairman of the advisory committee told her the Civic Center “has been in the black for the last five years.”

However, she said she later learned that the $400,000 profit he referred to did not include the subsidies from all the municipalities in the county.

“This was upsetting to me,” Villa said, referring to a handout describing the proposal. “They sprinkled fairy dust on this whole thing.”

“How do you ask voters to pay for a bond when it’s not making money?” she asked. “The county has capital equipment needs that aren’t being met.”

Villa said the current proposal doesn’t address some key issues, including the lack of parking and the need to increase capacity.

“I feel this thing is being pushed through. It’s a Portland thing —  we need more representation from outside greater Portland.”

Selectman Matthew Frank said, “If it was a Portland civic center, that would be one thing. It should be Portland’s or private enterprise, but not the entire county’s problem.”

All the selectmen expressed reservations about the spending proposal.

Referring to the location in downtown Portland and the size of the lot, Richard St. John said, “It was built in the wrong place.”

“I have to leave my house an hour early just so I can get a place in one of the parking garages. I can almost get to an event in Bangor quicker than in Portland,” he said.

“The timing is extremely poor,” Villa added. “It doesn’t take into account the current state of the economy. If it doesn’t meet the projected revenues, you and me and our grandchildren are going to be footing the bill.”

The proposal will be on the November ballot.

Town Manager Bud Finch said he would compile some information for the board for the discussion and vote at the October meeting.

In a unanimous vote, the board agreed to extend Finch’s contract until August 2012.

Finch updated the board on the progress that has been made by the Transfer Station Committee, chaired by Selectman Kathy LaPlante.

The Second Chance, a building where residents have been able to bring usable items for others to take, has been closed for several weeks. Finch said people were leaving inappropriate items, and the staff at the transfer station couldn’t monitor it properly.

“It got pretty trashy looking,” Finch said.

The committee has suggested the building be open for limited hours. Certain items such as clothing and electronic devices such as TVs and computers can no longer be left there. A bulletin board will be installed for people who want to donate larger items such as appliances.

The town will also be installing a septic system at the site.

Finch praised the public works employees for the paving of Cape Monday Road this summer.

“The public works crew deserves a lot of thanks, especially with their limited equipment,” he said.

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