FARMINGTON — Selectmen and developers discussed Tuesday their intent to apply for a federal grant for a proposed 32-unit elderly housing project called Brookside Village.

Bryon Davis and William Marceau are ready to begin the application process for a federal Community Development Block Grant. Construction for the estimated $3 million project is to start by next summer on their property at 247 Fairbanks Road, pending funding. The site once contained the Maine Dowel Mill, which the men had torn down in 2003.

“There’s been no senior housing built in Farmington for over 25 years,” Marceau said. “There is a real need.”

People are already signing on to a waiting list, Davis said.

The 32 one-bedroom apartments would be available to very-low and low-income elderly or handicapped tenants. Through a USDA Rural Development program  tenants would pay only 30 percent of their income for rent and utilities.

Davis and Marceau discussed their plans, including their intent to apply for a $500,000 grant to fund sewer, water, drainage system installation and road construction at the site.

Two years ago, they applied for the highly competitive block grants and took first -place in the application process due to their intent to create a “very green” energy efficient building using geothermal and pellet heat, Davis said.

Funding details stalled the process, but this time Maine State Housing has written an intent to fund the project if everything is put out to bid and the bids are within the budget, Davis said. The letter is “good enough for CDBG” this time.

In other business, the board approved acceptance of two donations for the Police Department. Chief Jack Peck would like to use the funds to help purchase a sign for the new police station that would read the Richard E. Caton III Memorial Police Building.

The Farmington Lions Club donated $500 to the department and Foothills Management and Development donated $300.

The board also approved acceptance of video equipment from Walmart for the department.

Selectmen unanimously approved hiring Alex M. Hayes and Lance A. Maginnis II as probationary Farmington firefighters; appointed Jane Woodman to serve on the Conservation Commission and Michael Deschenes as a full member of the Appeals Board, leaving an alternate member position open. They also accepted the resignation of Marjorie Grover from the Recreation Committee.

The board approved a request from Tom Donaghue from the University of Maine at Farmington to hold a candlelight remembrance of Rebecca Maiuri from 5 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, in Meetinghouse Park. Maiuri, of Wilton, was killed in a car accident this past weekend. Her mother, Tiffany, is a longtime employee of UMF.

The board also considered a request from Ruth Crowley, the mother of Justin Crowley-Smilek, to place a memorial bench in either Meetinghouse Park or at the county’s World War I monument on Main Street. An Army Ranger veteran, Crowley-Smilek was killed in November in a confrontation with a Farmington police officer.

The board chose to wait till the next meeting to have time to discuss it with other residents and allow them to attend the meeting before the decision is made.

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