KINGFIELD — Selectmen on Monday renewed their resolve to refuse responsibility for organizing community celebrations.

At their evening meeting, they agreed that Administrative Assistant Douglas Marble and other town employees should not be selling flags, planning Kingfield Days, or organizing community events.

Selectmen also restated their hope that town committees and individuals could unite to plan the 2016 bicentennial celebration, but the possibility appears less likely. The problem stems from a lack of community interest.

Holly Paul, chairman of the Kingfield Days Committee, has shouldered most of the responsibilities, including organizing an annual fundraising auction, contracting with festival vendors and entertainers and scheduling the weekend’s events. Discouraged with the lack of volunteers to share the workload, she has taken Kingfield Days paperwork and records to store at the town office.

Potential volunteers may not know how to help, and so the few perennial planners become swamped with too many responsibilities.

“The same 10 people in this town do everything, so if people like and want (these events), they need to get involved,” Selectman Heather Moody said.

The town’s Revitalization Committee also has discontinued its meetings and participation in coordinating town resources for events.

In other news, Rodney Lynch, the town’s economic development consultant, reported on his year of searching for grants to help with the upgrade of the sewer system. Community Development Block Grant awards for up to $500,000 could help pay for proposed construction or reconstruction assistance.

“There is $2.7 million available, but there’s a lot of competition for it,” he said.

The grant money must be used to benefit low- and middle-income residents, so selectmen also must approve conducting an income survey to determine if the town qualifies.

Lynch cautioned selectmen not to be overly optimistic about getting a grant the first year. Many other Maine towns apply unsuccessfully the first year, but as the writers gain experience and support, they usually submit a better second or third application that makes the final cut, he said.

“This could be seen as getting you a place in the line,” he said.

Voters must approve allocating a 25 percent cash match at a public hearing to get the process started, but the money can come from reserves appropriated from approved Tax Increment Financing projects. The board decided to have the hearing at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at Webster Hall.

Lynch also suggested selectmen consider spending $250 to join the Maine Downtown Network Community, which is part of the Maine Development Program.

The services the program provides include opportunities to meet and work with other municipal groups, receive consulting advice, and learn more about financial resources. Membership also adds visibility for the town and promotes an indication of the town’s commitment to its future.

Kingfield’s current downtown plan includes rebuilding the section of Route 27 that encompasses the downtown village area. Lynch also suggested defining an historical district, starting with an informational presentation to voters. David Guernsey, chairman of the Road Reconstruction Committee, suggested a good publicity campaign would help dispel misinformation and allow residents to decide whether they want to participate.

“There are people in town who didn’t know they were included in the walking loop,” he said. “Suddenly they see it on a map, and it’s being voted on at a town meeting.”