Farmington board accepts forfeit assets

FARMINGTON — The Board of Selectmen unanimously agreed Tuesday to accept a state grant and drug forfeiture assets for the Farmington Police Department.

The department will keep 20 firearms and a 2006 Honda Accord confiscated during a drug arrest in July 2016, Police Chief Jack Peck said.

The vehicle was stopped by police as it returned to Farmington from an out-of-state trip to purchase heroin, he said. An estimated $8,000 worth of heroin was being brought here every week, he said.

Police found 40 grams of heroin in the car and the driver had a loaded handgun. During a search of the driver’s house, 20 firearms were found, he said.

The department will use what guns they can and may trade some for firearms, he said. Some may be destroyed. No guns will be sold to the public.

The car could be used for surveillance, he said. The department has an unmarked Chevrolet Impala for that purpose.

The Board of Selectmen also accepted a $13,143 speed-enforcement grant from the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety.

The department regularly applies for the grant, Peck said. The funds will be used for 60 four-hour details from now through the end of September.

The Healthy Community Coalition offered the department a $1,000 grant to purchase a portable breathalyzer for detecting underage drinkers at a scene, he said.

Part of the money will pay for the device and the rest for targeting underage drinkers. The department may also do checks of stores to see if they comply with laws regarding sales of alcohol to those under the age of 21, he said.

In other business, the board unanimously agreed to move forward with constructing parking spaces and crosswalks around the park in West Farmington.

Based on an engineering plan and cost estimate from Dirigo Engineering, the Downtown TIF Advisory Committee recommends proceeding with the work, Town Manager Richard Davis said.

Construction estimates are nearly $60,000, and $79,170 with granite curbing. The Downtown Tax Increment Financing funds will be used, he said.

New sidewalks around the park and from the Whistle Stop Rail Trail would align with new crosswalks at the four-way intersection of Bridge and Oak streets, Town Farm Road and Temple Road.

Parallel parking spaces will be constructed next to the park on Oak and Bridge streets with decorative lights installed near the parking spots, he said. The lighting is expected to help provide a village look, and the parking will likely prompt more use of the park, he said.

The next step is to put the project out to bid.

abryant@sunmediagroup.net