POLAND — Town officials are still undecided on the future of Ricker Memorial Library.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Board of Selectmen, Selectperson Suzette Moulton said the library’s board of directors has not decided if it wants to expand the facility, especially given concerns over how a proposed library expansion would affect the Municipal Complex.

Moulton also said the library’s board wants to be included in meetings with engineers, and that the library had found an architect who has volunteered to draw plans for the expansion and who wishes to review plans from HEB Engineering of Bridgton.

Selectmen said they and representatives of HEB Engineering are preparing to meet with the Planning Board to determine if HEB’s plans meet the town’s land use code and if additional costs would be incurred.

HEB submitted the final site plan to selectmen in October.

“It’s frustrating that for four years everything (regarding the Municipal Complex) is moved in this direction, with ample opportunities for people to chime in,” said Walter Gallagher, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. “Now we’re getting ready to bring something forward, and now it’s time to reconsider other changes,” 

Gallagher said if the library expands toward the rear, it could affect the number of parking spaces and drainage. A desire to increase parking was one of the driving forces behind the proposal to renovate the complex, Gallagher said.

Town Manager Matthew Garside said he will check with the engineers on how a proposed expansion could affect the complex.

In a related matter, Garside said he had spoken with the town auditor to see if money from the town’s undesignated fund balance could be used to finance work on the Municipal Complex.

Auditor Ron Smith told him, “The rule of thumb in government is to use long-term money (borrowing) to fund long-term expenses,” according to Garside.

Garside said if the town borrowed $1 million on a 15-year note, the annual payments would run between $80,000 and $90,000.

In other matters, selectmen were told the town’s Conservation Commission has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the Davis Conservation Foundation of Yarmouth for the Waterhouse Brook project.

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