MINOT — Town officials have given the OK for a student at Poland Regional High School to erect a “tiny” lending library on town property.

Selectmen on Tuesday agreed to allow senior Tatyanna McCourt to build and install a book-exchange box at the Town Office, according to Town Administrator Danielle Loring.

McCourt aims to “improve access to reading materials to improve literacy across all age groups,” as part of her senior project at the school.

McCourt hopes to install a second portable library at a church owned by the local historical society on Center Minot Hill Road.

Although the board lacked the authority to approve that second request, officials agreed to work with society members to secure approval, Loring said.

The town has no permanent library and instead contracts with the Auburn Public Library to allow residents membership there, Loring said.

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The board also hammered out a policy for use of town property.

The town allows the basement at the Town Office to be used for small private events, such as birthday parties and baby showers, if proof of insurance is provided, Loring said.

But use of town playing fields, for example, will be available only for school or nonprofit group events  largely because of issues such as scheduling and cleanup, Loring said.

Officials approved a five-year contract with the Lewiston-Auburn Water Pollution Control Authority in Lewiston that allows Minot residents to transfer septic waste and recreational vehicle waste to that facility, Loring said.

The board expanded the authority of the town administrator to approve contracts without putting the job out to bid for projects over the former $3,000 limit. The approval is due to a private property owner operating an unpermitted junkyard, Loring said. The landowner has defaulted on its agreement with the town to clean up the property, she said.

The town is expected to install a new generator at the Town Office within the next couple of weeks, replacing one that has been used since 1987, Loring said.

The new generator was purchased through cost sharing with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, she said. The improvement will allow for upgraded electrical service to town buildings, she said.


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