POLAND — The $4.5 million 24-unit elderly housing complex planned off state Route 26 will not be built in the foreseeable future, members of the Poland Board of Selectpersons learned at their Tuesday night meeting.
In his report to the board, Town Manager Matt Garside said developers, the Auburn Residential Development Corporation, “deferred further development at this time.”
Garside was told the company reevaluated conditions and determined there was not enough capital, “to pay for the project due to increased construction costs,” and there was nothing the town could do to help at this time.
The complex was planned to be built by August 2022 and located on 8.1 acres by Hines Road, along Route 26 near the junction of Carpenter Road and state Route 122.
In other matters, the select board received word that the state Route 26 sewer line was installed from Top Gun gun shop to Campbell Cottage on Ricker Road and that the contractor, Pratt & Sons, intends to start work near the pump station soon to bring the sewer line across Route 26, depending on the weather and if paving plants remain open.
Poland Finance Director Debbie Fitzpatrick tendered her resignation. Her last day will be Friday.
Deputy Town Manager Nikki Pratt and Finance/Assessing Clerk Nicole Lussier will share the duties of the position until a replacement is hired.
The select board learned that the Maine’s Department of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry has determined the town’s 2021 Comprehensive Plan is “complete and consistent” and “found all sections of the plan, including future land use section to be consistent with the Growth Management Act.”
A public hearing on the plan is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022.
The town will accept bids to transport its solid waste and recyclable materials to the Maine Waste-to-Energy facility in Auburn. Bids must be delivered to the town office no later than Thursday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m., at which time they will be opened and read publicly in the Town Office conference room. The select board will consider proposals Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 7 p.m.
Garside also told the board to begin thinking about how American Rescue Plan Act funds of nearly $600,000 should be spent. Expenditures considered were road paving, a new air filter ventilation system for town offices, stretcher lifting devices, and premium bonus pay for town employees who worked through the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Garside said the town needs to decide by 2024, where the funds should be spent. The money must be spent by 2026.
Copy the Story LinkSend questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.