Milo expects to receive funds from block grant

MILO — The town of Milo expects to receive $390,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds, according to Milo Town Manager Jayne Farrin, which is about $100,000 less than requested in the application.

Farrin said at the Wednesday night Board of Selectmen meeting that she received an unofficial telephone call assuring her the funds would be forthcoming, but that Gov. John R. McKernan must approve the grant amounts before they are released.

The manager said the Milo Community Development Committee would have to review the town’s priorities.

Farrin told selectmen that out of the 20 communities throughout the state making applications, 14 were going for one-year programs. She said out of the 14, Milo tied for the second largest grant amount approved, with the largest being for $400,000.

Farrin said the application indicated the funds would be used for sewer hookup payments for low-income residents to tie into the Milo Waste Water Treatment Facility now under construction as well as funds for renovations to housing and work on streets and roads.

There also were funds included in the application for a furnace for the Derby Community Hall and to make the hall accessible to the handicapped.

In a memo sent to committee members, Farrin said the information was “great news.”

Committee members are Harold Gray, Jane Prescott, and Clarence Langevine, retired Milo residents; Nancy Bowley, home factory worker; Reuben Lumbra and Marie Hayes, Milo business owners; Vivian O’Reilly and Paul McKusick, Milo selectmen; Frank Perkins, Milo Water District superintendent; and Jayne Farrin, Milo town manager.

Michael Duguay of the Community Development Office in Augusta is the contact person for the committee.

The selectmen also heard several requests for building permits.

Building permits approved were: Jean Clement, Riverside Street, a 16-by-20-foot concrete slab garage, $3,500; Joseph Zamboni, Water Street, renovations to dwelling, $2,000; Louis P. Valente, Gould Street, two permits for mobile homes at his park location — one 12-by-57-foot 1968 New Moon mobile home to replace the one that burned earlier in the year, $700, and one 12-by-57-foot 1971 Richardson to replace a smaller trailer, $1,000.

Also, Joseph Cabaral, d’Este Road, a garage and septic system, $1,500; Althea Goodwin, Pearl Street, new roofing on dwelling, $1,800; Kathryn Richards, Ferry Road, mobile home to be added to current mobile home, $3,000; Grace Mountain, Park Street, replacement of porch and shed roof, $1,200; William J. Mayo, d’Este Road, construction of two-story 24-by-28-foot dwelling and 24-by-24-foot garage, $50,000; and Larry Minton, Turner Howe Road, 32-by-28-foot log home, $7,000.

During the discussion of Valente’s mobile homes, selectmen asked Farrin to check with the state on regulations for Mobile Home Parks pertaining to lot sizes and the minimum and maximum number of trailers permissible.

John Masterman, former state representative, said he thought that regardless of current state regulations on mobile home parks, Valente’s operation would be grandfathered because his park was established in the 1970s before revisions were made to state rules.

Selectmen were read a building permit from New Hope Foundation Inc., owned and operated by Charles Sinclair on Kimball Street, for the addition of camper trailers for homeless people referred to him by various state and local agencies, $20,000.

The permit indicated that plumbing permits had not been issued. Selectmen tabled the permit because it did not meet plumbing permit requirements.

Selectmen approved veteran’s exemptions for Charles F. Bates, Highland Avenue, effective in 1991, and Maxine Young, Park Street, widow of Gordon Young, whose exemption had been approved previously.

An abatement request was heard from Lorinda Canney. Farrin said she had forwarded a copy of the bill of sale showing the value of the trailer to Hamlin Associates. Selectmen tabled any action until they heard from the assessing firm.

Attending the meeting were Paul McKusick, chairman; Joseph Beres, secretary; and Robert Ellison, John Masterman and Vivian O’Reilly, selectmen.