Van Buren council agrees to gather information on economic impact of closure of Loring AFB

VAN BUREN — The Van Buren Town Council handled several housekeeping matters, but spent most of a three-hour meeting tackling the proposed 1991-92 municipal budget Monday night.

Councilors agreed to gather information on the economic impact that the closure of Loring Air Force Base could have on Van Buren. The Save Loring Committee will use the data in its fight to keep the base open.

Councilors Charles Plourde and Norman Thibodeau attended a meeting Sunday where the issue was discussed. They said town officials must act quickly to assess the effect on Van Buren’s town and business economy and schools.

Town Manager Jayne Farrin said work on the next round of Community Development Block Grant would be under way soon. One of the first steps will be to appoint a Citizens Advisory Committee.

She said data in the town’s most recent application, which did not get funded, can be updated. The Northern Maine Regional Planning Commission will prepare the application at no cost.

Councilor Elmer Corbin said the town must determine how much in-kind services and other considerations it can afford before applying. He said that during the CDBG project on Fulton Street, the town spent “the whole summer on one street,” leaving other streets to deteriorate.

In other business, Farrin said Department of Environmental Protection officials will tour the town’s sewage treatment plant in late April. The information will be used to prepare proposals to improve the plant’s effectiveness, at little or no cost.

After hearing of concern by the budget committee because town workers washed their vehicles at town facilities, Farrin issued memos “to reinforce that this practice is prohibited.” She said it increased municipal water costs and created “an appearance of special privileges to the public.”

Councilors ratified appointments to the Van Buren Hospital District board of trustees made in December 1990. Philip Dufour will fill the seat that expires in 1992; John Pelletier will serve through 1993.

Farrin told the Town Council that the the budget committee had recommended that the town budget going to the voters in June be 15 percent lower than last year. That in mind, councilors let few departments escape the budget ax.

Among cost-cutting measures initially approved were putting off equipment purchases. They agreed to put money aside in the event some equipment does not last through the fiscal year.

They said telephone saving could be realized and agreed to delay building repairs, but they increased funding for lights and fuel because last years’ figures were unrealistic.

They reduced funding for part-time office help, town manager travel and expenses and town council meeting stipends; several areas of the police department budget; and said they will consider Farrin’s suggestion to use a percentage of surplus from departmental budgets for contingency accounts for emergency purchases.

In trying to save costs related to part-time posts, town councilors discussed, but took no action on, combining some positions, changing fee collection methods for inspectors, and turning animal control duties over to the police force to save about $2,900 a year.

More cost reductions will be made at a special budget session Wednesday night.

The council also discussed in executive session contract issues for newly unionized town workers, but took no post-executive session action.