Dexter sets sights on army property

DEXTER – Town officials decided Thursday to seek the transfer of a seldom-used army reserve center on Prospect Street from federal to town ownership.

The Town Council, which voted to sign a resolution seeking to acquire the Julian P. Clukey Army Reserve Center, was backed by nearly 900 residents who signed petitions supporting the action.

“This would just get the ball rolling,” Councilman Ron Goldstone, who gathered the signatures earlier this week at the polls, said Thursday.

Town officials will now request support from elected state and federal officials to initiate action to seek the transfer of the building.

Town Manager Robert Simpson said while the building is underutilized by the army reserve, it would be used frequently by the town as a much-needed community center. Although he suggested it might be an “exercise of futility” considering the town’s two-year effort to get military support for a replacement cannon for a local park, Simpson said it was worth a try. He said the town has been “treated very shabbily by the army reserve.”

Simpson said he learned that the military has been thinking about expanding the center into a maintenance depot but not increasing its use. He called this a “gross use of federal funds.”

In another matter, as approved by the council, the town beach and recreation area will be dedicated in memory of Matt Pooler, the son of Chris and Carroll Pooler, who died earlier this year. Pooler had indicated an interest in raising money to purchase new playground equipment for one of the town’s parks before his death.

After his death, contributions amounting to $6,396 were given to carry out his wishes.

The council voted Thursday to use the funds at the town beach and recreation center and agreed to erect a plaque or sign at the site in his honor.

An emblem submitted by J. Daniels of Dexter featuring the town clock was the winning entry selected by residents at Tuesday’s election to serve as the town’s seal. Daniels received a $150 cash award.

The winning bicentennial logo was submitted by Mark Young of Dover-Foxcroft. He, too, will receive a $150 cash award. The Bicentennial Committee plans to make some alterations to Young’s design.