Glenburn residents debate proposed facility

GLENBURN – Debate over the town’s proposed new municipal facility led to nearly two hours of discussion at Thursday night’s council meeting.

Two years ago, the town created a committee to explore the possibility of a much-needed new municipal facility.

After consulting with Oest Associates Inc., a South Portland architectural firm, the committee has come up with its final recommendation to be voted on at June’s annual town meeting.

“I think that the time has come where we have to do something,” Councilor and committee chair Mark Lagasse said at Thursday’s meeting. “If it passes, I think it will serve the people well.”

The proposed building would be located on the Hudson Road near the school and newly constructed ball and recreation fields. The approximately 12,000-square-foot building, which would take eight to 12 months to construct, would consist of municipal offices, school administrative offices and a large community meeting area.

Residents will vote at June’s annual town meeting on authorizing the town to borrow up to $2 million for the project, which officials say should cover the cost of the new facility. Some residents aren’t sure voters will allow the authorization.

Original plans were to use the current municipal office site for the new building, but ground contamination ruled out that possibility.

The 9.9-acre town office site was used as an Air Force ground air transmitter facility from 1958 to the late 1960s. TCE, an organic liquid with a chloroformlike odor, was used at the military facility to clean the electronic radar equipment housed there.

In addition to contamination from TCE and asbestos, an out-of-date boiler and the need to bring the building up to ADA requirements are other reasons cited by councilors for needing a new facility.

“The bottom line is people are trying to figure out how they’re going to pay their taxes and how they’re going to heat their homes,” Sally Holland of Glenburn said at Thursday night’s meeting. She said the cost of a new municipal building would be easier to swallow if the council could provide more information on how the cost of the building would affect residents. “All I want is some figures.”

Town Manager Carl Betterly attempted to answer by explaining that the impact would be $1.12 on every $1,000 of property valuation that a resident pays in taxes.

Residents also are concerned about the impact that this year’s increased school budget will have on taxes.

“Every dollar that we spend on this municipal building is a dollar that we don’t have to spend on [other projects],” Councilor Richard Cookson said.

While all in attendance agreed that they didn’t want their taxes to go up, some stated that whether the town builds a new municipal facility or keeps the old one, a large sum of money would have to be spent.

Army Corps officials have told the town that if they disturb the soil and find TCE, the town will be responsible for cleaning up the mess.

“If you do anything to disturb the soil, you’ve bought the farm,” committee member Ernie Phillips of Glenburn said.

Residents will have a chance to discuss the issue and vote on the proposed building at the annual town meeting set for June 8 and 9.