Lincoln councilors to discuss moving town office to complex

LINCOLN – The Town Council will discuss but not vote Monday on whether to move the town office to a portion of a proposed senior citizen housing complex at the former Lake Mall site on Main Street because the lease agreement isn’t ready, Town Manager Lisa Goodwin said.

“They [town council members] don’t have all the information to make a decision,” Goodwin said. “They won’t have the lease, among other things, probably until September.”

Penquis will update the council on its plans to mix 24 senior citizen housing units, a Lincoln branch office for Penquis, and a town office – if councilors approve the idea – in an executive session, said Stephen Mooers, Penquis director of housing services.

If all goes well, construction on the proposed 15,000-square-foot building at Main Street and West Broadway would begin in spring 2009 and finish a year later, Penquis officials have said.

As part of the building plan, Penquis will have a conference room space available for area nonprofits and social service clubs or organizations to use within the building, Mooers said.

If Penquis succeeds in building the complex, it will have rehabilitated the last of about eight properties devastated by arson fires in 2002. The fires destroyed eight of 32 Main Street businesses. No one was charged in the arson.

The council voted 6-0 during a special meeting in May to agree to move the town office from 63 Main St. if Penquis develops a lease that the town likes.

nsambides@bangordailynews.net

794-8215