FARMINGDALE — Voters at a special town meeting slated for Saturday will be asked to approve four ordinances, a land deal, and grant Kennebec Valley Gas Co. a tax break for a proposed natural gas line that will run through town.

The meeting begins at 1 p.m. and will be held in the Little Theater at Hall-Dale High School.

Selectmen recommend passing every article on the special meeting’s warrant.

Portland-based Kennebec Valley Gas Co. is proposing a natural gas line from Richmond to Madison and is requesting tax increment financing deals from the 12 affected communities, including Farmingdale. To help finance the project, communities are being asked return 80 percent of property taxes to the company the first 10 years and 60 percent the next five years.

Board of Selectmen Chairman David Sirois said the ordinances are all important, but he particularly wants to see residents approve the tax break for Kennebec Valley Gas Co.

“I think it will be beneficial for residents in the near future and 15 to 20 years down the road,” Sirois said.

Richard Silkman, one of three principals of the gas company, told residents at a public hearing last month that the company would not be able to build the gas line without the tax deals.

The estimated total investment for the project is between $80 million and $85 million. The deal still hinges on signing up three potential big commercial users: Huhtamaki in Waterville, Sappi Paper in Skowhegan and Madison Paper.

Kennebec Valley Gas Co. representatives said they need the tax deals in place before securing contracts from the commercial users.

The four proposed ordinances residents will also vote on are the use of consumer fireworks, utility accommodation, changeable signs and clarification of the road opening permit.

* A new state law that goes into effect Jan. 1 allows the sale and use of certain types of fireworks. Farmingdale officials propose put restrictions on the use of fireworks in town.

The ordinance states that no one under age 21 can ignite fireworks; fireworks can not be ignited within 50 feet of any structure, overhead utilities, or woodlands; and fireworks can be discharged only between the hours of 5 and 10 p.m. — except on July 4, Dec. 31, and the weekends immediately before and after July 4 and Dec. 31, when the time limit is extended to 2:30 a.m.

The ordinance also states that the use of fireworks is only permissible on days the fire danger is low and users are required to have a means to extinguish a fire readily accessible. It also calls for penalties for those who violate it.

* The utility accommodation ordinance would give officials the authority to say how the proposed natural gas pipeline and other underground utilities would run through town roads, and ensure that utility work is in accordance with generally accepted construction standards.

* The changeable sign ordinance would regulate the flashing electronic signs by imposing more lenient standards than state law on how frequently the signs may flash and in what way. The ordinance calls for allowing the signs to flash every four seconds and allowing all of the surface area of a changeable sign to be used, while imposing standards on its height and proximity to the road and other signs.

* The opening permit ordinance for a street excavation requires a company to pay for services from an engineer for inspection purposes, if needed, and pay fees before a permit is issued for work done to town roads such as culvert installation, pavement repair and curb replacement.

* Voters also will be asked to approve the purchase of a Maine Avenue residence with donated money. Town officials propose to demolish the house and, combined with a town-owned lot, create a 30-space parking lot for the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

If voters approve and the sale goes through, the town would own the property and give the Friends of the Kennebec River Rail Trail and the Board of Supervisors a conservation easement so they can build a storage shed, set up a picnic table and install a portable toilet at the site.

Lastly, voters will be asked to accept the Pine Street Heights subdivision as part of Pine Street, and to pay for snowplowing and sanding on the street.

SPECIAL TOWN MEETING

Voters in Farmingdale will be asked on Saturday to approve four ordinances and grant Kennebec Gas Co. a tax break for a proposed natural gas line that will run through town. The meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Little Theater at Hall-Dale High School.

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