EMBDEN — Voters at the annual Town Meeting Saturday will be asked to take nearly $80,000 in state reimbursement money to get rid of bats in the historic Embden Town House, build a new dam on Embden Pond and to install new windows in the town’s community center.
Residents also will be asked to change the elected positions of town clerk, town treasurer and tax collector to appointed ones, discuss contract bids for town fire protection and to keep the Community Center as a possible emergency shelter, as well as a facility for community events.
Also on the warrant is a proposal to change the name of Katie Crotch Road to just Katie Road so people will stop stealing the signs and save the town money in replacement costs.
In money matters Saturday, First Selectmen Charles Taylor said if all the articles are approved as written, the town’s budget for the coming year, not including spending for schools and the county tax, will be $603,750, up $33,200 or about 5 percent over last year’s budget.
Taylor said the $80,000 reimbursement from the state was for the town’s share in the construction of the sand and salt shed. The money is now in surplus and Taylor said voters will be asked to move the funds to a working capital account. He said the Town House is infested with bats and is hazardous to public health. He said the dam on Embden Pond is badly in need of repair.
On the issue of fire protection, Taylor said the town has contracted in the past with the Anson Fire Department, but their fees have increased from $38,000 annually to just under $45,000 — a jump of about 20 percent.
He said sealed bids, including one from Solon and another from New Portland or possibly a combined bid from those two departments, will be opened at 7 p.m. Monday during the regular selectmen’s meeting. Anson still is in the running for the services, he said.
“They’ve provided a lot of years of great service,” Taylor said of the Anson department. “There’s no problem with the fire department itself, it’s just the price.”
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
dharlow@centralmaine.com
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