WINSLOW — Town officials tonight will likely appoint a committee to oversee the police station construction project that was halted Aug. 3.

The project will be the subject of several discussions during a town council meeting beginning at 7 p.m. at the town office. The council will also discuss a proposed ordinance to limit the use of consumer fireworks in the town. 

 Council Chairman Gerald Saint Amand said he plans to appoint himself and Councilor Ken Fletcher, both at-large councilors, to the police station project committee. Town Manager Michael Heavener recommended in his monthly report that the council also appoint the police chief, public works director, chief executive officer and himself to the committee.

The goal of the committee is to work with the construction manager and code enforcement office to keep tabs on the project on a weekly basis, Saint Amand said.

“We’ll check in to see if all is well, things are going as planned or if there are any glitches,” he said.

Police station addition construction began in mid-July. A few weeks later, the code enforcement officer and the state issued stop-work orders because the construction manager hadn’t applied for permit from the fire marshal’s office. After reviewing the plans, the fire marshal required the town to include code upgrades to the project, which could cost as much as $200,000. The town, construction manager and fire marshal’s office are still working out the details — the final cost and re-start date are unknown.

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For that reason, Heavener has recommended the council table two votes on tonight’s agenda. Both items ask the council to authorize more spending on the project, but Heavener has asked the council to wait until the final cost is determined.

Saint Amand said he agrees with Heavener’s suggestion, and added the council will also withhold a public hearing on the project until the costs are final.

“It doesn’t do any good to rush,” he said.

Earlier in the night, Attorney William Lee will meet in executive session with the council to discuss legal issues relating to the construction, he said.

Lee wouldn’t offer more details on the subject because executive sessions are private and confidential, he said.


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