Hallowell councilors plan to hold a public hearing Monday about a $2.36 million bond package that could receive council approval later this month.

After the hearing, the council expects to hold a final vote on the bond package as early as March 13, which is the date of a regular council meeting, City Manager Nate Rudy said. If it passes, the measure then would require a citywide vote.

This Feb. 21 aerial view shows the Stevens Commons complex in Hallowell, which would benefit from the passage of a bond issue to help pay for infrastructure improvements at the site. Staff file photo by Joe Phelan

A March 3 Kennebec Journal article stated that councilors would hold a final reading and vote on the bond package Monday after the public hearing, but Rudy said on Friday that final council approval is not on Monday’s agenda. Councilors originally were scheduled to hold both the hearing and the vote Feb. 13, but they postponed the proceedings because of a blizzard that hit the region that day. They also decided to hold the hearing on a separate day to allow more time for questions and comments from the public, Rudy said.

The proposed bond includes $600,000 for developer Matt Morrill’s Stevens Commons redevelopment, $585,000 for a Water Street reconstruction project, $535,000 for work on rural Hallowell roads, $300,000 for downtown parking improvements and $220,000 to begin restoring and preserving the city’s fire station tower.

The Monday hearing “is an opportunity for the public to give opinions about the bond question, ask clarifying questions … about how the money will be used,” Rudy said. “After the public hearing, the council will perhaps discuss questions brought forward in the hearing. … To my understanding, it’s not on the agenda to call a vote. The earliest they might do that is March 13.”

The council has a regular meeting scheduled for that date, at which point it might hold a final reading and vote on the bond package, Rudy said. If the measure passes at that point, Rudy said, he’ll work with the city clerks to schedule a citywide vote for late April, as the city charter requires for all bond issues over $250,000.

Morrill, of Grand View Log and Timber Frames in Winthrop, acquired the Stevens Commons property from the state last year for $215,000. Since submitting his master plan application, Morrill has asked the city for help fixing the roads and sidewalks on the campus, which he said would make the property more attractive to other developers and tenants.

Charles Eichacker — 621-5642

ceichacker@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @ceichacker

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