FARMINGTON — The hiring of a new town manager is proceeding in a positive direction with interviews planned for Wednesday evening, Aug. 30.
The search stalled recently after a finalist candidate withdrew for personal reasons.
Town Clerk Leah Giusti initially said four candidates were to be interviewed for the position.
The Select Board planned to interview three well qualified candidates Wednesday evening, Chairman Matthew Smith said later. He expected a second round of interviews would be needed this time because of the candidates’ qualifications.
Smith thought the new Town Manager would not be named before the next scheduled board meeting on Sept. 12.
Where to place a bench honoring Mary Wright in Walton’s Mill Park was debated at the Aug. 22 Farmington Select Board meeting. The bench, seen on July 27 had been placed near the new pavilion towards the back of the park but some wanted it closer to the front. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser
In other business, Maranda Nemeth with the Atlantic Salmon Federation gave an update on Walton’s Mill Park, which opened in August. The park will be dedicated at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29.
“We have successfully completed the park,” she said. “Essentially nearing the fulfillment of our agreement with the town.”
Culverts on Clover Mill and Cummings Hill roads were replaced, the dam removed and park improvements were part of a $1.2 million project voters in 2018 approved, 2,031 to 1,195. The Atlantic Salmon Federation with partner agencies funded the project because the dam was blocking salmon from traveling up Temple Stream to spawn, a violation of the U.S. Endangered Species Act.
After complaints were received about the location of Mary Wright’s bench in Walton’s Mill Park, one possible location is near the camera station, seen July 27, which documents changes in Temple Stream. Pam Harnden/Livermore Falls Advertiser
One item still to do is the transfer of $20,000 to the Town of Farmington for operation and maintenance of the park, Nemeth said. That will happen this fall, the money won’t be tracked afterwards, she noted. She said reports must be provided to various regulatory agencies and several grants need to be closed out.
Nemeth will also create a simple agreement for the town covering the project’s five year monitoring requirement.
A high level of attendance is expected at the dedication ceremony with representatives from various project funders and town officials participating.
The public is invited but should be aware there are only 16 parking spaces so parking on the street may be needed, Nemeth said.
Selectman Joshua Bell asked if it would be easy for the town to maintain trails in the woods and fields.
One of the grants used for the project stipulates a portion of the property be committed to conservation, Nemeth said. “We did have to record an official conservation description to the deed of the property,” she noted. “Anything in the woods and beyond down to the stream is in conservation. I highly recommend you review the conservation easement before doing anything.”
Several calls have been received, it is unacceptable for Mary Wright’s bench to be in the back of the park, Smith said.
“The intent was never to be disrespectful,” Matthew Foster, director of Parks and Recreation noted. “The intent was to have it put in a quiet place still overlooking the falls.”
Foster said it couldn’t be put where one taxpayer was asking. One possible place for it is near the station that allows visitors to document stream changes over time using photos, he noted.
“I don’t know this wonderful woman you speak of and wish you would share a little bit of her,” resident Judith Murphy said.
“She sat here for a very long time and a lot of the reason Farmington is the way it is now is because of Mary Wright,” Smith said.
Wright helped, was involved with the grant that created Walton’s Mill Park, Foster thought.
“It wouldn’t surprise me,” Smith noted. “She was a phenomenal woman. I caught the tail end of her career as I was coming up through. When I think of people in this town who really cared for this town, she is one of the people I think of. Her handprint is all over this place.”
Selectman Dennis O’Neil said he was impressed with what was done at the park and how it turned out.
The park has had quite a bit of visitors, Bell noted. “It seems like there is always somebody there,” he said. “For the most part it seems like people are respecting and enjoying it. More people are out of their vehicles, using the pavilion or walking down to the water.”
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