Buckfield seeks public input on municipal landscaping project

BUCKFIELD — Town fathers have decided that the time is right to beautify their municipal grounds.  The goal, they say, is to create village grounds, with a common area, that the townsfolk can be proud of.  With this in mind, they are seeking public input on the project.

An informational meeting will be held Tuesday, April 28, in the meeting room of the Buckfield Town Office.  This meeting will start at approximately 7:15 p.m. following the conclusion of the selectmen’s regular bi-weekly meeting.

The project has its roots in a beautification plan created in February 1997 for local resident, now planning board chairman, Wes Ackley. Having contracted with an architect to create the plans, Ackley then donated the completed work to the town.

Several plans were submitted, and the one currently under primary consideration by the Selectmen includes several modifications to the current grounds.  The main component will be to expand parking by modifying the current lot and adding a new lot on the western side of the municipal building.  More than 80 spaces are planned, helping to ease parking congestion within the town.

Several residents have complained to selectmen recently that cars are parking all along Route 117, beside the road and onto the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to walk in the street.  Mike Miclon, owner of the Oddfellow Theatre, in the heart of the village, has also voiced concerns over parking issues, stating that his business can bring in the town, on average, over 75 vehicles per show.

This new lot will also provide better access to the municipal building’s only handicapped entrance, located behind the building. Currently, there is no clear or easily accessible path to this entrance.

The vehicle entrance and exit to the grounds will be moved further away from the fire station, allowing better egress for emergency vehicles.

A path is to be constructed down to the recreational field behind the municipal building that will allow improved access for such rescue vehicles as may have a need to get down to that area.

The planned commons area includes designs for a gazebo, as well as a tree-lined perimeter.  Additional landscaping will be completed around the municipal building.  It is hoped that volunteer labor can be procured for the general landscaping and gazebo portions of the project in order to keep

costs down.

Beginning in 1997, the town has annually deposited $7500 in a fiduciary account towards the project.  Although money has been annually set aside, there is now a question as to whether any of Ackley’s plans were ever actually approved by the town.  Any finalized plans will need to be approved at the annual town meeting in June.

Town Manager Cynthia M. Dunn recounts how, when the town began setting funds aside, it was assumed that $50,000 would be needed to complete the project.  To date, the town has saved over $45,000 with accrued interest bringing the total funding now available to slightly over $52,000.

Selectman Oscar Gammon states that the town hopes to save money on the project by acting as the general contractor, much as it did on the recent Highway Department building recently completed by the town.

However, current estimates peg the landscaping project at roughly $159,000.  This includes an estimate by Commercial Paving Inc. of $51,500 for paving, curbing, and striping.  Moelco Electrical of Jay has estimated lighting for the area at $25,000.  Gammon and fellow selectman Lawrence “Skip” Stanley have worked up an estimate of $83,000 for excavation and drainage, including the relocation of hydrants in the current parking lot.

According to selectmen, it may be better to borrow the remaining funds needed now rather than continue setting aside funds.  It was noted at a recent workshop on the subject that construction costs are rising faster than the town’s savings, such that the town may never be able to save enough to  begin the project, given the current annual allotment of $7500. It was deemed more cost effective to pay off a loan obtained now, for current costs, rather than to continue saving towards future costs.

Dunn states that selectmen will take input from local residents at this meeting and finalize their plans.

“The plan is definitely open for adjustment,” she said, “it’s not all a done deal by any means.”

Assuming that feedback at the informational meeting is positive enough, there will be a warrant to approve the plan itself, and to borrow such funds to complete the project as voters may deem necessary.