Central Hall project continues

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — For the last three years, work has been ongoing to renovate Central Hall on East Main Street. The project is comprised of converting the late 19th century building into a senior and multigenerational community center and adult day services facility on the first floor, with the second floor becoming an event center. During a selectmen’s meeting on Jan. 26 Chris Maas of the Maine Highlands Senior Center provided town officials with an update on the latest developments at Central Hall.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

    CENTRAL HALL — The Central Hall project continues, with the building on East Main Street in Dover-Foxcroft to become a senior and adult day services center with an event center on the upper floor.

    “Essentially there are three moving parts to this project, the event center, the senior center and the adult day services center,” Maas said. “All of these pieces work together to make this a viable project.”
    Maas estimated the cost to get all of the components up and running to be $1.7 million, with about $1.2 to $1.4 million raised so far and another $600,000 worth of grants currently being worked on.
    “I think we should stop and applaud, that’s wonderful,” Select Vice Chair Cindy Freeman Cyr said.
    “We have the support of so many different entities in the community,” Maas said. He explained efforts were made to seek out grants and not raise funds locally that could conflict with the efforts of area organizations. “We see this project as very complementary and not replacing something else,” Maas said.
    Town officials were informed that a great deal of construction has gone on so far, such as a new roof, an addition on the western side for exits and restrooms, electrical work and the replacement of nearly all the windows. Maas said plans for the current year include installing insulation and drywall “and getting the utilities back in to get the upstairs in shape for at least some activities.”
    “We have a very solid group of people working on this board,” he said about the Maine Highlands Senior Center directors. Maas also said, “We do our best to get advertising and bids,” with about 70 percent of the work going to local contractors.
    “Essentially you can think of this project as a cooperative effort,” he said, between the Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society — which currently owns Central Hall, the town, the Maine Highlands Senior Center and the Charlotte White Center, which will run some of the programs in the years to come.
    In other business, Town Manager Jack Clukey touched upon several items in his report to the selectmen.
    “One thing we have all become aware of the last few weeks is the planned closure of the Living Word Community Food Cupboard,” Clukey said saying this organization has been around in some form for about 20 years. “The end of operations is planned for the end of March.”
    Interest does exist among several organizations to keep the work of the food cupboard going, and Clukey said Pastor Chad Poland of the Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church has stepped up to consider how a collaboration of local churches and other organizations could be formed to continue serving those in need.
    Sangerville has hired former Piscataquis County Economic Development Council Community Development Director Dr. Ken Woodbury Jr. as its town manager. Clukey thanked Dr. Woodbury for all he has done and said he will be missed.
    “We appreciate his willingness to stick with us and help us through the transition,” Clukey said, as Dr. Woodbury will assist with open grants he has been involved with.
    The town manager’s report included information on a pair of recreating offerings. On Saturdays is a Learn to Skate program at the fairgrounds rink from noon to 1 p.m. for children of all ages. The program is always looking for hockey and figure skates, which can be dropped off at the town office or the Piscataquis Regional YMCA.
    Adults can take part in coed volleyball Sundays from 4-6 p.m. in the municipal gym. The games are free to take part in.
    Clukey was asked about several construction projects in Dover-Foxcroft. He said work on the former bowling alley site could be completed by the end of the 2015 construction season to build two dozen senior housing units.
    He also said that the Dunkin’ Donuts on West Main Street is awaiting paving work before opening, and just down the street Family Dollar is looking to move to a parcel between McDonald’s and the former Brothers Chevrolet. The planning board is scheduled to look at this proposed project, which would create a bigger store, during its meeting on the evening of Thursday, Feb. 5.
    During the public comments at the start of the meeting, a question was asked if property taxes would increase this year. “We don’t know the answer to that,” Clukey said. He said proposals recently made by Gov. Paul LePage, “At least what has been presented will have a lot of impact here.”
    Select Chair Elwood Edgerly said the school budget and other proposed variables are still unknown at the present time.
    Freeman Cyr encouraged those in attendance and others to look at what the Governor has proposed, including sharp cuts to the state’s revenue-sharing programs.