Amended lease to aid Maine Highlands Senior Center kitchen grant application

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A lease agreement between the town of Dover-Foxcroft and the Maine Highlands Senior Center, on the first floor at The Commons at Central Hall, was amended to assist the organization in applying for a kitchen grant. The adjustment from 15 to 20 years as of March 1 was approved during a Jan. 27 selectmen’s meeting.

“The Maine Highlands Senior Center/The Commons is seeking grant funding for the kitchen downstairs and the Northeast Economic Program has funding,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said. He said the grant would be for $57,000 and “that’s partially a way to get kitchen equipment and build a kitchen.”

Clukey said one of the grant requirements is for a 20-year lease to be in place, five years more than the previous 15-year lease that began in 2017. He said in addition to the amended timeframe the revised document includes language to address the concern that the lessor and lessee acknowledge that early termination could trigger a requirement that grant funds be repaid.

“I think this language is helpful if there’s a change in the agreement or we terminate early,” Clukey said, as either party can get out of lease following written notice six months in advance.

In other business, both Marc Poulin and William Clark were appointed to the budget advisory committee at terms to expire June 30, 2022. The group will begin meeting soon to start its work on developing the finances for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

In his report Clukey mentioned several items. 

“I heard back from Mike Carroll from the (Municipal Review Committee) on when he could speak to us on Fiberright and what’s going on,” the town manager said. He said Carroll will discuss the new Hampden facility at the next select meeting on the evening of Monday, Feb. 10, answer questions from the public and provide information specific to Dover-Foxcroft on waste and recycling tonnage.

“Last week (Finance Director Dave Johnson) and I had the chance to meet with the library trustees and talk about how we could help them with their bookkeeping,” Clukey said. “We would handle just regular accounts payable and help streamline what they are doing.”

The plan would be for the town to take over accounts payable for the Thompson Free Library starting on July 1.

“I also wanted to mention the Center Theatre got a grant for bicentennial activities,” Clukey said. “Our primary activity with a bicentennial theme will be our parade,” he said, with the procession honoring Maine’s 200th birthday set for the annual Dover-Foxcroft Shiretown Homecoming celebration on Saturday, Aug. 1.

Representatives of the town, Center Theatre, Thompson Free Library, Dover-Foxcroft Historical Society and Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce will be planning bicentennial events around the region.

“One other thing I would like to mention is kudos to Lisa (Bell Ronco) who got her lifetime certification from the Maine Town and City Clerks Association,” Clukey said.

According to the Maine Town and City Clerks Association website (mtcca.org/certification), the lifetime certification is the highest of three levels. The lifetime certification is eligible to clerks who have been actively working in the profession for 10 years or longer.

In order to encourage professional development amongst all members of the clerk profession in Maine, the certification program is open to all municipal clerks, deputy municipal clerks and assistant municipal clerks.