Hearings on pair of grant applications April 29

By Stuart Hedstrom 
Staff Writer

    MILO — Public hearings on two different grant applications concerning the town of Milo will take place on the evening of Tuesday, April 29 at the town hall, with one starting at 6:30 and the other at 7 p.m. 
    “New Beginnings did get approved to go forward with a full application,” Town Manager David Maynard said during an April 15 selectmen’s meeting.

    The first public hearing will be for New Beginnings Residential Care and Assisted Living, which through the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council is submitting an application to the state’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. The purpose of the request is to provide a grant of up to $60,000 for the construction of an addition and renovations to the 60 Park Street facility, which will then add three more beds and help hire two new full-time employees.
    The 7 p.m. public hearing will be on a CDBG grant application, being organized by Penquis, seeking $300,000 in housing rehabilitation funds. Monies awarded would then be used to improve the condition of homes within Milo.
    In other business, the selectmen approved wording for the town charter specifying that ordinances will go into effect 30 days after being approved. This provision is now listed under the general duties of the selectmen in the document.
    Town officials discussed having a town charter committee being put in place if the group is needed to reconvene. Town Clerk Betty Gormley said she would check with the members of the last charter committee that met, and report back at the next selectmen’s meeting.
    “We have the credit card machine up and running,” Town Treasurer Robin Larson said in her report. “Yesterday we had two customers use it and today we had one.” She explained the method of transaction was added for customer convenience, and so far there have been no complaints about the company’s surcharge. The rate is a minimum of $3 or a percentage of the transaction being processed.
    “For the end of March our budget is looking better than it was at the end of February,” Larson said. She said the costs for heating the town hall have decreased and should level out with the onset of spring. Larson also said the winter roads account should no longer be going over budget with the change in seasons as well.
    “The police department and public works are both keeping an eye on the low spots,” Maynard said as a rain storm was forecast for the region. He said he went out with town crews earlier in the day to look at potential trouble spots. “I think we are in good shape and I can tell you they are working hard on it,” Maynard said.