March 13, 2007: Farmington Town Meeting in the Newspaper

The next morning after the town meeting, this article appeared in the paper. The reporter must've had to leave in order to turn in the story because the real news was the next to the last item on the warrant. But otherwise, this is pretty accurate what was discussed and what was important. It's nice to have names for those faces, in case I run into them again.

Voters approve dam repair funds
By BETTY JESPERSEN
Staff Writer Kennebec Journal & Morning Sentinel Tuesday, March 13, 2007

FARMINGTON -- Town meeting voters Monday night unanimously approved repairing an aging mill pond dam in West Farmington.

One resident suggested the park around the dam be renamed in memory of the late Selectman Mary Wright who fought for the dam's preservation for over 30 years.

A two-year seat on the Board of Selectmen to complete Wright's term was won by John Frary with 114 votes with Andrew Hufnagel garnering 54; Stanley Kuklinski, 71, Ryan Morgan, 27, and Robert Vallette, 78. For a one-year term, Jon Bubier won with 205 vote to Kyle Warren's 132. For the School Administrative District 9 School Board, incumbents Raymond Glass won with 257 votes, Yvette Robinson with 240 and Fred O. Smith, 117.

The $4 million municipal budget approved Monday will exceed the 2007 spending cap formula set under LD 1 by $154,813.

Last year, voters after a lengthy discussion slashed a $100,000 request for repairs to the deteriorating concrete and stone dam to $10,000. This year, the request for $22,000 was approved. The combined $32,000 will be used to brace the existing dam, said Town Manager Richard Davis.

Resident Tom Eastler, a geologist at the University of Maine at Farmington, was among those last year who opposed spending $100,000 for repairs. He said now he sees its potential in the future as a possible source of low-head hydro power the town can use for electricity.

"It won't make us any money but we would do it for the sustainability of the town of Farmington that we can supply basic needs of the town in times of not having any electricity," he said.

He said the town had enough "tinkerers" and students from Foster Technology Center and the University of Maine at Farmington who might devise a low-cost system.

from: http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/3709045.html