West Paris GA 'way up'

WEST PARIS —  The town has seen a significant increase in the number of General Assistance applicants, particularly over the last six weeks.

Town Manager John White reported the increase to selectmen during their meeting last Thursday. 

"People I've never seen before came in [to the town office] and said they don't have any oil," White told selectmen. 

Since last January, he said, upwards of 60 different households in town have applied for GA – a majority of those applicants have applied specifically for heating assistance. 

The remainder of those applicants have applied for financial assistance with rent, he added. 

According to White, residents also receive fuel assistance through Community Concepts, "but evidently no emergency fuel funds have been released by the Federal government."  

"Basically until this week or the end of last week," he said, "they [CCI] had not received their money ... from the government. For the time, the town is the only other option." 

The other reason for the increase in applicants, White presumes, is the poor economy. He said most individuals applying are unemployed or have had a medical condition that prevents them from working. 

"It's amazing," White said of the increase. He reported that more than $4,000 in GA has been granted within the last year.

"I've had a lot of calls."

In other news, the board: 

• Approved a liquor license application from John and Mary Lemmon for the Inn at Pinnacle Mountain, a bed and breakfast located at 27 Pinnacle Mountain Road. 

• Reported it has heard complaints about vehicles owned by Kalvin Mason being repeatedly parked in areas not permitted by his junkyard license. 

• Reported that the town office will close at 12 p.m. on December 24 and will be closed for Christmas. The office will also be closed at 11:30 a.m. on New Years Eve, December 31, and all day January 1.