Otisfield to improve access

OTISFIELD — Disabled citizens will find it easier to access the town office after the Board of Selectmen held its first meeting of the year on January 6.

A contract was awarded to Bartow Construction, of Otisfield, for what Selectman Lenny Adler described as "not so much a project, as a bunch of little projects."

Most of the little projects dealt with the same issue, improvements to devices already in use to bring the town into compliance with Disability Act requirements, in this case, enforced by the state's Bureau of Elections. The state will be picking up most of the $3,500 tab, said Selectman Rick Micklon.

Bartow will have to adjust the height of the safety rail around the access ramp on the front of the town office building, install a power-assist to the front door and a lever-type doorknob, at least to the meeting room where the voting booths are set up.

In addition, the whole ramp will have to be temporarily removed sometime in the spring, while improvements are made to the grounds that will involve laying asphalt. After the asphalt is down, the ramp-fixer will re-install the now-familiar, and code-compliant device.

Micklon explained that the remaining piece of the town hall basement mold abatement effort would be to extend the parking lot to the building's foundation and incline it so rainwater and snow melt are carried away from the structure.

"I took the liberty of talking to Pine Tree Paving, who do a lot of work around here, summers, and found out we could arrange something with them to get excess material after some nearby job," Micklon said.

The selectman, who in his day job is a developer/contractor, explained that the paving company sometimes has excess asphalt, up to half a truckload, after a larger road paving job and would be able, and willing, to do the small job at the town office for a price much more reasonable than if the chore was a special order.

Chairman Hal Ferguson and Adler agreed, adding that it was a good idea.

Adler pointed out that since the area to be paved was not used for parking or driving, it did not have to meet load-bearing requirements and could be much thinner than if used elsewhere. He recommended a "cold patch" type of asphalt, because it flexes with the ground beneath it. Micklon said he'd keep his colleagues posted.

At the same meeting, Micklon displayed a Thompson Lake Environmental Association (TLEA) commemorative tapestry. It was similar in construction and style, but more colorful than one made for the town, several years ago. The organization is giving them to $50 (or more) donors. Micklon said one had been given to the town for display in the office lobby.

"But, I thought, couldn't the office people accept the money for the organization and give the donor their tapestry," Micklon said.

"In light of the cooperative nature of the relationship we have with the association, I don't think there'd be anything wrong with that," Ferguson said, to which Adler agreed.