Grant hopes are on hold

MEXICO -- This community's hopes for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant have been put on hold by the Office of Community Development.

Town Manager John Madigan told selectmen at their meeting on March 22 that the town's application is not able to move forward, in part due to a proposed 62 percent cut on CDBG funding. "Basically, we're on hold. It's a waiting period that could go on for some time."

The town was hoping to use the grant, combined with other funds, this spring for the installation of water and sewer lines on South Main and Alder streets, and water lines on a portion of Osgood Avenue. The utilities project is part of an overall $1.4 million upgrade for the three streets. Once the utility lines are installed, the streets will be reconstructed and paved.

The majority of people in the 62 residences on all three streets met the criteria for low and moderate income, a criteria for the grant monies.

Madigan said he will at least ask if there's anything the town can do to get monies for at least a portion of the project.

In other business, selectmen voted to dedicate the town's annual report Rich Plante, who served on many town committees before passing away last year.

Plante served on the Planning Board, was a volunteer with the local access channel, taking numerous selectmen's meetings, and also served on the Oxford County Bicentennial Committee.

The board also decided to emphasize the number of new businesses that have opened in town during the past few years by using photographs of them in the town report. Among those to be included are the mini-mall, the Verizon building on Main Street and Waugh's Electric on the Roxbury Road.

Selectmen approved the transfer of forfeiture assets for the police department. Police Chief Jim Theriault said the $733.60 is a result of the department's participation in a drug case. The acceptance of those is contingent upon the judge awarded those assets to the town.

Selectman Reggie Arsenault noted that Mexico has a mandatory recycling ordinance. Town Clerk Penny Duguay said there are still 100 orange recycling buckets still available. For new residents, the first orange bucket is free.