During a brief meeting, the council voted to accept the bid from Buildings Etcetera of $38,381 for the masonry wall repairs at the building.
Marie Carmichael, recreation program director for the town, told councilors last year that the damage had been caused by water leaks, maintenance problems over the years and lack of funding that was needed to make the repairs that could have prevented several problems long ago.
Originally, the work had been expected to be done in late fall.
Carmichael said last fall that the work still needed to get done, but the recreation department wanted to postpone it to May, when the gym is less busy and can be closed with less impact.
“That way we’ll be shut down, so it will be better for our programs and activities,” she said.
Carmichael said there are very few activities on the building’s schedule in May besides senior citizens groups or rentals, because most of the recreation activities take place outside.
The 63-year-old Gentle Memorial Building is a beacon for young people and adults in the community, who flock to its gymnasium, indoor game room and outdoor tennis and basketball courts.
The town also has acknowledged in the past that the building is in dire need of repairs, because of long-term use and maintenance problems.
Town Manager Butch Asselin said that Buildings Etcetera was the “only bidder” and that he was “glad it went to a Houlton business.”
In other business, the town also awarded two other bids to a Houlton business. The council accepted a bid of $30,737 from York’s of Houlton for a 2015 Ford 4×4 F150, which will go to the Houlton Police Department, and a $29,101 bid from York’s for a 2016 Ford 4×4 F250, which will go to the fire department. Asselin said the money to finance the purchase of the fire truck will come from designated Tax Increment Financing funding for public safety as part of the capital plan to replace the vehicle.
Police Chief Joe McKenna said the police department needs a truck because it will go places their other vehicles will not fit, and it also will have a hitch to haul trailers and other items, something that currently is not possible. He said it will be “more durable,” can be fitted with a cage such as a regular police vehicle and “would be put to long-term use.”
