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Wayne voters approve $167,625 from reserve to cover Ladd Rec Center court work; federal grant to reimburse most costs
Summary
At a town meeting, residents approved a warrant article to appropriate $167,625 from the undesignated reserve to cover outstanding invoices and interest for the Ladd Rec Center court project; the town expects most costs to be reimbursed under a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant.
Town of Wayne — At a town meeting on Jan. 21, residents voted to appropriate $167,625 from the town’s undesignated reserve fund to cover outstanding invoices and interest for the Ladd Rec Center court project, with most of that amount expected to be reimbursed under a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant.
The appropriation language on the warrant said $163,700 of the amount would be reimbursed under the LWCF project agreement dated 09/12/23, with the remainder used to cover interest payments “in an amount not to exceed $3,925.” During discussion, town officials and volunteers explained the appropriation is needed because the federal grant is a reimbursement program and the town must pay contractor invoices up front before seeking reimbursement.
A presenter for the project summarized the financing and progress: the original project estimate was $331,957; private donations of about $145,030 and an earlier town appropriation of $40,000 were raised, and the town has received partial reimbursement from the state/federal process. The presenter said the town received a partial federal payment of $71,540 the day of the meeting and that contractor invoices remain outstanding; the speaker said unpaid invoices spawned interest charges that the town now seeks to cover.
Concerns raised during discussion included who would be responsible for interest or penalty charges and whether the Ladd Rec Center organization could reimburse the town for interest. Board members present said the select board had not yet decided whether the center would be responsible for the penalty, and that the town’s legal/administrative process would determine that question.
After discussion the moderator called for a voice vote. The article passed by voice vote; the transcript records multiple "aye" responses but does not record a numerical tally for the appropriation vote.
The select board later placed a separate warrant motion on the meeting agenda to pay an outstanding invoice to Maine Tennis and Track Company in the amount shown on the board warrant. That payment was also approved by the select board during the later meeting.
Why it matters: The vote enables the town to pay contractor invoices so the contractor can seek federal reimbursement. Because the LWCF program reimburses the town after expenditure and inspection, the appropriation allows the project to move forward while the town awaits additional grant reimbursement.
What’s next: Town officials said they expect the remainder of the LWCF reimbursement to arrive after submission of invoices and inspection. The select board and project representatives said they will determine whether the Ladd Rec Center organization will reimburse the town for the interest or penalty amounts.
