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Hollis board authorizes application for Maine Trails grant to build kids' pump track
Summary
Following extended public comment and a presentation of grant opportunities, the Hollis Select Board voted to allow staff and volunteers to apply for a Maine Trails Program grant to fund a kids' pump track and single-track mountain bike trail adjacent to the sports complex. The vote authorized application only, not town spending.
At the July 15 Hollis Select Board meeting, residents and volunteers urged the board to allow pursuit of a Maine Trails Program grant to build a children's pump track and a short single-track mountain-bike loop on land adjacent to the Debbie J. Tefft Hall Sports Complex.
Nancy Ponzetti, who presented research on the Maine Trails grants, said the program offers funding opportunities with awards up to $150,000 and typically requires a roughly 10% local match. She told the board the grant would not prevent the town from managing or harvesting the larger town forest and that the grant requires only that the trail remain usable for seven years after completion: "The grant itself does not restrict the town from managing or harvesting the forest at all... The town would still have control of the trails," Ponzetti said.
Multiple residents urged a revote after the board's July 1 ‘no’ outcome. Joe Ponzetti asked the board to permit Nancy to re-read the proposed warrant question and suggested the board could revisit the motion immediately. Phil Fenmorehaus and others outlined volunteer, in-kind materials and other ways to meet the match requirement and pointed to annual maintenance grants and nonprofit partnerships as sources of ongoing support.
Board member Mike Harnois moved to allow staff and volunteers to apply for the Maine Trails grant for the pump track and trails on the sports-complex-adjacent land. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote; the board approved permitting the application (the authorization covers only the application and not any appropriation of town funds). The meeting record shows the motion passed by voice vote; the transcript does not contain a roll-call tally.
During discussion, board members raised concerns about tying up town assets and long-term restrictions in grant language. Chair Roger Hicks reiterated the need for the finance committee to be involved if the project later requires town funds or an appropriation. The board also noted that if the application were accepted and a town appropriation later required, the board would follow normal procedures including involving the finance committee and, if necessary, the voters.
