CARRABASSETT VALLEY – The board of selectmen met on Sept. 29 for some initial discussions regarding operations of the new library and to hold a special town meeting.

The Carrabassett Valley Library and Community Center is currently under construction and is on track to open by the beginning of next year.

“Construction has been the focus and will continue to be the focus,” Town Manager Dave Cota explained. With the library opening this season, the operations of the library need to be discussed, he said last Friday.

In a first order of business, members discussed a memorandum of understanding between the town and the library.

Cota described an agreement as a “hybrid arrangement” where the employees will potentially be paid by the town, but not become a department of the town. This is currently not the case. Currently the town provides funding to a non-profit organization through an Annual Town Meeting approved appropriation.

The agreement explains that there are advantages and savings by having the town process payroll like other town employees and is a common practice throughout the state. The arraignment calls for the library board to retain all other functions and responsibilities as a nonprofit corporation as it currently does.

An advantage, Cota explained, is that it creates more accountability, yet by keeping the nonprofit organization intact enables the library to be eligible for grants and foundation funding that municipalities may not eligible for.

The daily operations shall be controlled by an elected or appointed board, the agreement reads. The first reading of the memorandum of agreement calls for board members to be elected by the board itself or appointed by the board president.

The board acknowledged the agreement as the first order of business and discussions of an agreement will continue at future board meetings.

In other library discussions, members reviewed a proposed policy for use of the new community room. The town’s new library will contain a 900-square-foot room for community functions and a policy was derived so that it’s clear who makes the decisions of who can use it and for what purpose. That policy was discussed by the board.

A draft version of the policy states that Carrabassett Valley business can not use the room for commercial activity or gain, but can use it to present programs of civic or cultural interests. No fees can be charged to attendees and no selling, solicitation or order-taking may occur.

The room rental charge is proposed at $30 per hour and $20 if it includes the use of the kitchen.

“Carrabassett Valley-based non-profit organizations, the town departments, entities or functions may use the meeting space without charge when available,” the proposed policy reads. A kitchen fee may still apply and contributions toward maintenance are accepted.

The capacity of the community meeting room allows for 122 people to stand, 72 if seated and 46 with use of tables and chairs.

The policy lists a series of rules including damage policies, trash removal costs and other limits of what’s accepted and prohibited.

Cota said the board discussed many of these rules including discussion such as whether alcohol should ever be allowed.

“Failure to adhere to these rules may forfeit the group’s ability to use the meeting space in the future,” the proposed policy says.

That evening a Special Town Meeting occurred at 6 p.m. with around 20 residents in attendance. Voters unanimously approved a recommendation from the Golf Course Greens Committee to expend up to $45,000 from the golf course reserve fund for improvement after the season ends.

Voters accepted a bid of $38,950 plus travel costs from Irrigation Systems of Maine for a substantial drainage project on Hole #6.

Cota’s message to the voters is that the company owns its own equipment, is from Maine and has extensive experience and references for this kind of golf course rehab work.

Boyne and Sugarloaf officials have also agreed to move ahead with drainage improvements this fall, Cota said.

The reserve fund has been established by both the town and Sugarloaf with matching yearly contributions of $15,000. It is reported that the reserve fund balance is estimated at $260,000.

Moving ahead, the Greens Committee is recommending an aggressive capitol improvement plan for the course, Cota explained.

The next regularly scheduled selectmen’s meeting is Oct. 12 at 4:30 p.m.