PARIS — Interim Town Manager Sawin Millett informed selectmen Monday night that the town’s goal to use the vacant Paris Utility District property as a recreational space is expected to be approved by the state. The news comes nearly a year after a proposal was submitted.

Millett met with PUD staff and representatives from the state Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 4 regarding the town’s request to use the building and land at 1 Paris Hill Road as a public boat launch and recreation area.

“They were extremely apologetic with delays that had occurred (and) gave us all a clear outline of what we need to move it forward,” he said. “They … said it is not only expected (to be approved) but it will be expedited.”

The request for a conservation easement for the 7-acre property next to the Little Androscoggin River was sent to the PUC in March 2015. The proposed easement would allow the town to utilize the property while the PUD retained ownership of it.

When town officials began eyeing the property as a possible recreation site in August 2014, they originally wanted the PUD to gift it back to the town, which owned it in the 1960s. But the proposal wasn’t viable because the PUD needs access to its wells on site and nearby pumping stations.

The delayed response from the PUC also forced town officials to hold off applying for a grant from the Maine Outdoor Heritage fund.

The goal is to transform the property into a public boat launch and possibly use the building and land as a recreation spot. This could include erecting picnic tables and barbecue pits, offering kayak and canoe rentals in the summer, a warming hut for ice skating during the winter and being home to the Paris Recreation Committee, as championed in the town’s strategic plan penned by Sandy Swett.

Finishing the deal is one of Millett’s goals as interim town manager. He told selectmen that Penny Lowe of the PUD is drafting a letter for the proposal, which will be reviewed and sent to ratepayers. The PUD board of directors also requested a joint workshop with selectmen.

“I think they would like to dot all the i’s and cross all the t’s,” Millet said, noting this would be a long-term agreement. “There is going to have to be some clarity on who’s responsible for maintenance.”

Millett said he would keep selectmen informed about a possible date for the joint workshop.

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