FAYETTE — A frozen Federal Emergency Management Agency grant for a generator at Starling Hall has been restored, putting a key infrastructure project back on track. Meanwhile, Fayette’s Underwood Memorial Library is undergoing major improvements, drawing praise from town officials.

At the April 29 Select Board meeting, Town Manager Mark Robinson opened with praise for recent improvements at the library. “They have been improving, new well and bathroom, no more port-a-potty,” Robinson said. “We have finishing touches, septic system will be in soon. It is under construction, it is remarkable.” He added, “Heather Chalmers, the people at the library and the trustees have gone above and beyond.”

Friends of Starling Hall, a nonprofit dedicated to restoring the 1879 building, announced that the long-frozen FEMA grant for a backup generator had been officially reinstated following coordinated outreach to Maine’s congressional delegation. The update means the long-planned infrastructure project at the historic community hall can now move forward.

“The FEMA Grant for the generator at Starling Hall is no longer in jeopardy,” the group shared in a public statement. “Thank you for calling and writing your senators and representatives to get the grant money back.”

The grant supports the installation of a propane-powered generator at Starling Hall to provide emergency backup electricity, a critical need for ensuring the building remains functional year-round, particularly during winter storms and other outages. The installation must be completed by Sept. 30 to meet the terms of the FEMA grant.

The original plan called for a generator large enough to power heat and lighting on the ground floor, allowing basic emergency use of the building. However, the design did not include the electrical demands of an Americans with Disabilities Act [ADA] compliant elevator to the second floor, which has since become a priority for accessibility.

Engineers have now determined that a larger generator will be necessary to accommodate the elevator and other needs. The increased capacity comes at a higher cost than the existing grant will cover, and the town is now seeking donations to fund the difference and ensure the project can move forward as planned.

Donations can be made online at https://starlinghall.org/ donate.

In other business, Deborah Dubord of the Fayette All Age Friendly Committee spoke about the town’s Aging in Place survey, which was recently mailed to residents. “Please fill it out, it’s free,” she said, emphasizing that no local tax dollars were used to fund the project. The survey aims to help the town understand how to better support older adults who wish to remain in their homes and community as they age. Responses will guide future policy decisions and could strengthen applications for outside grants aimed at improving services like transportation, housing, and accessibility.

Robinson ended his report by thanking the library staff once again.

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