By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer

Even though Kennebunk is near purchasing a vacant gas station downtown, don’t expect to see selectmen washing windshields.
Town Manager Barry Tibbetts signed the purchase agreement for the station Jan. 5. While selectmen approved the deal last week, the town still must gain public support, test the site for contaminates and secure an environmental cleanup grant before finalizing the sale.
Selectman Deborah Beal cast the sole opposing vote.
The agreement lists the price of the gas station at $310,000, nearly half the $600,000 asking price from one year ago when it was put on the market, Tibbetts said.  
“If we agree to this and we go down there [the gas station] and test it and we don’t get the grant, we can just turn around and walk away?” asked Selectman Al Searles.  Tibbetts said that was correct.
Public approval could be tested at the June Town Meeting, Tibbetts said.
The town will apply for a $20,000 Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield grant, which helps with cleanup and environmental testing of former industrial and commercial sites, which they can apply before owning the station. Testing of soil, groundwater and building material samples also will be conducted before any sale is closed. The EPA grant would pay for testing.
The conditions are expected to be met by August, Tibbetts said.
While no plan for future use of the site has been made public, Tibbetts said it could be used as a parking lot or space for the farmer’s market.
Selectmen also discussed how they would pay for the project. Tibbetts suggested taking money from the sales of Park Street and Cousens schools, using money from the Tax Increment Financing district or using an existing general obligation bond.
“We can look at opportunities that have no impact to taxpayers,” Tibbetts said.
The meeting was the first time the possible purchase was publicly discussed, although the deal has been discussed by selectmen in executive session. Real estate negotiations are among topics that may  be discussed outside public portions of meetings.
Kennebunk resident John Costin asked selectmen to reveal what was discussed during the executive session because Tibbetts signed the purchase-of-sales agreement prior to public discussion.
Selectman Tom Wellman told Costin the executive session did not need to be revealed to the public at the meeting. Chairman Wayne Berry said many committees and the public will have the chance to weigh in before the agreement becomes final.
Tibbetts said the agreement was not publicly discussed because he felt it would hurt the town’s chances of getting a good price.
Costin said he was considering filing a complaint against the town for violating executive sessions rules.
It would be the second such complaint he filed in recent months.
Costin filed a complaint in York County court in December when he maintained selectmen had used executive session to discuss a new position at the town. The complaint is still pending.
“This is one part of a total process, it gives the party some time frame as to what’s going to happen,” said Selectman David Spofford. “You can’t start a process without a beginning. This is definitely not the end. It might never happen.”
The public will have a chance to hear more discussion about the sale during the Feb. 23 selectmen’s meeting.  In the meantime, committees such as Downtown Committee and the Economic Development Committee will discuss the purchase before further action is taken, Tibbetts said.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.