Staff Writer

Residents in Kennebunk will decide in June whether to buy the former Mobil gas station in downtown for $310,000.

Selectmen since January have debated whether to put the vote to the town in June or wait until November.

The 4-2 decision, opposed by Deb Beale and Jon Kotsonis, came April 13 after a presentation by Peter Sherr of Ransom Environmental and Chuck Morgan of Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission outlining findings from recent environmental testing on the gas station site.

The testing revealed some contamination at the site.

 “We’ve identified some target areas,” Sherr said. “The good news is most of it’s manageable.”

Morgan estimated it would cost about $100,000 to take out fuel tanks and remove contaminated soil, if necessary. Morgan said the commission has the money to cover the estimated cost and could tap additional funds from the state Department of Environmental Protection if costs exceed that amount.

The town would be required to match 20 percent of the grant in cash or in-kind, Morgan said. Town Manager Barry Tibbetts said in-kind services could include using town workers and equipment for a portion of the work.

Morgan said SMRP has $2.7 million in grants from the Department of Environmental Protection, and $400,000 has been set aside specifically for cleanup of petroleum on properties, although the Kennebunk project has not yet been approved for the cleanup funds.

However, Morgan said few municipalities had made petroleum cleanup proposals, so Kennebunk would likely face little competition, even if the town waited until November.

Testing at the site last week involved soil, water and vapor. Sherr said holes were drilled for tests around two underground gas tanks and the building, but two concrete slaps prohibited testing under the building. The slabs will remain in place without further testing unless the building is demolished. Further testing would be conducted at that time.

If the site is turned into a parking lot, Sherr said pavement would cap vapors. If a building is constructed on the site, a vapor barrier or a system similar to radon mitigation would be required to  push vapors from the structure.

The June vote, if successful, would be the last requirement of the purchase-and-sale agreement signed Jan. 5 by Kennebunk Town Manager Barry Tibbetts and the owner of the parcel.

Tibbetts signed the agreement with conditions that require selectmen approval, environmental testing and cleanup of the site and approval from taxpayers.

Tibbetts originally said all the requirements would be met before residents would vote on purchasing the site. However, Tibbetts in March told selectmen the grant being pursued for testing and cleanup first required town ownership of the property.

Some residents at the April 13 meeting expressed concern over purchasing the property without the costs being known.

“We can make it a draw for downtown, which is better than leaving it the way it is right now,” Selectmen Tom Wellman said of the possibility of turning the site into a pocket park or possibly selling it to a developer.

Beale, who in January voted against moving forward with the projec, thought the June vote was too soon.

“There are too many variables, it’s way too quick to put this on the ballot,” Beale said.

Kotsonis agreed.

“I don’t think it hurts us to wait to November,” Kotsonis said. “I’m in favor of purchasing but I don’t think the town is behind it.”

Sherr said the next step is for Ransom to complete a formal feasibility study and remedial action plan once funding is in place, after which the town will have a better understanding of costs associated with the cleanup of the property.

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