The Damariscotta Board of Selectmen agreed to call a special town meeting to approve a Community Development Block Grant application for the Public Infrastructure Grant Program in the amount of $524,680, and to vote on whether or not to appropriate $65,540 in unappropriated surplus to pay for a sidewalk project on Elm Street. A little less than half of the town’s share would come from a special, earmarked fund for sidewalk improvement, known as the Richard Else Sidewalk Bequest.

The special town meeting is set for 5:45 p.m., Feb. 17 at town hall, 21 School Street.

Town Manager Matt Lutkus said that the amount of the town’s share had been voted on and approved the year before, but there had been no match available. This year, the funds are available. He pointed out that there is currently $1.43 million in the town’s accounts. “But we can, and should, use $65,540 of these funds for sidewalk improvement,” he said.

One citizen objected. Joyce Poloiniak of Damariscotta said that she did not like special town meetings for things like this appropriation. “On a winter night, for senior citizens, it’s very hard to get here,” she said. “We could let this wait until town meeting or an election where there are paper ballots and the polling place is open all day.”

Her objection was noted, but the selectmen agreed to the warrant for the special town meeting.

Also discussed at the meeting were upcoming public hearings for zoning-related town meeting warrant articles. The hearings will take place later this spring as the town meeting warrant shapes up.

Also, a town-wide litter clean-up effort is to be held in late April and organized by the Pemaquid Watershed Association’s Keep America Beautiful affiliation. PWA is the first Maine affiliate of Keep America Beautiful. It will be organizing volunteer efforts throughout town.

Prior to the town meeting, there will be an annual volunteer recognition celebration. Selectmen are considering the use of Skidompha Library for the recognition, with the town meeting still occurring at the Lincoln Theater. This year’s town meeting is scheduled for June 15, with elections on June 14.