TOPSHAM — The Board of Selectmen will consider how to proceed with a number of different ongoing and upcoming projects during a meeting scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. today in the municipal building, 100 Main St.

Selectmen will hear a request from the Greater Topsham Trail Alliance regarding development of a mountain biking course on townowned property along Townsend Way, where the solid waste facility and recycling center are located. According to a letter to selectmen from Gary Fogg, Conservation Commission chairman, the commission supports the request by the Greater Topsham Trail Alliance and Topsham Trail Riders Association ( TTRA) to build the mountain bike trail.

According to Fogg, the recycling center and solid waste facility property is an area “that offers an opportunity to improve outdoor access for Topsham residents,” as it is near neighborhoods in and around Bay Park. Most of the property is wooded, and is already used for recreation purposes such as hiking, cross country skiing, hunting and, in the past, fishing derbies — as well as a TTRA route. It also is used for timber harvesting and wildlife habitat. According to the town’s online assessing database, this parcel covers 184 acres.

Selectmen also are scheduled to consider forming an ad hoc citizens committee to consider and develop design alternatives for a Lower Village waterfront park in the area of the Green Street triangle. The committee would be expected to make recommendations to selectmen regarding the expenditure of funds allocated to this project, as well as hiring a consultant to assist the committee.

Selectmen also will consider accepting a $40,000 Coastal Competitive Grant from the Maine State Planning Office to continue the planning and design for developing waterfront access in the Green Street area. The scope of the grant, according to a memo from Town Planner Rich Roedner, would include a citizen lead committee; a public design effort to create various schematics for a park development based on different parcels of land being included in the project; legal work; negotiation support; and final design and permitting.

Other agenda items include:

— John Shattuck, the town’s economic and community development director, will update selectmen on his department and Topsham Development Inc.

— Selectmen will consider granting the town’s planning office approval to work on a watershed plan to address the Topsham Fair Mall Urban Impaired Stream. According to a memo from Rod Melanson, the town’s natural resource planner, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection has offered assistance to develop a basic watershed plan for the stream.

There is no cost for the town to develop this watershed plan, according to Melanson. The planning office seeks approval to assist the DEP in the planning effort.

— Selectmen will consider authorizing town employees to seek state and federal permission to construct the Androscoggin Riverwalk Trail, which will run from the Swinging Bridge, down Summer Street and cross over the Androscoggin River into Brunswick.

The Androscoggin Riverwalk Committee secured funding for the local match portion of the grant to pay for the project. Construction estimates came in higher than expected and more than the total grant will cover. Though a public bid project is preferred over a public works project by Maine Department of Transportation, one option is for the town to see about having its public works crews do the work.

— Selectmen will consider selling old fuel tanks and pumps formerly used at the town’s highway garage. The town received an offer of $1,000.

— Selectmen will consider appointing Chris Dwinal to the Conservation Commission.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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