TOPSHAM

Before the regularly scheduled 7 p.m. meeting of the Board of Selectmen, municipal officials will be taking a tour of the public safety building tonight.

The tour will begin at 5:45 p.m. in the lobby. Town Manager Cornell Knight said some of the selectmen noted at their last meeting that they had never been in the basement of the municipal building to see the media, storage and mechanical rooms, so selectmen took a quick tour. One of the selectmen also hadn’t seen the upstairs of the fire department, so today’s tour of the building that houses both the fire and police departments was scheduled.

During the regular board meeting which starts at 7 p.m., Fire Chief Brian Stockdale is scheduled to update selectmen on the overnight paramedic coverage the town began on July 1.

Angela Twitchell of the Head of Tide Park Committee and Pam LeDuc, Parks and Recreation director, are scheduled to update the board on the Head of Tide Park.

Police Chief Christopher Lewis plans to provide an online demonstration of the RAIDS Online crime map system. RAIDS Online is a free online service that went live for Topsham Police Department in August. It allows the public to view a map and grid with all the crimes in town, sign up for neighborhood watch reports that email a breakdown of recent crime activity, and submit an anonymous tip about a crime directly to the police department, according to a press release from BAIR Analytics Inc., which provides the service.

Near the end of the meeting, selectmen will consider signing a cable TV franchise agreement with Comcast. According to a description of the business item, the previous franchise agreement between the town and Comcast has been expired for many years.

The agreement before selectmen is a template agreement that has been reviewed by the town attorney, and is for a 10-year term. Knight notes the 5 percent franchise fee is the same and is payable to the town in two installments and is estimated at $100,000 within the current budget. Comcast will pay the town $20,000 under the terms of this agreement, to be used to purchase equipment for the town’s government channel. Jay Somers from Comcast is expected to attend the meeting to answer questions.

Selectmen will consider renewing for two years the lease with the MidCoast Maine Community Action Head Start Program for use of the historic Pejepscot School building. Under the proposed lease agreement, MMCA would pay $3,500 each year in base rent — $1,750 each in January and July — and will pay the cost of utilities and reimburse the town for plowing, janitorial services, alarm systems and general maintenance.

The board will also consider adopting financial policies that set guidelines for the levels of the town’s general fund, undesignated fund balance and debt level. It is recommended the policies be put in place before the town gets its rating from Standard & Poor’s.

Selectmen will consider appointing Joshua Spooner to the Planning Board.