NEW GLOUCESTER – On Monday, New Gloucester Selectmen agreed by a 4-0 vote to give voters the final say to discontinue the Valley Farm Road, a request made by October Corp.

October Corp. attorney Paul Pietropaoli of Perkins, Thompson, Hinckley and Keddy of Portland said the town way and public easement runs roughly 1,340 feet northwesterly from Route 231 and includes a spur and is approximately 50 feet wide.

Abutting owners James and Mary Ellen Giffune and Steven and Cynthia Rideout agreed to the proposal with no damages paid.

An easement agreement to the property owners will be issued, if the discontinuation is approved by voters at the May 5 annual town meeting.

Upon discontinuation, each party acquires title to that portion of Valley Road that abuts their land to the centerline of the road based on state law.

October Corp. plans to install a gate with locked gated entrance at the Valley Farm Road and post the road as a Private Way. The private abutters will be given access through the gate to their property. October will be responsible for all expenses for maintaining, repairing and snowplowing the private way.

October Corp. requested discontinuation for safety of farm animals, equipment and control access to Pineland Farms and the central campus that underwent a $50 million renovation plan that is evolving.

Libra Foundation purchased roughly 200 acres of the former institution for people with mental retardation from the state in 2000, then acquired 617 acres of surrounding land from Maine’s Department of Conservation. Last year, Libra purchased the Wilson Farm of 800 acres and a prize winning dairy herd. Pineland Farms is currently developing a public educational outreach program and production farm. In addition, a cross country ski trail complex opened this winter at Pineland. An equine center is also part of the campus program offering.

October Corp., a private corporation that pays taxes, is the real estate arm of Libra Foundation.

In other business, selectmen agreed 4-0 not to ask voters to approve Brookside Drive as a public road, a request from developer William Chapman.

The board said the road engineering plan and road construction work is not yet complete and town officials have insufficient time to review the request.

Selectmen will meet on Thursday to sign the warrant for the annual town meeting that will be held at 7 p.m. at Memorial School on May 5.