The Board of Selectmen agreed Tuesday night to provide only gravel for a road leading to a development.

Developer Brian Merrill is proposing a nine-lot subdivision on a 70-acre parcel on Hines Road, a dead-end road off Highview Drive and Route 26.

A legal opinion whittled down an original proposal, which called for 14 lots.

Hines Road is a narrow, unimproved gravel road that Town Manager Richard Chick called “one step above mud.” The developer had sought town assistance to improve the road.

Chick said the selectmen would not support any additional improvements. “Otherwise, we are not going to be able to support it. We don’t want to be in a position where we are going to be charging the taxpayers at large the incremental costs of development,” he said.

– John Plestina
Poland:

Town will name interim fire chief

Town Manager Richard Chick said an acting fire chief would be appointed when Fire Chief W. Ballard Nash retires this summer.

Chick said a recruitment process would begin after Nash retires to find a chief for the newly created Fire and Rescue Department. Combining departments was approved at the annual town meeting on April 26.

Melody Stevens serves as chief of the Rescue Department.

– John Plestina
Sabattus:

Transfer Station manager honored

The Maine Resource Recovery Association has named Sabattus Transfer Station and Recycling Manager Jerry Sabins its Manager of the Year for 2003.

The audience erupted in applause after Sabins informed selectmen of the news.

And the Comprehensive Plan Upgrade Committee is looking for volunteers. The upgrade will set the direction of the town for the next 10 years, said Code Enforcement Officer Richard Behr.

It will include, among other things, updating town maps for roads and aquifers, he said. The old plan is more than 10 years old. “Now we have to set new goals,” Behr said.

– Seth Golden
Lewiston-Auburn: Cities consolidate polling places

Both Lewiston and Auburn will have one polling place apiece for the special referendum next month.

Voters across Maine are being asked to approve a bond $60 million bond package to stimulate economic growth.

Voters in Auburn should plan on voting in the Auburn City Building from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 10.

In Lewiston, all voters should go to the Multi-Purpose Center to place their ballots.

In most elections, Lewiston has 12 different polling places throughout the city’s seven wards, and Auburn voters have five.

The state Legislature passed a measure last week allowing the cities to consolidate their polling places to cut down on election costs.

– Scott Taylor

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