LIVERMORE FALLS – The proposed amendment to the Building Lots Standards ordinance was torn apart by the Planning Board Wednesday night and tossed back to the selectmen, continuing its winding way to the voters at town meeting.

Selectmen had made two changes to the proposed amendment Monday night, as suggested by audience members who felt it clarified the brief amendment.

Planning Board members disagreed, however, and a letter is to be sent to Town Manager Alan Gove by the code officer, relaying their objections that what they originally approved had been changed.

The board was not even scheduled to discuss the amendment but were to hold a public hearing about whether the downtown planning grant was in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan. Since planners had given approval to the grant’s intent at the last meeting, they held no hearing and discussed the amendment instead, displaying anger and frustration at the changes.

Board resists plan

for group home

LIVERMORE FALLS – A possible use for the former Parkview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center met resistance from the Planning Board Wednesday night.

Planners first objected to discussing the matter that was not on its written agenda but then relented to hear the basics.

Armand Madore of Mexico, agent for Western Maine Assessment Inc., explained that he only wanted to discuss a pre-application for a group home.

Quoting from the town’s Site Plan Review Ordinance, he suggested his plan should be exempted from review as it was the same use (caring for human beings) as was its previous life as a nursing home.

Planner Elicia Pillsbury objected, saying that caring for troubled youngsters was different from caring for the elderly.

Madore countered that his attorney had indicated the application should be waived as it fell under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the only difference being age.

You cannot discriminate because of age, he said. “This is a therapeutic center, offering the same services,” Madore said.

Plant auction

a fund-raiser

LIVERMORE – A group of local “green thumbs” thins out their plants each year to benefit charity. At the same time, they share their bounty with each other and strengthenthe bond of friendship.

For the last four years, these women have dug up plants and perennials from their gardens to sell at a silent plant auction.

Prior to the auction, the group, which grows each year, chooses a charity to donate the proceeds to. This year, the women chose to give their money to the Livermore Fire Department to help buy a $12,500 thermal-imaging camera.

People bring in plants and their garden objects, such as potting soil, a package of seeds, even a garden decoration.

People wrote down on slips of paper what they were willing to bid on about 40 plants that were on the block. After two hours, the bids were read and the highest bidder took home the plants.

Bids range anywhere from 25 cents to $4 or $5.

Raise delayed;

payment halved

GREENWOOD – Selectmen said they were pleased with Road Commissioner Alan Seames’ work, but voted Thursday night against raising his pay.

They agreed he was underpaid for what he does and they said they realize he has to work odd hours during the winter, but they voted to hold off until next year.

Town Manager Carol Whitman noted that the money for a raise could have been taken from the road maintenance account, but selectmen didn’t want to overdraw the account because of a raise.

Selectmen also voted not to pay half of the $20,000 the town still owes Bancroft Contracting for work on the new sand and salt shed until all the work is completed.

The shed had floor-flooding and leaky-roof problems when first constructed. The contractor has agreed to make improvements and has finished installing a drainage system on the outside of the building.

Whitman said it is completely dry now. She also said the new roofing material was scheduled to be in by last Tuesday.

Selectmen felt it would be wise to wait until all the work is completed before paying the contractor.

Police participate

in seat-belt checks

PARIS – Paris Patrolman Ray Paar said the weekend crew would be cracking down on drivers who didn’t buckle up.

The current fine for not wearing a seat belt is $62.50.

Paris police are participating in a national program – Operation ABC Mobilization – occurring from May 19 to June 1.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said more than 12,000 law enforcement agencies are expected to participate in the mobilization effort sometime during that two-week period.

NHTSA Administrator Jeffrey Runge said currently 75 percent of drivers nationally use seat belts. His organization is shooting for 78 percent.

Paar said he has noticed seat belt use escalating locally over the past two years.

“It’s better, but still not as good as it could be,” Paar said.

High-schoolers

build classroom

LEWISTON – Three days after moving in, teacher Linda Adkins still marveled at her new portable classroom.

Its walk-in closet with built-in shelves give her storage space. The two white ceiling fans and large, blue-curtained windows bring in air. The room’s massive open space lets her kids spread out.

Said the sixth-grade teacher, “That’s my favorite thing.”

For the past eight months, students from Lewiston Regional Technical Center’s carpentry class spent their mornings constructing the 28- by 64-foot building behind Longley Elementary School.

It was the sixth portable built by LRTC students over the past 15 years.

With supervision from carpentry instructor James Conners, the high-schoolers did everything from framing to shingling – all while Adkins and her sixth-graders watched from their cramped, dark portable a few yards away.

The kids applauded each big step.

Chizmar prevails

in Lisbon recount

LISBON – An inspection Thursday of ballots cast for a seat on the Board of Selectmen in Saturday’s municipal election resulted in no change.

The inspection was requested by former Selectman Layne Curtis who lost the election to Paul Chizmar by one vote, 192-191. The inspection, which took less than an hour, was held at the town office.

After reviewing the ballots, Curtis said he was satisfied with the count, saw no irregularities and shook hands with Chizmar, who was then sworn into office by Town Clerk Twila Lycette. Curtis, who ran for both selectman and School Committee in the election, won the latter race with 226 votes, but had not taken the oath of office pending the outcome of the inspection.

Sidewalk signs

violate ordinance

LEWISTON – The patio table and sign in front of Joan Pelletier’s sandwich shop are more than sidewalk clutter.

The sign tells passersby about specials on the menu at Just Joan’s each day, and the table provides a comfortable place to sit on warm days.

“People look for my sign to see if I’m open or not,” Pelletier said. “If it’s out, that’s how they tell.”

So Pelletier was surprised last week when Code Enforcement Officer Kim Austin delivered a letter asking her to remove the sign because it violates a city ordinance.

“My table is safe, because it’s on my property, but moving the sign would be a pain for me,” she said. “It really is a part of my business.”

Gil Arsenault, Lewiston’s deputy development director, said Pelletier’s sign and similar ones along Lisbon Street can stay for another few weeks at least, while the city develops a new policy for sidewalk obstructions.

Arsenault has been letting people know about the ordinance and asking them to comply.

“By consensus, they haven’t been very pleased,” he said. “So we’re not going to enforce the ordinance as it stands, but we’ll come up with a new ordinance.”

Agreement reached

in two-year dispute

GRAY – A tentative agreement was reached earlier this week between representatives of the Gray-New Gloucester Educational Support Staff and the SAD 15 Board of Directors to resolve a contract dispute that spanned nearly two years.

The new agreement, if ratified by the parties, will extend through the end of the 2005-06 contract year.

The contract covers roughly 130 employees consisting of custodians, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, education technicians and secretaries.

The tentative agreement must be ratified by both parties to go into effect.