After extensive discussion at a meeting Tuesday night, selectmen adopted revisions to the existing personnel policy, with the exception of the smoking policy.

Selectman Scott D’Amboise favored banning all smoking in or near the town office. He suggested a ban within 25 feet of the building, but Town Manager Curtis Lunt said it would be a hardship for employees to stand outside far away from the building during bad weather. He added that smokers coming to the office for public business often have a cigarette in hand and do not put it out until they reach the door.

Selectmen were unable to agree on a designated smoking area, so they decided to approve the remaining revisions in the personnel policy and make a decision on the smoking policy at a later date.

In other business, Selectmen E. Charles Smith and Mike Bowie were re-elected chairman and vice chairman, respectively, for the coming year.

– Connie Footman
Sabattus:

School budget

wins approval

Some residents battled bleary eyes late last Friday night and stayed for the whole Sabattus town meeting.

By meeting’s end, voters had approved a $4.27-million school operating budget – a 2.42-percent increase from the current budget of $4.17 million.

A 10-percent increase in health insurance costs, a 40.7-percent increase in property and casualty insurance and, among other things, a 22.9-percent increase in oil costs fueled the jump.

Property and casualty insurance has shot up because insurers now consider schools potential terrorist targets in the wake of the terror attacks, Superintendent Paul Malinski said at budget meetings held earlier in the spring.

The school budget went unscathed at town meeting. “I’m pleased, because I think that was the smart thing to do,” Malinski said Wednesday. Town meeting lasted until approximately 10:10 p.m., he said.

– Seth Golden
Poland:

No position taken on proposal

The Board of Selectmen voted Tuesday night to take no position on the state proposal for public boat access on Thompson Lake.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife proposes to build a public boat ramp on a 25-acre state-owned site at Abrams Point and Potash Cove. Many Thompson Lake residents oppose the proposal.

A public meeting last week was marred by frequent interruptions from lakeshore homeowners opposing access and others saying the public should be able to use the lake.

The selectmen also took an affirmative vote that Inland Fisheries should seek approval from the Poland Planning Board. Both municipal officials and opponents of the proposal have accused the state agency of attempting to circumvent the town’s land-use ordinance.

– John Plestina
Lisbon:

No objection

to loan request

Selectmen this week had no objection to a request from Water Commission Chairman Bill Bauer for a loan for $193,000 for some costs not included in a bond approved at town meeting.

Bauer said the loan from the town would tide over the Water Department until the next town meeting.

Finance Director Rodney Moody said the town is earning 2.47 percent interest on its investments. It was suggested that the town would consider a loan to the Water Department at 1 percent over that rate.

Bauer presented a preliminary plan to construct a new 32- by 42-foot building on Water Department property on Ann Street to be used for a superintendent’s office, storage space and a meeting room.

As a part of the plan, the Water Department would like to close the upper portion of Ann Street on Route 196. Police Chief David Brooks was concerned that closing the street would hamper police. Bauer replied that if the street stays open, “We can live with it.”

Before any plans are finalized, Bauer told Selectmen, “We need to know what’s in the best interest of the townspeople.”

It likely would have to be approved at a town meeting.

– Connie Footman