A civic-minded Gould Academy student got an OK from selectmen Monday night to construct, stock and install first aid boxes at public canoe launches along the Androscoggin River.

Morgan Golden of Boston, president of Gould’s Bethel Venturing Crew 101 of the Boy Scouts of America, told the board he was completing a community service project to achieve the rank of Eagle.

“Residents or tourists hiking, canoeing, kayaking or fishing on the Androscoggin River between Shelburne, N.H., and Bethel will benefit from the project,” Golden said. “In the event of an injury, the first aid boxes will provide the necessary supplies to begin basic treatment.”

He said the towns of Shelburne and Gilead have already approved placement of two boxes at their locations. Golden also wanted to donate two first aid boxes to the town of Bethel, placing them at the public boat launches at Newt’s Landing and Davis Park.

Crew 101 will then maintain the boxes, which will be built between now and September, stocking them as recommended by Bethel Rescue. Materials to build the boxes and first aid supplies will be donated by Western Maine Supply and Lancet Capital Partners LLC, both of Bethel, and Home Depot.

Jeffrey Parsons of Bethel Outdoor Adventure is Crew 101’s adviser and unit leader.

After voicing concerns about vandalism, selectmen approved the project.

Newry: Developers

question tax bill

At Monday night’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Newry officials learned that two local developers were unhappy with their tax bill.

Selectman Chairman Stephen Wight said Bruce Lily and Mike Laliberte, owners of the 50-lot Powder Ridge subdivision, aired concerns about receiving a $15,000 tax bill.

“They were under the understanding that their lots wouldn’t be taxed as individual lots,” Wight said Tuesday afternoon. “But the board told them to pay their tax and file an abatement request to have us look into it.”

Selectmen also fielded a call from another taxpayer who wondered if mineral rights were taxable in Newry. Wight said that after looking into it, selectmen learned they’re not taxable because mineral rights are considered to be a part of the land, which is taxed.

In other business, the board also briefly discussed several competing tax options that are floating around the state.

“My concern is that when I read Gov. John Baldacci’s tax proposal, it says that the towns are all to be assessed on a per pupil basis. That could be a hot issue. In one option, Newry was considered a rich coastal town. If they go with the per pupil basis, Bethel would have to pay 10 times what they pay now,” Wight said.

The board also learned from Newry firefighter Randy Harrington that grants which the Fire Department applied for through the Maine Municipal Association and Maine Forest Service could help the department acquire required safety and wild-lands firefighting equipment.

Wight said Harrington also informed them that Newry still has a chance, along with several other Maine fire departments, to get a new firetruck from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant application.

“Maine will get $33.5 million and so far our grant is still in the running. They’ve only given out $5 million, Randy said,” Wight added.

Paving on the newly reconstructed, one-mile Sunday River Skiway Access Road is expected to start Monday, Aug. 25.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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