LIVERMORE – Selectmen faced the decision of whether or not to open Batten Road again Monday night.

Dennis Mancine and Bob Pulsifer, two long-time proponents for opening the controversial road, urged the board to follow through on its vote at the last meeting to force removal of the gates that have closed the road.

Landowners Ralph Walton and Ken Constantine had been informed in letters from attorney Lee Bragg that Monday was the deadline for removing the gates and large rocks.

However, nothing had been heard from them and the board agreed to take Bragg’s advice to give the men another week to comply since their attorney was out of town.

“We’ll give them a week and then go in,” said Selectperson John Wakefield.

Pulsifer and Mancine were upset that nothing was being done.

“We have to wait on them; it’s been a year,” Pulsifer said. “We’ve been bending over backwards for a year, under threats from those two landowners. Why haven’t you just gone and done it?” he asked. “It’s about time the town took a stand.”

Mancine agreed.

“Waiting a week to hear from them is too long. We need to deal with the fact that they’re going to stall. The letter was very clear, we need to send a message that we mean business.”

Selectperson Tom Berry worried about liability and warned the men they were heading for a legal fight.

In other action, citizens were reminded that taxes are due Nov. 17 and that dog licenses are available. Prices this year are $6 for a spayed/neutered animal and $10 for an unneutered one.

Approval was given for work on Butter Hill Road, where there is severe water damage, to purchase six tires for the one-ton truck, to purchase a radio for the new truck and a new product to be used to fill potholes in winter.

Sarah Delaney was on hand to discuss a turnaround on Turkey Lane and it was agreed to improve the one used by town snowplows so it also could be used by school buses.

Administrative Assistant Kurt Schaub said Sheila Weed submitted her resignation as general assistance director and that Faith Nichols will continue to do that job. She has been substituting for Weed.

The reassessment is going well, Schaub said, adding that all properties should be inspected by December. Preliminary values will be announced in the spring. The town picked up about $1 million in new personal property this year, he said.

Approval was given for the Cemetery Committee to use $900 for cemetery renovations plus $800 from cemetery interest to complete the funds needed to have two large pine trees removed from Hillman’s Cemetery on Maple Lane Road.

The committee raised the remainder of the $4,000 needed through a public supper and donations.

The town will have a 7.9 percent increase in its health insurance for employees next year, increasing the cost from $356.40 per month to$384.53.

Registrar of Voters Irma Bowles said that about 960 ballots were cast in the recent vote, setting a record. The prior record was the 2000 presidential election when 930 voters turned out.

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