A question on the condition of the Shiloh Road Bridge was tabled until the next meeting.
By Connie Footman
Special to the Sun Journal

DURHAM – The town may own as many as 10 acres of land on Swamp Road, according to surveyor John Mann.

It has long been believed that the town owned some land in that area, but it wasn’t known how much. The next step is to have a survey done in the spring. The land showed when the first tax maps were made many years ago.

Selectmen decided to table until their next meeting a question by board member Daryl Pratt on behalf of a constituent concerning the condition of the Shiloh Road Bridge. Pratt said in view of the condition of the bridge, selectmen should close it. The bridge was closed for a time earlier this year while $8,500 in emergency temporary repairs were made.

Road Commissioner Clif Larrabee Sr. said the bridge had been inspected by an engineer who recommended that a 4-ton weight limit be imposed rather than closing the bridge. Larrabee told selectmen he was comfortable with the limit. He said he is in the process of obtaining replacement cost estimates, which he expects to have by Dec. 1.

In another road issue, Pratt pointed out that several roads need shoulders. Chairman Wesley Bennett noted that some work is being done on the shoulders. Larrabee said some of the $8,500 used for emergency repairs to the Shiloh Road Bridge would have been used for the shoulder work.

When selectmen authorized using the $8,500 from the road account they had expected that voters at a special town meeting in September would agree to transfer that amount from the fund balance to replenish the road account, but instead the request was voted down.

David Bushnell, representing the Tri-Town Penguins Snowmobile Club, submitted a request to the town for a donation of $1,000 for 2004, up $100 from last year.

It was voted to issue a letter of “no action” to Susan Fritts, Woodland Road, at her request. This was necessary when a recent survey found her garage was located 14-feet too close to the road right-of-way in violation of town ordinance. The letter was granted after a review by the codes enforcement officer and the chairman of the Board of Appeals, with the provision that Fritts pay a $100 fee. This is usually permitted when a violation is discovered that was not caused by the current owner

Acting in their capacity as assessors, members approved the abatement of $1,973.46 in 2003 property taxes for three property owners; and a total of $3,688.92 in 2002 supplemental tax bills for two other owners. They also approved sending a $476.16 2003 supplemental tax bill for property in Country Acres Mobile Home Park.

It was voted 4-1, with Terry Kirk opposed, that the town office be closed the day after Christmas, Friday, Dec. 26. Kirk said he thought the office should be open on Friday to serve people.

Marquis Signs of Lewiston has been hired to make a new sign for the town office to replace the badly deteriorated sign that has been in place since the office was opened in 1986.

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