GREENWOOD – Selectman Ivan Roberts said increases in population and crime warrant the addition of another deputy to the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office staff.

He wasn’t happy that the county budget committee cut the funding to provide another deputy to the nine-person staff.

“The big towns with police departments ganged up on the rest of us,” Roberts said speaking of small towns.

The nine-member committee, comprised of selectmen from Oxford County, approved a motion to cut the position by a 4-3 vote on Nov. 17. Selectmen from Norway, Mexico, Rumford and Oxford voted against providing the funds.

Selectmen from Porter, Denmark and Greenwood voted for it. Abstaining was Bruce Bean of Magalloway Plantation.

“The big towns were in charge for sure,” said Selectman Fred Henderson, who was on the budget committee. “The small towns weren’t paying attention.”

In other items, selectmen read a request from David Duguay concerning two lots the town acquired near Howe Hill Road, close to Mt. Abram Family Ski Resort.

Town Manager Carol Whitman explained that the two lots were inadvertently omitted from 23 other lots that were auctioned as part of the Mount Abram property foreclosure.

Duguay purchased the 23 lots, which are undeveloped. He offered the town $4,000 for each lot, the same price he paid for the others.

Selectmen were unsure how to proceed, since the lots were valued at about $10,000 for an acre lot. One lot is an acre, the other smaller.

Selectmen instructed Whitman to arrange for Duguay to speak with them at a future meeting.

“The town is not out to make money on the property,” Whitman said. “But to get it back on the tax roll.”

Selectmen also learned that a summons was issued to Doug Grover concerning his refusal to comply with town wishes to conform to state junkyard regulations.

jsmedley@sunjournal.com

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