LIVERMORE – It appears that the Batten Road situation may again go before voters. Selectpersons are planning to draft articles for a special town meeting in April.

On Monday they set a workshop for Feb. 27 to work on the articles that would include one on legal fees and another for capital road improvement funds, in addition to the Batten Road issue and the petition that has been filed to keep it closed and gated.

Selectpersons need town authorization to spend money from surplus for legal bills which, to date, have nearly drained the fund. They also would like start-up money for road work on Sanders Road. Advance funding would allow work to begin by May rather than after the July 1 start of the new fiscal year.

State Sen. Ken Blais, R-Litchfield, met with the board to discuss Batten Road and matters that will be facing the Legislature. Officials expressed concern about the proposed phase-out of the personal property tax, which would be a heavy blow to the town.

Treasurer Kurt Schaub noted that 92 percent of all property tax dollars collected in Livermore go toward education and county costs.

Highway Foreman Bert Bryant reported his department had been doing repair work on damage from December storms. Reports have been filed on the damage.

He also told about an on-going problem on Goding Road due to a beaver dam. The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife cannot remove beavers at this time of year.

After a brief executive session, the board voted to increase the hourly wages of highway department employee Don St. Laurent by 50 cents and to offer the 20-hour per week position to Lester Donahue at $10 per hour.

Code Enforcement Officer Richard Marble reported on several junkyard complaints he had received, three on Route 4, and another on Long Pond and Crash Road.

The board agreed to a June 1, 2004, deadline for clean up of certain properties, some of which are long-standing situations, before the town takes legal action.

Other items in his report were on clearing next to Long Pond, an addition too close to wetland on Norton Road, a mobile home too close to the road on Goding Road, and a lot divided in violation of ordinance. The board’s next meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 20.