Minot selectmen approved the barrier to protect the town office.
MINOT – Selectmen Monday night voted to purchase concrete curbing and install it along the northerly side of the town office as a way of protecting the building from errant drivers.
This action was prompted by an incident that happened almost two weeks ago. Selectman Eda Tripp was working in the assessors office when the brakes on a pickup truck failed as it was pulling into a parking space. The vehicle rolled into the wall 6 feet from where Tripp was sitting.
Both Tripp and the driver were shaken but sustained no lasting injury. Damage to the building was estimated at about $6,000.
Although Tripp said she would much prefer highway-style “Jersey barriers” the board opted for the less obtrusive concrete curbing.
In other matters, Road Manager Arlan Saunders told selectmen he was losing ground in his efforts to keep ahead of street sign thieves.
“I haven’t replaced all the missing ones and four were stolen last week – Bailey Road, Simion Road, Sunset Drive and Garfield Road. I have to order these as we are missing about a dozen at this time,” said Saunders.
Saunders noted that when everything is added up, labor, driving about and all, it costs the town about $100 to replace a sign.
Selectmen, who just two weeks ago gave Saunders the go-ahead to stockpile replacements for more commonly stolen signs, expressed great dismay, prompting Selectman George “Buster” Downing to ask whether offering a reward for information leading to the arrest of the thieves and perhaps the whereabouts of the stolen signs might be a good move.
The board decided that if Town Administrator Gregory Gill finds such action was legal, Minot will post a $100 reward for such information.
The board also agreed to hold a special workshop meeting with the Planning Board to review ordinances as they apply to the issuance of building permits on roads before they are accepted at annual town meeting. Selectmen took the action at the request of developers of the proposed Center Minot Heights subdivision.
In her report, Town Clerk Nikki Verrill noted that there are 14 dogs that require licensing. Selectmen voted to have Animal Control Officer Robert Larrabee prosecute the owners of unlicensed dogs.
Fire Chief Steve French told the board that the department had received word that it could participate in the Galen Cole Family Foundation program for getting a thermal imaging camera. French said that the foundation would be able to provide the town with an $8,000 camera provided the department come up with about a $2,000 match. He said the West Minot Fire Department already has an initial $750 set aside and would be raising funds to cover the rest.
Gill was authorized to contact an attorney to find out what the options are for dealing with Adelphia Cable.
The board also made its final appointments to the recreation committee. Named to the committee were: Candace Benwitz, Dean Campbell, Lisa Cesare, Belinda Dubois, Ray Gillian, Norman Moore, Lisa Novicki, Todd Olfene and Katie Paiton. The committee will develop a plan for the use of the 75-plus acres that the town recently acquired.
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