HARTFORD – Seventeen citizens met Wednesday night to help organize the Hartford Neighborhood Crime Watch Committee.

Constable Chuck Merritt led the group discussion and asked for volunteers from the group for chairman, co-chairman and recording secretary. Jaynene Gonyea was quick to say she would serve as chairman. Arthur Harvey volunteered to be co-chairman and Harry Haylock volunteered to be secretary.

With those details out of the way, Merritt reviewed the first meeting with Capt. James Miclon from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department.

He said the key was community involvement. There is a need to publicize the Crime Watch with signs and Selectman Lee Holman asked how the signs would be funded. Merritt asked Arlene Nason to search for available grants and others suggested having fund-raisers.

Merritt reviewed things for the community to be aware of. These included having residents call Merritt when they plan to be away, reporting anything that looks out-of-the-ordinary, keeping a record of possessions in a safe place, and keeping one’s eyes open.

In order to accomplish the neighborhood watch, Merritt produced a large map of Hartford, and people marked where they lived by a number and recorded their names. Merritt said that the distribution was widespread, and they they would have good coverage.

Judy Hamilton asked if people on the Canton side of the beach could be involved. Merritt said he had been trying to reach Canton officials to see if they would be interested.

A meeting participant asked when residents should call Merritt and when they should call 911. Merritt, who is a licensed police officer in Massachusetts, is taking a three-month course to become licensed in Maine. He can deal with lesser offenses, such as problems on the beach or ATV situations, but said residents should call 911 for major problems, such as a robbery or assault, he said.

Regine Smith asked why people purchased ATVs when they had no place to ride. Gonyea said there were lots of trails, and that responsible riders would use the trails. Merritt said most of the time residents can ask riders not to ride on their property, and riders comply. He also suggested that residents post their property.

At the next meeting Miclon will be joined by an assistant district attorney to answer legal questions.