SUMNER – Selectmen cited an apparent contradiction in the bylaws of the Arrabine J. Dunn Relief Fund as their reason for not approving a draft of the document Tuesday.

The bylaws, along with a mission statement and history of the fund drafted by resident Edwin Hinshaw, were discussed by selectmen at their Nov. 9 meeting. Selectmen Mark Silber and Thomas Standard took no action on the document at the time. Selectman Clifford McNeil was not present at the meeting.

Resident Ralph Dunn, who established the fund in 1996, attended the Nov. 23 meeting to ask why no action has been taken in the eight years since his initial contribution. He suggested that the town consult a lawyer to clear up any problems in the proposed bylaws. Asked by McNeil if he would be willing to take this step himself instead of asking the town to do it, though, Dunn said he wasn’t.

Two of the proposed bylaws trouble selectmen. One states that the original contributions to the fund “will be held in perpetuity with only the interest used for grants.” The other states, “should the fund cease to be needed, it will revert to the specified donors as directed by the trustees.”

Selectmen feel that holding funds in perpetuity and allowing for them to be returned to donors are contradictory. “We will try to reconcile the contradictory things,” said Silber. McNeil assured Dunn that work on the trust would be completed soon.

The mission of the fund, as written by Hinshaw, is to “provide relief to Sumner residents who suffer loss due to fire and/or other disaster.”

In other business, Standard asked that the board consider placing stop signs on the Valley Road where it intersects Fields Hill and Labrador Pond Road. He had first proposed the signs at the board’s Nov. 9 meeting, but no action was taken at that time because McNeil and Road Commissioner James Keach were not present.

Standard said Superintendent of Schools Richard Colpitts had received complaints about the intersection from bus drivers. Standard, who lives on Fields Hill Road, said he has had trouble stopping when approaching Valley Road when the roads are icy. Coming uphill from Labrador Pond Road, he said, he has difficulty getting up enough momentum in wintry conditions.

Currently, there are stop signs on Fields Hill Road and Labrador Pond Road where they meet Valley Road. Standard suggested moving the two signs to stop traffic on Valley Road instead. “It sure would make things easier, safer,” he said.

“If we take out the stop signs, we’re asking for trouble,” said McNeil. He speculated that if people on Fields Hill and Labrador Pond Road know that oncoming traffic will yield to them, they may not try to slow down through the intersection.

Silber called it a “terrible intersection” and suggested signs warning drivers of a dangerous intersection instead of moving the stop signs.

Keach was not in favor of moving the signs, but had no recommendation for a way to make the intersection safer. No action was taken on the matter.