MINOT – Selectmen reacted with shock and surprise this week when board Chairman Dean Campbell read town Treasurer Connie Taker’s letter of resignation.

Taker wrote that it was time “to move on” and offered no more explanation. Present at the meeting, she said she had given the matter considerable thought and was taking the action with full family support.

Taker said her resignation will be effective after Jan. 31, the end of the town’s fiscal year, so she can help wrap up work on the annual town report and have all accounts and budget requests ready for March town meeting.

Selectman Steve French made the motion to accept, with deepest regret, Taker’s resignation.

Selectman Eda Tripp praised Taker for her dedication, efficiency and overall professionalism and said, “This comes as a complete surprise and I really don’t like it.”

Taker’s resignation was accepted by a 3-0 vote, with Tripp abstaining.

Road Manager Arlan Saunders told the board that late November’s heavy rain storms had done damage to the town’s winter sand pile.

In October, the town tried an experimental method of capping the sand pile by spraying it with an oil derived from wood, which is supposed to seep into the top layer of sand, dry and then act as a water repellent barrier.

Saunders noted that MDOT was trying the procedure on seven of its piles, and that the town of Monmouth was also.

Saunders said a section of the barrier, near the top on the northeast side, appeared to have failed. The main problem now is that water could get into the sand and leach the salt out of the mix.

Saunders will be meeting with representatives of Nova Scotia-based TDS Products to determine the extent of the damage and what can be done to rectify or minimize the situation.

At her request, the board appointed Lisa Bridgham to serve on the town’s Recycling Committee.

Bridgham noted that times might be right to revive the committee, which had been dormant for several years, and agreed to research a feasibility of developing an active recycling program. Selectmen suggested she contact other members of the recycling committee and to report on the feasibility of townwide recycling at March town meeting.

Selectmen also nominated Animal Control Officer Robert Larrabee to be a candidate for Maine Municipal Association’s animal control officer of the year. Selectmen noted his dedicated service not only for the town of Minot but for several other area towns.