NEW GLOUCESTER – Selectmen on Monday rescinded a plan to discard the oldest pickup truck from the Highway Department fleet and awarded it instead to the town transfer station’s work crew.
Selectmen originally agreed to purchase a new truck, give the truck formerly used by the public works director to the work crew at the Highway Department, and sell the department’s oldest truck.
Newly hired Public Works Director Kevin Doyle said the truck, which would have yielded $2,500 if sold in a sealed bid, would save the town money if used at the transfer station. The truck would be used instead of private vehicles, and would reduce mileage and overtime payments to workers.
The 1988 one-ton pickup with a sander and plow unit will create more efficiency for operations at the transfer station, said Doyle, since plowing and sanding can be accomplished quickly, along with running occasional errands. Doyle said the extra cost to keep the truck operational is estimated at $163.75 versus $900 costs annually under the present system.
Steve Libby cast the only dissenting vote in the 3-to-1 tally.
Selectmen unanimously approved changing Planning Board application fees immediately. A residential site plan application will increase from $50 to $75. And, non-residential site plans will stay at $150. Minor subdivision applications formerly set at $400 will rise to $200 per lot. And, major subdivision fees for preliminary review that were set at $400 plus $100 each for creating more than four lots will change to $200 per lot.
And final application fees for final major subdivision review will change from $250 plus $50 each additional lot to $200 per lot.
Transfer of Development Rights application fee was set at $75. Finally, selectmen agreed to reimburse applicants of building permits in cases where circumstances change and construction has not occurred. Code Enforcement Officer Debbie Parks said an applicant requested funds be returned when it was discovered that eligibility for funding was denied.
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