CANTON – SAD 21 Superintendent Thomas J. Ward met with the selectmen Wednesday night to discuss transferring ownership of the old Canton Elementary School to the town. That transfer will take place as soon as agreement is reached on cost sharing for asbestos removal.
The Victorian Villa Nursing Home staff is presently using the school kitchen while theirs is being renovated.
Selectman Donny Hutchins commented that salvage companies will be eager to bid on removing the pressed-tin ceilings and other valuable portions of the old building, which was built in 1926 to replace one that had burned. He indicated salvage companies have shown considerable interest in the houses the town purchased in the flood plain.
Selectmen will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday to consider bids for salvaging material from those houses. Another special meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 23 to consider bids for demolishing the houses.
Ward also said that the architectural plans for the new SAD 21 elementary school were approved by the state Wednesday. If approved by the voters, the state will contribute $14 million dollars to the project.
In other business, Edward Libby, who has had an ongoing dispute with the town over cleaning up his property in the flood plain, was scheduled to meet with selectmen to set up a date to inspect his property. This was the second attempt by selectmen to schedule an inspection. Libby was present, but said he did not want to discuss anything without his attorney present. His attorney was held up in court and unable to attend the meeting. The board decided to give Libby and his attorney one more opportunity before proceeding with enforcement procedures.
Selectman Wally Haynes said the burn pile at the dump was at capacity. The dump will not accept any more limbs and brush until the weather is satisfactory for burning what is already there. Richard Landry wants the dump to change its hours to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at least one day a week. The hours now are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Landry is circulating a petition to have this brought before the voters.
The owner of a trailer that needs to be removed from the flood plain asked the board for an extension on the deadline for its removal. The board decided that the owner had had ample notice and the deadline would stand.
Selectmen will meet with the Water District at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 23 to discuss the $6,000 annual loss it will incur from the houses vacated in the flood plain. Special Projects Coordinator Diane Ray will participate in that meeting.
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