Selectmen reviewed the proposed article for the December warrant that deals with changing the fiscal year from the present Jan. 1 through Dec. 31 to June 30, 2007, through July 1, 2008.

The rationale for the proposed change is to align the town’s fiscal year with SAD 21. This change will give the people more information for budgeting municipal services as they will know school costs. Selectmen recommend this change.

The board was informed by their secretary Kathy Hussey that the state tree growth reimbursement will be $19,000 less than what was figured in the tax commitment.

Building permits were approved for Robert Weiss on East Shore Road for building a 9-foot-by-9-foot shed; Heather Finnegan on Valley Road to place a 14-foot-by-76-foot mobile home with deck on her lot; and Theresa Rivers on Main Street to remove and add on.

Board Chairman Bill Hine informed the board that the office is preparing a list of lots that are not buildable on the lake.

The purchase of a 40-foot storage shed for the Road Department was approved for $31,000.

Buckfield: Partnership will apply for grant

Town Manager Glen Holmes told selectmen that the Department of Administrative Services has money available to help communities that were regionalizing. The Nezinscot Valley Purchasing Authority is presently made up of Buckfield, Sumner and Hartford municipalities. He said if they receive any money, it would help to get the group started.

The board appointed Margot Siekman to the Planning Board to fill a spot vacated by Kennard Hicks who’s term was up. They also appointed Lisa Buck and Frederick Cooper to the Social Services Committee.

Holmes informed the board that he had been elected to serve on the Maine Municipal Association’s Legislative Policy Committee for a two-year term.

Holmes, as road commissioner, informed the board that paving had been completed on Paris Hill and Gessner Roads.

Holmes said the Swap Shop at the Hartford Sumner Transfer Station will be in operation as soon as the hazardous waste building is completed. The container to be used as a Swap Shop is on site but is being used for the hazardous waste collection until the building is completed.

A Swap Shop committee is being formed to man the shop on a volunteer basis.

If anyone wishes to be a part of this effort to facilitate reuse of materials, contact the Buckfield town office so the committee can be organized.

Buckfield: Teachers attend literacy workshop

SAD 39 Superintendent Rick Colpitts reported that the district’s teachers attended their second annual all-day literacy workshop a few days before school started. The workshops focused on literary strategies for students kindergarten through 12th grade to reinforce reading, writing and verbal skills across the curriculum. They spent time in small groups discussing how to refine skills and learning new practices.

Colpitts reported to the staff that last year’s state test results showed a reading level above the state average. The tests showed that the reading initiative teachers are using is working.

Frank Stoutamyer, bus driver, has resigned and several ed techs resigned.

They are Grace Packard, Jake Sturtevant, Heidi Corey, Jean Cormier and Marie Hendricks. Grant Secretary Cheryl Coffman also resigned.

Doug Rines, special education teacher, has been reassigned to Buckfield Jr./Sr. High School. Fatma Perry has been assigned to the elementary school Title 1, and Donna Snay has been reassigned from custodian to bus driver.

-Mary Standard
Canton: Several miles of new trails in the works

Several miles for hiking, biking, ATV and snowmobile trails may soon be available according to Diane Ray, chairman of the Special Projects Committee. She met with the Trails Committee to discuss possible trail design. The town now owns 60-plus acres that has been acquired in the flood buy-out program. Questions were raised to forward to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for clarification, but the committee feels comfortable to move forward with its plans.

There can be no existing structures remaining on the lad and any new structure is limited to restrooms or pavilions. Multi-use trails can be put in place as long as the soil disturbance rules are followed. The trails committee is working to get additional easements from abutting landowners.