SUMNER – The town’s comprehensive growth plan is being praised by the state, which also notes there are still some areas that need work.

“The plan is well developed and establishes good policies and strategies to guide Sumner’s future development,” Frank Hample of the Maine State Planning Office wrote to selectmen. “The Sumner Comprehensive Plan is a valuable public document. The committee should be commended for their significant efforts.”

His review team pointed out six areas that need more work to meet state guidelines. For instance, he is requesting more information, such as condition and traffic counts, for Sumner roads.

Mary Ann Haxton, co-chairwoman of the Comprehensive Plan Committee, is seeking additional volunteers to work on the Implementation Committee. This group will propose ordinances or other actions to implement the recommendations of the plan.

The plan was overwhelmingly approved by voters last August.

Selectmen approved the Implementation Committee’s recommendation that a sign be placed in front of the Town Office to notify residents of important events and meetings. This is in support of the Comprehensive Plan recommendation that residents be kept informed of events in town and be encouraged to participate in public meetings.

At Tuesday night’s meeting of selectmen, it was reported that five bags of trash were discarded on Sumner roads. Information in the bags indicated they belonged to a resident of a neighboring town, who will be asked to help the selectmen determine how his trash came to be discarded in Sumner.

The Maine Department of Transportation has again recommended that the town barricade the bridge across Labrador Pond Outlet on Russell Road. The bridge is unsafe, yet people continue to use it in spite of the “Bridge Closed” sign. Road Commissioner Jim Keach will place boulders across the road to stop traffic.

Fire Chief Bob Stewart advised town officials to sell the old firetruck parked at Lowe’s Auto Sales on Route 219. Several people have expressed an interest in purchasing the truck, which is no longer needed by the Fire Department.

For the second time in two weeks, cattle belonging to Darrell Starbird have gotten out and created a traffic hazard, according to selectmen’s Secretary Cynthia Norton.

Selectman Cliff McNeil said he and other neighbors spent four or five hours one morning trying to capture two young bulls that escaped.

Starbird has not accepted McNeil’s long-standing offer to spend a day helping repair Starbird’s fences or Chairman Mark Silber’s offer of barbed wire.

Code Enforcement Officer Sid Abbott brought up the dangerous condition of Route 219 near Bog Brook where the road has cracked and slipped in a boggy area.

“Someone will get seriously hurt,” Abbott said. “When it freezes it will be worse.”

McNeil will contact the Department of Transportation and remind them of this condition.