FARMINGTON – A request from New Sharon selectmen to hire Farmington’s sidewalk plow to remove snow from the Route 2/27 bridge was denied by selectmen here on Tuesday.

“The only sidewalk in New Sharon, one that the state built on their bridge,” said Selectman Dennis Pike, has become an issue for New Sharon selectmen. They want to keep it cleared mostly for snowmobilers to cross the Sandy River.

The Maine Department of Transportation says it’s the municipality’s responsibility to clear the sidewalk, said Selectman Russ Gardner of New Sharon. He and Selectman Maynard Webster attended the Farmington meeting to request a contract for the sidewalk plow, which is actually a large snowblower. New Sharon would pay to transport it and for operator costs. They suggested that Farmington could make a loop when it plows the Farmington Falls bridge.

While understanding their plight, Town Manager Richard Davis voiced concerns as he told selectmen that in his opinion it didn’t make sense for the town to do this. The machine and operator would have to be transported out of the town’s work zone and it could create liability issues. New Sharon would have to purchase extra insurance.

“Sidewalks in our town are our priority,” he said as he explained that the town’s sidewalks need to be done on a regular basis.

New Sharon had requested use of the equipment only two to four times a winter, but since the sidewalk cleaner is a snowblower it could not handle a buildup of snow and ice.

In other business, selectmen discussed possible uses for the property where the former town garage was located in the space between High Street and Route 2. Chairman Charles Murray raised the topic at the last meeting as he suggested that the board should think about ways to make the southern entrance to town more appealing.

No new ideas were discussed but the board did ask the town manager to investigate the cost of removing the gas tank located on the property, Davis said Wednesday.

Firefighter Randall Voter was recognized by the board for serving on the town’s fire rescue department for 25 years.

“His 25 years of service is a remarkable display of dedication,” Murray said. Voter plans to retire from the department on Dec. 23, the anniversary of his start.

The board also appointed Ray Stillman to serve on the Budget Committee, Davis said. Action taken during an executive session, he added, removed a member who had not attended meetings from the Budget Committee.