Board: Minot Selectmen

Met: Monday Night

Building permits

Issue: The code enforcement officer can only issue building permits for houses located on lots with proper road frontage.

The scoop: Selectmen met with developer Gary McFarland to hear his appeal of Code Enforcement Officer Ken Pratt’s refusal to issue him a building permit for a lot on Pleasant Drive in McFarland’s Brighton Hill Acres subdivision. Selectmen ruled that McFarland is not entitled to a permit because his road is not ready for acceptance as a town road and also because a fire pond to serve the subdivision has not been built. Selectmen turned down McFarland’s offer to provide a performance bond guaranteeing the work.

State building code

Issue: The state Legislature is considering a bill that would establish a uniform building code that would regulate all building development statewide.

The scoop: Selectmen said that enacting the bill, LD 2257, would result in passing yet another unfunded mandate on to the town, and that what it costs the town would not be made up by benefits that might accrue to the town.

Up next: Selectmen directed a letter voicing their opposition to the establishment of a statewide uniform building code be sent to the town’s representatives in the Legislature.

Truck bond approval

The scoop: Following a public hearing, selectmen approved a bond agreement for the $83,000 remaining to be paid on the town’s new 2008 Sterling plow truck. Last week the highway department took possession of the truck and now it is in service while awaiting appropriate lettering to identify it as a town truck.

-Winslow Durgin