Met: May 5

Issue: Turner and four other communities need to make a decision regarding use and maintenance of recreational areas along the Androscoggin River.

The scoop: Florida Power and Light owns the land in question. The utility company has offered use of the parcels to the municipalities in exchange for the towns taking on maintenance and costs for improvements. The issue was scheduled for discussion Monday but information from Androscoggin Land Trust, which is facilitating the agreements, didn’t arrive in time.

Up next: The towns’ deadline is May 16. Town Manager Eva Leavitt said a special selectmen’s meeting will be called – likely for Monday, May 12 – to gavel the item.

The scoop: Selectmen amended the Beach Committee’s roster to include a “committee of volunteers” instead of its former requirement of five appointed members. Other changes include stricter governance of children’s use of the area and how diapers and other wastes are disposed of.

The scoop: Board members signed a contract with Murray Oil Co. to fix the price of the coming year’s heating oil at $3.56 per gallon. Given the volatility of the petroleum industry, Leavitt said the board opted for stability even if the price seems a little high. She cited the board’s rejection a year ago of Murray Oil’s fixed price offer of $2.19 per gallon, only to see oil prices spike by midsummer.

Winter spending

The scoop: Turner overspent its winter budget by about $67,000 dealing with ice, snow and regular equipment maintenance. Winter roads, public works equipment maintenance, general assistance and Leavitt Institute building maintenance accounts all went over because of the severe weather.

White-St. Pierre resigns

The scoop: Deputy Town Clerk Carol White-St. Pierre has resigned after working for Turner for 17 years. According to Leavitt, White-St. Pierre is looking for new challenges. “She just felt it was time for a change,” Leavitt said.

For municipal news items, contact JT Leonard at 252-6040 or at [email protected]